The five classic kitchen layouts

Timeless kitchen layouts are based off the work triangle, where preparing, cooking and cleaning are completed with minimal effort. Layouts are chosen based on floorspace and provide greater movability, potential to entertain and ease of access to other rooms. Let’s walk through the five classic kitchen layouts you’ll want to consider for your next kitchen.

L-Shaped

As the name implies, the L-shaped layout is a simple layout, where the two main lines of countertops, cabinets and appliances join in one corner, to create an ‘L’. This layout is an entertainer’s bread and butter, as it provides an efficient cooking area, which typically opens up to a nearby room. This means you can easily mingle with guests and bring plates to the dining table while you cook.

U-Shaped

The U-shape, or ‘horseshoe’ is the most efficient, versatile and symmetrical kitchen layout available. It offers continuous countertops the whole way around, which surround the cook on three sides. The U-shape also offers ample storage, which can be maximised by cabinetry underneath the bench tops. The ‘horseshoe’ creates ample room between the refrigerator, oven and dishwasher; perfect for homeowners who like to dance and play music while they cook.

G-Shaped

Also known as ‘the peninsula kitchen’, the G-shaped layout is just like the U-shape, but with an extra, shorter fourth side. This fourth wall of additional cabinets juts out like a peninsula, and creates further storage space, perfect for Tupperware hoarders alike. The peninsula is where you’ll want to maximise your storage space, for things like larger pots and pans, woks, strainers and of course, Tupperware.

Single Wall

The single wall is what you might consider the outlier of the kitchen layouts. Instead of a type work triangle, this layout is more of a wall line that all three of your kitchen zones occupy. This layout is ideal for smaller homes and tighter kitchen spaces. To improve storage capacity in this more confined layout and ensure you don’t feel like a sardine in a can, consider installing a pantry or ceiling-mounted shelving unit. Hanging ceiling baskets for fruit and bread also work well in this space.

Gallery

The galley is the most compact cooking space of the five layouts, with two walls running parallel and a corridor in between. It’s what you might imagine a kitchen on a ship to feel like. Chefs and cooking purists tend to vibe the galley set-up because space and ingredients are within an arm’s reach. That’s because the sides of the work triangle are relatively short, keeping all the kitchen zones nice and cosy. To make the most of the compact space, tall pantries and ceiling cabinets above the fridge are highly recommended storage options.