A U-shaped kitchen is one where the layout is arranged along three adjacent walls, with the fourth wall of the room serving as the entrance. If there is sufficient space available, you can even incorporate an island or a peninsula into this layout to extend the worktop area and increase your kitchen’s storage capacity. We’d like to offer a few ideas if you choose this layout, to ensure you’re happy with the end result.
Contrary to popular belief, a U-shaped kitchen isn’t limited to huge floor spaces, but we should still be careful: it’s important to have enough space between the worktops on the two opposite walls. Nor will we really feel at home with this layout in a kitchen that’s too large, as we’ll have to cover too much ground to get from one worktop to the other. To put it simply: nothing will really be within easy reach.
#1. Plan the kitchen triangle carefully
But what exactly is the kitchen triangle? It’s actually a rule of thumb used in the design of every kitchen, intended to make working in the kitchen as comfortable as possible. The sink, hob and fridge are positioned at the vertices of the triangle, representing the most important work processes: preparation, storage and cooking. Ideally, to ensure everything is within easy reach, the distance between these points should be no more than 90 centimetres, but under no circumstances should it exceed 6 metres!
#2. Think long term
This actually applies to every kitchen design process. It’s worth considering how long we expect to live in the property in question, so that we can be prepared for any changes in our life circumstances. One such change might be the arrival of children. If we design a child-friendly kitchen from the outset (link to previous article here), this won’t limit its current functionality, but it can save us a lot of headaches and the hassle and expense of a major refurbishment later on.
#3. The long-awaited kitchen island is finally here
Provided we have enough space available, Let’s not forget about the kitchen island either. If our kitchen isn’t big enough, we could even design a peninsula. A kitchen island isn’t just very practical – providing extra worktop and storage space – but it can also transform our kitchen into a real communal space. After all, the family can gather round it, it can serve as a bar counter when we have guests, and the little ones can even sit down at it to do their homework whilst we’re pottering about in the kitchen.
#4. The time has come for open shelving
The U-shaped kitchen offers countless storage options, as its three walls provide plenty of space for kitchen cupboards and shelves. However, be careful! If you plan to include too many closed cupboards in this type of kitchen, it can look very cluttered. You can avoid this by combining kitchen cupboards with open shelves. If you’re not entirely comfortable with this shelving solution, opt for kitchen cupboards with glass doors, which reduce the feeling of clutter whilst still keeping plates and other kitchen accessories out of sight.
#5. There’s room for a few extras here too
As you’re unlikely to have any storage problems in a U-shaped kitchen, you’ll be able to incorporate a few extra features that you’d be reluctant to make room for in other types of layout. This could be anything from a wine rack to a small children’s play area, but the possibilities are endless. Let your imagination run wild.
If you’d like to entrust the design of your kitchen to an expert, please feel free to contact the specialists at Mobilan, who will help you turn your ideas into practical designs and make the most of both the available space and your budget.
