Do You Play The Triangle In Your Kitchen?

Do You Play The Triangle In Your Kitchen?

In every efficient kitchen, there is a work ‘triangle’. This ‘triangle’ is made up of three components: the fridge, where you keep your food, the oven or hob, where you cook it, and the sink where you do the dishes. If there are any obstacles between any of these three, then your kitchen becomes less efficient. This principle operates in any kitchen, regardless of size. So if you’re planning a new kitchen, or redesigning an old one, you should incorporate this idea into the fundamentals of your layout.

Make the most of your space

Making the best use of space is key, especially in a small kitchen. Sure, aesthetics are important, but before you think about looks, your first goal should be to plan for the space you have, because that is the first step to achieving a stylish looking kitchen. The work ‘triangle’ is immensely important to how easy your kitchen will be to use and how much you enjoy it.

Ideally, you should locate a worktop between each of the components in your ‘triangle’. The more work surfaces you can provide, the better. If you’re low on space, try to make some areas multi-functional. For example, is there a way you can convert a countertop so it can be used as an eating area? Again, the team at My Beautiful Kitchen will be able to advise on the best solutions for problems such as these.

Island life

If you already have an island, or are planning one, consider locating your hob, sink or even an under-counter fridge/freezer there to cut down the amount of travelling you do around your kitchen. If your kitchen is too small, then a small island on wheels can double for prep and storage underneath. Just make sure you have somewhere to store it out of the way when you’re not using it.

Getting into shape

There are three main shapes to every kitchen – all with their own pros and cons:

U-Shape – A U-shaped kitchen offers three sides or walls for worktops and is a very efficient layout. However, workflow can be disrupted when there are too many people in the kitchen.

L-Shape – Again, this is another efficient shape as two sides form the walls of your work ‘triangle’. Because this shape is open on one side, it can be ideal for entertaining, as you can interact with your guests while you work. However, the crook where the two sides meet can be inaccessible as a work area, so it’s a good idea to build a storage solution into this area.

Galley – Galley kitchens may be small but they are very functional as there is less space to travel. Unfortunately the work area is also the travel area so it’s awkward having more than one person working in the kitchen at any time.

As always, the My Beautiful Kitchen design and installation team will be able to advise on the best solutions for the space your kitchen will occupy so give us a call on 0141 771 3640.