When planning your remodel or new build, it’s important to consider all of the possible kitchen layout options to ensure you get the best layout for your needs. However, it doesn’t take much to become overwhelmed when faced with all of the possibilities.
In the clear and concise list below, you can find the 7 most common kitchen layout ideas to help you find inspiration and design the kitchen of your dreams.
Positioning All Cabinetry and Appliances Along One Wall
One-wall kitchen layouts are ideal for compact homes and limited space. A one-wall layout places all of the components of a kitchen, both built-in appliances and cabinetry, along a single wall to allow for a more open space. This design flattens the work triangle, yet doesn’t restrict movement or impede meal preparation.
One Wall Kitchen Examples
This first kitchen features dark wood cabinets with a white marble countertop, light almond-colored walls, and light wood flooring. The small appliances fit the room well, maximizing counter space as well as storage.
A blend of standard cabinets as well as drawers ensures that there’s a space for everything, keeping the kitchen space organized and uncluttered.
Styled by Lindholm, photographed by Boukari for Historiska Hem
In the example below, however, wall cabinets are removed in favor of a peg rail spanning the length of the kitchen area. The peg rail provides a unique alternative to traditional cabinets, allowing commonly used items to simply be hung within reach for quick access when you need it.
White oak lower cabinets and a more subtle marble pattern on the countertop create a low-key, cottage-style aesthetic.
via DeVOL Kitchens
Finally, this grey and white kitchen provides us with an idea of how this kitchen layout will look from the viewpoint of an adjacent dining area. The contrast created by the grey cabinets against the white wall is appealing to the eye, yet isn’t overpowering. This lets the decor items and small appliances hold their own, resulting in a comfortable, welcoming, and lived-in appearance.
Styled by Emma Fisher, Annica Clarmell, and Anna Granberg, photographed by Peter Pousard for Alvhem
Using Opposite Walls to Create a Galley Kitchen Layout
Dividing the kitchen layout between two walls creates a galley layout with enough room on the counters to facilitate preparing larger meals. A galley kitchen either places all of the appliances on one side of the room or divides them for a more clear and defined work triangle.
Typically, this choice comes down to the location of appliance hookups, something that can’t be easily changed after the home is built.
Galley Kitchen Layouts
The galley kitchen pictured here is a pleasant sage green tone with a slight farmhouse design. An abundance of wall shelving keeps everything in its place to reduce clutter. The variation of counter depth on the left side of the room provides options for both decor and material storage leading into a large window that fills the kitchen with natural light.
Styled by Anna Van Keppel, photographed by Mia Borgelin, for sale via Historiska Hem
An alternative take on the standard layout of galley kitchens, the below example provides an abundance of storage space in addition to a wider walkway and full-size stainless steel appliances.
Wood countertops and a matching wood-glass-fronted cabinet add a bit of contrast to the off-white cabinetry and walls. A runner rug along the floor also provides a layer of cushioning when moving through the space.
via Stadshem
Blending the Kitchen and Dining Room With an L-Shape Kitchen Layout
L-shaped kitchen layouts are a great way to blend kitchen and dining spaces.
By spreading the kitchen elements across perpendicular walls instead of parallel, the work triangle has more room to breathe which is ideal for those that are rarely in the kitchen alone. The extra space allows multiple cooks to move throughout the kitchen without impacting each other too much.
L-Shaped Kitchen Examples
This first l-shape layout features a sea of neutral colors with worn grey cabinets. The hidden refrigerator helps to maintain the streamlined appearance and the stainless steel appliances that are visible blend well with the surrounding decor and color palette. The soft brown of the herringbone floor pulls everything together.
Styled by Martina Mattsson, photographed by Krister Engström, via Kvarteret Makleri
This l-shaped kitchen layout follows many of the same principles of the previous example but with a more muted grey design. The dining space off to the side is framed nicely by the l-shape floor plan, giving each area plenty of room. With the walls and the cabinetry all being the same shade, the bold black stove and stunning grey countertops stand out, creating a focal point for the room.
Styled by Mia Laaksonen, photographed by Henrik Linden for Alvhem
Incorporating Three Walls for a U-Shaped Layout
The U-shaped kitchen layout idea is a popular choice in the world of interior design. Kitchen necessities and other appliances line three connected walls, creating additional storage space for any floor plan. At times, these style kitchen layouts can include a kitchen island, flow around a dining area, create clear room delineations in an open plan layout, or add storage through the use of open shelving.
U-Shaped Kitchen Examples
This kitchen takes the standard l-shaped design and extends it along a third wall before transitioning into a window seat. The addition of a kitchen island improves the work triangle, ensuring enough space is available for easy movement and meal prep. A classic kitchen floor pattern combined with the rest of the styling to transport us back in time to a small farmhouse kitchen.
The white countertops of this u-shaped design pair well with the other white elements in the room, though the shades are slightly different, resulting in a 1950s-style kitchen. The picture window and camouflaged range hood create less space for wall storage, however, small open shelves in the corner help keep all frequently used items within reach.
Making More Storage Space With a G-Shaped Kitchen Layout
Among the less common layouts, the g-shaped floor plan is a unique way to maximize the usability of a small space. With a single entry point and an abundance of counter and storage space, this kitchen layout is perfect for those that enjoy cooking and spending time in the kitchen but don’t have the room in their home for a large kitchen.
An Example of a G-Shape Kitchen
This layout expands upon the U-shaped kitchen to maximize storage. Marble countertops and gold accents paired with the sage green coloring of the walls and cabinetry create a sense of luxury in the space. The delicate light fixtures over the shorter end of the counter ensures proper lighting for anyone seated at the bar.
Overall, this kitchen layout idea perfectly marries modern design aesthetics and more traditional ideals, creating a fresh take on kitchen design.
Photographed by Lisa Wikstrand, styled by Helen Sturesson for Kulladal
Adding a Kitchen Island to Increase Counter Space
Adding kitchen islands in larger spaces is an excellent way to create extra space for preparing meals. An island can transform unused space into a useful feature of the kitchen. From built-in sinks and cooktops to extra seating space, an island can come in a wide range of sizes and designs. Let’s take a look at two of our favorite designs with a kitchen island below.
Examples of Kitchen Islands
This kitchen boasts impressive square footage with a long, raised island for extra counter space. The light wood kitchen floor and lighter shades of the walls and other cabinetry accentuate the island, putting a figurative spotlight on it to draw you in. Similar kitchens have rustic beams along the ceiling, however, the lack of them here only serves to make the island stand out even more.
This large space houses a kitchen floor plan that lends itself to entertaining guests, with extra storage and an island perfect for casual dining or quick meals. The two-tone palette used here creates a dynamic style, and the glass pendant lights are the quintessential choice for lighting here. They help to highlight the incredible island without taking away from the overall design of the room.
via Nordiska Kök
Designing Peninsula Kitchen Layout Ideas for Small Spaces
For our final kitchen layout idea, we have an alternative to the kitchen island: a peninsula. As the name suggests, a kitchen peninsula is a small counter that is only connected to a wall on one side. They are often used as a small table or breakfast bar and provide additional counter space in smaller kitchens, making them a worthwhile addition to many kitchen layout ideas.
Peninsula Kitchen Floor Plan Examples
In this kitchen, an l-shaped layout is the base of the floor plan, and the peninsula enhances the design by housing bar stools and storage that would otherwise be left out. Stainless steel appliances and white walls match the white countertops, cabinets, and backsplash for a bright and clean kitchen aesthetic. The wood kitchen floor adds a touch of charm to the space.
This final kitchen layout pairs a partial half wall with a peninsula to create an area that serves multiple purposes. The cabinetry on that side of the kitchen is thinner, allowing for maximum maneuverability while cooking. Additionally, it provides a place for small decor items to sit and welcome guests into the home as they come through the door. The kitchen floor used here is similar to the previous example, consisting of raw wood planks.
Styled by Living Deco, photographed by Jonas Berg for Stadshem
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