Kitchen Appliance Layout Ideas

There are many different ways to determine your kitchen appliance layout. The kitchen is the heart of your house and a key component in making it feel like home, but no layout will be perfect for everyone. What’s the best way? Kitchen layout ideas should derive from what you desire most from your kitchen – do you want it to be a more social space or utilised for cooking space? There are many ways to utilise your kitchen space, and we’ll explore some common appliance layouts and why they work well.

Whether you’re remodeling the kitchen or designing one from scratch, there are many benefits to careful planning that can take your kitchen from feeling cramped to spacious. 

Where do you put kitchen appliances?

The first step in planning your kitchen appliance layout is to understand what you need. Ensure the oven you wish to purchase is big enough for your cooking needs, so that you can ensure the size that you need to buy. Do you need a bigger fridge/freezer, or would you prefer two separate appliances altogether? Knowing these answers in advance will surely aid your kitchen appliance layout. 

Large appliances

Ideally, the refrigerator, sink and cooker should be within close proximity of one another. This allows you to perform preparation, cooking and cleaning tasks efficiently without tripping over anything in the process. 

Some kitchen appliances have strict requirements as to where they can be placed. This can hinder personal preference at times, but with good reason. Washing machines are notorious for this. As they require a water supply, they must be connected to the water mains, which in most homes is already preinstalled. This drastically limits where you can place your washing machine. If you are a new homeowner, or apt at DIY, then there are more optimum places to put your washing machine. 

Also be aware of your plug socket positioning. If you haven’t planned around your electricity outputs, then you may find that your desired layout will fail. Oven sockets must be hardwired separately from any other plugs. This can be done yourself but it is advisable to have a professional install your oven for peace of mind. The appliance should also be kept at least 300mm away from any others.

Small appliances

With that in mind, plan around your small appliances. These will generally take up a lot of counter space and some can be quite tall. Ensure that your countertops have enough room between the cabinets so that you can include your favourite coffee machine and juicers. For small appliances such as air-fryers and deep-fryers, it may be wise to leave enough space near an overhead fan so as to not have the smell of grease permeate the house.

Social space

Kitchens are popular hangout spaces for social gatherings. People will tend to congregate towards easily accessible refrigerated beers and party foods. With this in mind, it is important that your kitchen has the space to accommodate for a fluid flow of traffic. Ensuring that you have ample countertop space 

Workspace

Countertops will serve many purposes in a new kitchen, and planning their layout correctly can include your kitchen’s performance. Having optimum work space for preparing foods and enough room for small appliances will serve your kitchen well.

How to plan your kitchen appliance layout

There are many ways to remodel your kitchen depending on size, preference and personality.

U shape

A popular kitchen design layout for small kitchens is the U-shape. This type of setup organizes your appliances in a way that maximizes space by keeping them close to each other so there are no wasted countertops or flooring. The downside, however, is the cramped space for preparation and cleaning. The risk of spilling food and other waste on heating elements is more prevalent. 

L shape

The L-shape layout is an excellent way to maximize your kitchen size. By placing the refrigerator and dishwasher along one wall, you can create a space for other appliances in the opposite corner of your room. This configuration also allows plenty of counter space on both sides with enough room left over that it doesn’t feel cramped or claustrophobic while still being functional.

Island

A kitchen island provides many benefits including increased workspace, and it can also be used as extra storage for appliances or other items that don’t need to take up space on your counters. When planning to include an island in your kitchen, make sure there’s enough room around the perimeter so people have plenty of walking space. Islands also make the kitchen a great place for hosting. It provides an open and sociable space in the kitchen without imposing on the functionality of appliances.

Peninsula

A peninsula layout boasts the features of both a U-shaped layout and an island kitchen. Whilst creating more counter space for eating and preparing meals, it also allows more space underneath the worktop for storage. The difference is that the island juts out from the existing worktop, creating a U-shape further down the kitchen. 

There are many considerations to take into account when planning your kitchen layout. The most important thing is that you’ve considered the needs of those who will use it on a daily basis and made sure they have enough space for their tasks. You should also consider what appliances you want in your kitchen, as this can affect where each appliance goes. And finally, if there are any other features such as an island or under-counter cabinetry we recommend considering them too so that all elements come together seamlessly.