Home » Interior Design » How To Design A Kitchen? The Guide To Plan Your Kitchen Layout
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How To Design A Kitchen?
One of the fun parts of designing a home is working on the kitchen. Kitchen designs are constantly changing and evolving – from upgrading the appliances and equipment to ensuring there is enough space for the person working in the kitchen to move around comfortably. Kitchens are used for cooking, dining, and entertaining – so let’s get down to figuring out how you can give your kitchen a makeover with the most optimum layout and plan.
When it comes to kitchens, the first thing to be mindful of is the layout. Getting the kitchen’s layout right is important, as it sets the tone for the rest of the kitchen and the comfort it offers. Primarily, interior designers focus on optimizing functionality in the kitchen area. Irrespective of whether the kitchen is large or small, cleverly planning the layout can make all the difference.
Here are six popular types of kitchen layouts that you can consider while designing your modern kitchen:
1. One wall kitchen:
Great for small kitchens, a kitchen with one wall helps use space more efficiently and functionally. In this type of layout, a single wall is used for installing cabinets, shelves, and equipment and helps to create a clean aesthetic.
Galley kitchens are cost-effective kitchen layout options where cabinet usage is optimized economically. In this layout, every inch of space is used for kitchen storage.
Image Credit: architecturaldigest.com
3. L-shaped kitchen:
L-shaped kitchens are very practical, especially for smaller spaces. Here, the kitchen cabinets are on two perpendicular sides or walls. The layout is open and allows greater flexibility not just in terms of workflow but also appliance and equipment placement.
Great for large-sized kitchens and better workflow, the U-shaped kitchen has cabinets along the walls. Here, the layout allows for a lot of kitchen storage, with shelves and cabinets going right up to the ceiling. To avoid making the kitchen feel cramped, use open shelves or cabinets.
Image Credit: idealhome.co.uk
5. Island kitchen:
Island kitchens are very popular – they consist of a workspace in the middle of the kitchen where one can easily cook, cut, prep, or even eat. Generally, larger kitchens have the space to accommodate a kitchen island. The island can also be made very pretty by installing good lighting fixtures.
Image Credit: thespruce.com
6. Peninsula kitchen:
If your kitchen doesn’t have enough space for a kitchen island, you can use the peninsula layout instead. Here, the kitchen counter extends from the kitchen wall or the cabinetry and can be used to prepare food, eat, or carry out other tasks.
Typically, designers remove the kitchen wall and add the peninsula to make smaller kitchens open up and allow better interaction between the kitchen and the dining or living area.
If you’re planning on a kitchen remodel or designing a kitchen from the get-go, there are a few things you should consider. Designing kitchens can be tricky, especially since they need to strike the right balance between functionality and design. When planning your kitchen, here’s what you need to be mindful of:
Layout: The first step to designing a kitchen is creating the perfect layout – this includes the position of the countertop, sink, dining tables and chairs, fridge, equipment, etc. The layout goes a long way in determining how functional the kitchen can be.
Storage: Storage is extremely crucial when it comes to a kitchen – from storing items to equipment and food, ensuring that the kitchen has enough cabinets, shelves, and cupboards.
Flooring: Use light materials and lighter tones to create proper flooring for your kitchen. This will help you move around easily and pick up any spills or clean messes.
Lighting: Good kitchen lighting is a must for creating a good ambiance inside the kitchen. Good lighting goes a long way in working comfortably inside the kitchen.
Ventilation: Proper air circulation is something every kitchen needs, especially since different types of things are cooked, prepared, and stored. Ensure proper ventilation and exhausts are installed in the kitchen so smells don’t linger.
When designing a kitchen, it’s important to analyze what the kitchen needs. While designing the kitchen’s layout, make note of all the equipment, appliances, items, or furniture that the kitchen requires or doesn’t presently have in case of a remodel.
For example, does the kitchen require a kitchen island? Could it do with more open shelves? Make a list of all the things that can be installed in the kitchen, and incorporate the same into the layout.
Once your items have been analyzed, it’s time to put the kitchen into perspective. Choose from a variety of kitchen layouts available. Pick a tool or resource such as Foyr Neo’s 3D modeling software to create a layout for your kitchen.
Think about how the kitchen will be used, whether the space requires an open plan, the work triangle, size constraints, and the shape of the kitchen. These factors will help you determine the perfect layout.
To design the kitchen, it’s important to have a proper floor plan. Architects and interior designers use graphs or tools to design the floor plan, mark it up, and make space for cabinets and appliances. This allows the kitchen to have breathing space and ensures a good workflow.
Many interior designers use social media to find trending design ideas that can be incorporated into the kitchen’s layout and design. Gather inspiration by following other designers and creating mood boards to arrive at a design style.
Ask yourself questions like what is the style you want? What kind of contrast are you looking for? Are there specific colors you want your kitchen to have? Consider all the design elements before putting the design into a plan.
Once the kitchen’s plan, layout, and design are finalized, it’s time to start procuring the materials to create the kitchen. Based on your budget, invest in good quality materials that will make the kitchen durable and last longer.
Don’t compromise on the quality of the materials, appliances, or equipment. For the flooring, shelves, and cabinets, choose from hardwood or plywood. Avoid materials like wood veneer since they tend to peel easily.
The next bit in designing your kitchen is finalizing the color scheme. You need to pick colors for your cabinets, cupboards, shelves, and even the appliances. Generally, most kitchens are kept in lighter tones – right from the tiles, to the flooring and the color of the countertops. Dark kitchens are also currently trending, where one can have glossy black tiles for a sleek finish.
Kitchen worktops need to be carefully designed – choose from laminates, woods, or natural stone to create a smart and comfortable kitchen worktop that provides a concrete finish, and looks great. Remember, the worktop is one of the most utilized spaces in a kitchen, so ensure you select a good quality material.
Kitchen flooring and tiles need to be chosen well – from the colors to the materials, it’s important to choose something that works well in a busy kitchen space. The kitchen flooring should be durable as well as easy to clean since the area can get messy easily. Choose from materials like ceramic tiles, vinyl, laminate, and wood to get the flooring and walls right.
Remember, factoring in the lighting in a kitchen is very important. Good lighting, especially if naturally available, can make a huge difference in how your kitchen’s design turns out. Ambient lighting and task lighting are important for not just the kitchen’s overall finish, but also to work comfortably.
Kitchens are also equipped with window treatments – choose from window dressings, glass panels, wood panels, or curtains to give your kitchen the right amount of privacy it needs. The treatment or dressing can be done along the walls, without taking up space, and adds to the overall aesthetic of the kitchen.
When designing a kitchen, it’s important to look beyond the aesthetics – while every designer strives to install beautiful backsplashes, countertops, and flooring, the most important aspect of a kitchen is the layout. The kitchen’s layout helps establish the functionality and allows you to avoid making mistakes in planning the layout.
Here are five mistakes you should avoid while designing a kitchen:
1. Bad air circulation:
Poor air circulation in the kitchen can be a disaster – after all, you don’t want your kitchen or even your home to smell! Proper circulation should be a part of your kitchen’s design plan. Lack of circulation can also make the kitchen seem smaller and cramped.
2. Not being mindful of the work triangle:
The sacred kitchen work triangle helps maintain the balance of a workflow in the kitchen. The triangle is the space between the cooktop, refrigerator, and sink. This helps to ensure that kitchen work can happen seamlessly. Ensure that each side of the work triangle has a minimum of 4 feet to 9 feet of space to ensure a comfortable experience in the kitchen.
3. Mistaking the size of appliances:
A huge mistake that many interior designers make is ordering incorrectly sized appliances – for example, oversized fridges, microwaves, or even chimneys that don’t fit. To avoid this, ensure that space measurements and dimensions are checked thoroughly before ordering appliances.
4. Not having enough lighting:
Lighting is very important in a kitchen – even if the kitchen is extremely well-designed, poor lighting can ruin its entire look and feel. Good lighting makes the kitchen more functional, as it allows individuals to easily move around and work. Add lighting overhead, along the sides, or under cabinets. If possible, allow natural lighting to enter the kitchen.
5. Not using vertical space:
Since storage is a huge requirement for any kitchen, it’s important for designers to optimally use vertical spaces to maximize storage space – especially if the kitchen is smaller. Remember, leave the horizontal space for countertops and use vertical space to create more storage. Interior designers can easily use space right up to the ceiling to not add an element of visual interest and functionality.
Designing a kitchen is exciting – there is so much to look forward to. As an interior designer, the job involves creating mood boards, going through paint samples, deciding the color scheme, and choosing the right colors from the color palette.
With so much content available on social media, interior designers have access to some of the best hacks and tips to design a kitchen in the best possible way, irrespective of its size. However, there are certain things to be mindful of when designing a kitchen – and if you’re not, then the process can get stressful.
As a professional interior designer, start by sorting a budget for the kitchen’s interiors, equipment, and appliances, and then move to the design style and layout. Use tools and resources like Foyr Neo’s 3D modeling to create a layout that your client will love.
Creating an ideal kitchen is an exciting job, especially if you’re starting from scratch – after all, a blank canvas is so much fun to work with! Whether the kitchen you’re working on needs a remodel or you’re working on something from the beginning, browse the Foyr Community for more information.
Find the best kitchen planning advice, DIY home design tips, kitchen design ideas, kitchen renovation ideas, and other design tips, interact with experts and other professionals, get home design ideas, and more on Foyr Neo. Sign up for a 14-day free trial today.
FAQs
1. Where do I start when designing a kitchen?
When designing your kitchen’s interiors, begin by accurately measuring the available space. Once you have your measurements in place, use tools available on platforms like Foyr Neo to create a layout. The layout will allow you to put together the basic sections and appliances.
2. Can you design your kitchen?
Yes, most interior designers and homeowners use layout tools and resources available on platforms like Foyr Neo to design their kitchens. You need a kitchen planner that allows you to create a layout and floor plan and helps you visualize the kitchen space with different appliances and objects.
3. What is the best layout for a kitchen?
Interior designers typically use traditional layouts to design kitchens. Some of the top tips for creating the perfect kitchen layout include reducing the traffic, making the space between fixtures comfortable instead of compact, placing the sink before other furniture or fixtures, and installing vertical kitchen storage.
4. What should you not forget when designing a kitchen?
While there are many things to be mindful of, it’s important to ensure proper circulation, plan the kitchen around the workflow, ensure optimum use of space for functionality, and measure the size of the appliances intended to be installed in the kitchen.
Using Foyr Neo is as easy as 1, 2, 3. First, upload a floor plan or create one from scratch. Then drag and drop from over 60K 3D models to fill your rooms. Lastly, just set the shot and let the AI create stunning 4K renders for you in less than 10 minutes.
