Planning a good kitchen layout is a balancing act that includes ergonomics, utility and aesthetics—and avoiding layout mistakes. In this blog, the kitchen and bathroom remodeling contractors at Advantage Contracting shares some common kitchen layout mistakes and how to avoid them.
Not Accounting for the Kitchen Triangle Rule of Thumb—The kitchen triangle is where the kitchen work area is centered, with the three points consisting of the sink, the stove and the refrigerator. The ideal distance between the stove and sink (or any two points in the triangle) is between 4 and 9 feet. If properly distanced, it should give your work area enough space for you to move around and easily maneuver without bumping into everyone else. At the same time, the points shouldn’t be too far apart to make cooking at home a tedious task.
No Swing Space for Cabinet Doors — If your kitchen design includes a kitchen island, or if you’re planning on a galley-style kitchen, allow a 4-foot clearance between their edges and closed kitchen cabinets. This allows enough swing space for the kitchen cabinet doors without restricting everyone else’s movements in the kitchen. Alternatively, consider open cabinets. A good remodeling contractor can either help you design new space-efficient open cabinets, or update your current ones.
Choosing a Small Kitchen Sink and Relegating It to a Corner — You’ve probably seen kitchens with sinks that are not only small but are relegated to a lonely spot in the corner. Some homeowners deliberately do this to allow space for the stove or to consolidate their countertop workspace. Having a kitchen sink at the far edge of the kitchen is uncomfortable to use, which is why if you are planning on having one, it’s important to consider relocating the kitchen sink somewhere more accessible.
Not Optimizing the Kitchen Storage Space — You should get as much kitchen storage as you can. A common mistake among inexperienced designers is ignoring narrow spaces that can be incorporated into the cabinet design. Others sacrifice overhead storage for aesthetics, where there are ways to work around this.
Looking for kitchen and bathroom remodeling contractors who can provide you with the kitchen of your dreams? Call Advantage Contracting at (862) 292-0003 or fill out our contact form. We serve customers in Wayne, Kinnelon, and Wycoff, NJ.