• Planning a kitchen layout

    1. Consider your space

    Kitchen space consideration
    An important first step when planning a new kitchen is to measure the space that you have available, as this gives you an idea of what design restrictions you may need to work around.

    Key space considerations:

    Location
    • What is the ideal location of the kitchen within your space?
    • Are there any outside views or natural lighting that you want to take advantage of?
    Size
    • If you would like to add to the size of the kitchen, are there any walls that can be moved to create extra space for cooking or a walk in pantry?
    Appliances
    • Think ahead about any changes you'd like to make to your appliances. Whether you'd like integrated appliances, large appliances like French door fridges or upright cookers, or built in ovens and microwavews, appliances need to be planned now to avoid costly changes later.

    2. Consider how you use your kitchen

    The kitchen work triangle

    The kitchen work triangle connects the three main work areas in the kitchen — the sink, the cooktop, and the refrigerator. As a general guideline, the distance between these areas should be no less than 1.22 metres and no larger than 2.74 metres. The sum of all three sides of the triangle should be between 4 metres and 8 metres. If the distance is too small, it can make a kitchen feel cramped and blocked. If it's too large, it makes cooking a hassle.

    Kitchen activity zoning

    Zoning refers to thinking about your kitchen in terms of different activity zones. Whether you want a zone for cooking, dining, studying, or entertaining, thinking about your new kitchen in terms of different zones helps you group what you need for each activity together.

    Four key zones to consider

    Kitchen storage zone

    Storage Zone

    Make sure you’ve allocated enough space for dry goods, fresh food and drinks in the fridge, and everything that has to fit in the freezer. A worktop near your pantry and fridge also makes unpacking your shopping much easier.

    Kitchen cooking zone

    Cooking Zone

    Think about having some bench space near your ovens, cooktop and rangehood so you can set things down without having to cross the kitchen carrying hot pots and pans.

    Kitchen cleaning up zone

    Cleaning Up Zone

    Position your dishwasher next to the sink with your rubbish, recycling and compost bins nearby for quick and easy cleaning up.

    Kitchen living zone

    Living Zone

    A few kitchen bar stools create a space where the kids can do their homework and have snacks, and guests can sit and chat to you while you organise the food and drinks.

    3. Explore layout options

    4. Adding an island bench or peninsula

    Kitchen island bench

    Island bench

    Adding an island bench to your kitchen creates both a stylish centrepiece to your kitchen design as well as adding valuable functional space. Try using a contrasting benchtop colour to create a focal point in your kitchen design and add some stools to one side so the island becomes a place where kids can do homework, help with the cooking, or for guests to use while you’re entertaining. If you’re adding an island bench to your kitchen design, think about placement carefully, especially if you plan to integrate a sink or cooktop into the island.

    Kitchen peninsula

    Peninsula

    A peninsula is like an island bench that is connected to wall of your kitchen on one side. It’s a great option for kitchens with open floor plans or rectangular spaces and gives you additional bench space on both sides. A key consideration with adding a pensinsula to your kitchen design is traffic flow, as the pensinsula is joined to the wall of the kitchen at one end, it doesn’t allow traffic flow through the kitchen in the same way an island bench does.