Kitchen setup is a crucial part of house design and majorly impacts the functionality and efficiency of homes. With the growing popularity of modular kitchens, standardised kitchen layouts are increasingly being adopted in homes. However, such kitchens often have reduced functionality and beauty. To understand the importance of customised kitchen planning, explore kitchen layout ideas and kitchen room design standards and considerations, continue reading.
Why is Kitchen Planning Important?
- Space Optimisation: Modular kitchen designs enable effective planning and space utilisation. With innovative small kitchen design ideas, every inch of space can be efficiently used for storage, working or other kitchen activities.
- Monetary Savings: Optimised and detailed-out plans are easy and quick to construct, significantly reducing the project cost. Well-thought out kitchen layout designs also help reduce future expenditures on repairs, maintenance and renovation.
- Physical and Mental Wellbeing: A good kitchen layout drawing is prepared after careful consideration of user requirements and daily usage patterns. This helps prevent issues like body pain and breathing problems like asthma with constant usage. Enhanced mental health can also be observed in users who are happy with the spaces where they spend a large amount of time every day.
Types of Kitchen Layouts
The type of kitchen layout can be classified based on the shape of the main countertops. Some of the common layouts are:
Straight Kitchen Design
Also called single row galley kitchen layout, this layout has a single straight countertop. Such layouts are common in very small kitchens, open kitchens or open floor plans of houses. Although simple and cost-effective, such a layout may be inconvenient for multiple users to use simultaneously. Low storage area and increased amounts of walking to access each component are some other limitations of this layout.
U Shaped Kitchen Design
With three supporting walls, a U-shaped kitchen maximises work efficiency. A large space for storage is available and more people can use the kitchen simultaneously. However, such kitchen layouts have at least two corner units that require advanced precision fittings to remain usable, making them expensive to build.
L Shaped Kitchen Design
An L-shaped kitchen is ideal for open kitchens with two adjoining and perpendicular walls. An island counter can also be placed optimally in this kitchen layout, making it more functional, aesthetic and efficient. Windows located opposite to the L-shape can further enhance the indoor air quality and light in this kitchen.
Parallel Kitchen Design
Two parallel kitchen countertops (sometimes with a central island counter) characterise this kitchen layout. Such a layout is ideal when the kitchen is long and narrow, with doors or openings on the two shorter sides. One longer side can consist of the hob/ stove, with the other side having the refrigerator and sink to optimise the kitchen work triangle. This layout enables good working efficiency and is also cost-effective.
Design Considerations for Kitchen Planning
Kitchen Size
Generally, the minimum area required for a kitchen to be functional is 65 sq ft (or around 8 ft x 8 ft in size). Medium sized kitchens have an area of around 120-180 sq ft, while large kitchens have an area more than 200 sq ft. The kitchen size depends on the size of the family and house. For example, a small kitchen layout (with an area of 70 sq ft) may be sufficient for a house with two people. Typically, kitchens occupy around 7-15% of the total built-up area of a house.
Natural Lighting and Ventilation
Maximising natural light and ventilation in kitchens boosts the mental and physical health of users. A cooktop that faces a large window with a good view can be especially beneficial. Using light colours and partially reflective surfaces can make the kitchen feel more airy and light. Sufficient cross ventilation (either naturally or mechanically generated) is required to remove the hot air and odours produced by cooking processes. Openings located at larger heights are helpful for this, as hot air rises up and can move out through them.
Kitchen Triangle
The kitchen triangle is a hypothetical triangle drawn between the sink, stove and refrigerator. According to this principle, the distance between each of these components must be between 4-9 feet, while the sum total of all three distances must not be more than 26 feet. By adhering to these distances, a user can have smooth, fast and efficient movements for cooking or carrying out other activities with any type of kitchen design and layout.
Kitchen Triangle
Image source: Link
Storage Solutions
The type, size and number of storage cabinets largely depend on individual user requirements. Typically, a kitchen cabinet layout with a proportionate mix of one tall unit with base units, wall units, loft units and drawers are provided as required. A separate pantry layout for grain or dry storage can also be designed. Tandem and wicker baskets, dish racks, pull-outs, waste basket holders, cutlery organisers and carousels are some of the other kitchen essentials. Stainless steel handles, hinges and telescopic channels are generally used to manage the movement of all the kitchen units.
Lighting and Electrical Design
While lights and small appliances like coffee makers and water purifiers can be plugged into regular 6A (Ampere) plug points, other appliances such as refrigerators, microwave ovens and mixers/ grinders require 16A plug points. It is always advisable to have additional 16A points. A kitchen layout with island counter must have provisions for plug points even if no electrical appliances may be used there. All electrical switchboards must be safely located away from cooking areas or areas with high heat and moisture levels. The normal height of switchboards used for plugging in appliances in kitchens is 36 – 48 inches.
Additional Components
Island counters, breakfast counters, bars, pantries, dry storage rooms, wash areas and utilities are some of the additional components that are often included in kitchen floor plans. When such areas are added, the kitchen is typically large and categorised into separate zones like dry, semi-dry and wet areas by a kitchen layout planner. These spaces are customisable and based on the user’s requirements.
Standard Guidelines for Kitchen Planning
Some of the common standard sizes for kitchen components in India are as follows:
Storage Units
| Length (inches) | Height (inches) | Depth (inches) | Height From Floor (inches) | |
| Base Units | As required | 30 – 34 | 22 – 24 | 2 – 3 |
| Wall Units | As required | 24 – 40 | 12 – 15 | 58 – 62 |
| Tall Units | As required | 72 – 84 | 22 – 24 | 2 – 3 |
| Loft Units | As required | 18 – 36 | 15 – 24 | 72- 90 |
| Cutlery Drawers | 12 – 36 | 3 – 6 | 22 – 24 | As required |
| Mid-Size Drawers | 12 – 36 | 6 – 9 | 22 – 24 | As required |
| Large Utensil Drawers | 12 – 36 | 9 – 15 | 22 – 24 | As required |
The minimum distance between the base of the wall units and the kitchen countertops must be 24 inches to ensure that a user does not hit his head on the wall units.
Kitchen Countertops
- Standard width of countertops= 24 inches (2 feet)
- Standard height= 34-36 inches (2’10”- 3’0”)
- Minimum distance between two parallel countertops: 48 inches (4 feet)
Sinks, Chimneys and Other Appliances
| Length (inches) | Breadth (inches) | Height or Depth (inches) | Other Standards/ Notes | |
| Single Sink | 16 – 30 | 15 – 22 | 6 – 9 | – |
| Single Sink With Drainboard | 36 – 50 | 15 – 22 | 6 – 9 | – |
| Double Sink | 34 – 46 | 15 – 22 | 6 – 9 | – |
| Double Sink With Drainboard | 42 – 60 | 15 – 22 | 6 – 9 | Also available in L-shaped layouts |
| Chimneys | 24 – 54 | 20 – 24 | 18 – 36 | Available in different types like wall mounted, concealed and built-in. |
| Hobs | 12 – 48 | 20 – 22 | 3 – 6 | Can be in-built or countertop |
| Single Door Refrigerators | 24 | 24 – 30 | 72 – 90 | – |
| Double Door Refrigerators | 28 – 42 | 24 – 30 | 66 – 84 | – |
| Microwave Oven | 24 | 24 | 15 – 30 | – |
All the values mentioned above are standard values generally used by designers for kitchen planning. However, these may vary with different brands, types, specifications and customisations.
Kitchen Room Design with Experts
A comprehensive understanding of architectural standards, building requirements and client desires is required to ensure efficient kitchen planning and development. Brick & Bolt is a tech-enabled construction company in India with over 7000+ completed homes. The company’s team of qualified architects, designers and construction professionals have multiple years of experience in creating beautiful and functional kitchen layouts. Additionally, 470+ quality checks, combined with absolute transparency and safe money transactions, support the construction processes. To design new kitchen spaces in your dream home or commercial building with premium end-to-end construction services, get in touch with Brick & Bolt today!