Space Planning In Kitchen

The kitchen is one of the busiest and most used spaces in the house. Careful design and planning should be done to have both a functional and aesthetically pleasing kitchen. The designer should include into the design consideration these three important activities, first is the storage, then the preparation and cleaning, and then lastly cooking and serving. Space planning in a kitchen may seem difficult but through knowing some design guidelines, space utilization can be achieved.

(This picture is contributed by"bcopic")

In space planning in a kitchen, there are several shapes and combinations of the three activities these are: Pullman, U-shaped, L-shaped, peninsula or island type, and one-wall. There should be proper circulation so not to disrupt the flow of work in a kitchen. Working areas should be planned to achieve continuity in the activities. Proper dimensions should be followed. If there are any local codes or building codes issued these should be followed to ensure safety. Laundry activities are advised to be separate from the kitchen to have a more safe and functional kitchen. Laundry appliances and devices should not be included in the kitchen like automatic washer, dryer, and iron. These items should be separated and placed into a separate room like the utility room. If ever there’s no choice in having the laundry with the kitchen, separate an area for these activities from the kitchen.

These may all seem standards and traditional but designers can create more interesting designs without compromising on the proper flow of the three main activities. It is encouraged to break the traditional design of kitchens and to create it more interesting and fun to be in, so as not to have of a “factory look” kitchen. Other factors should be considered in space planning in a kitchen, like the budget, needs and wants of the occupants, number of people to be using the kitchen, furniture used. Space planning for kitchens should be well-thought of in order to ensure functionality and also most importantly the safety of its users.