Work Triangle

• When you design a kitchen floor plan, the first thing that is often looked at is how the kitchen is going to be laid out. One tool that designers use to help them lay out the kitchen properly is the work triangle. This is an area defined by the sink, the refrigerator and the cook top. Each leg of the triangle should add up to between 12 to 26 feet for a comfortable and efficient work environment. Of course, there are many other appliances that play an important role in the kitchen today, but those three are the main components that make a kitchen comfortable.
  
  

Lighting

• Another key element when designing the kitchen floor plan is to remember what is going on above the cooking or countertop area. Many people forget about lighting. A well-designed kitchen can be comfortable and flow well, but it can feel like a bad space if the lighting is not as thought out as the rest of the design. There should be proper lighting in the kitchen to meet the needs of the users. When designing a kitchen floor plan, a combination of ambient, accent, task and decorative lighting should be layered and blended together to properly light up the kitchen spaces.
  
  

Styles and Layouts

• Since there are limitless possibilities for designing a kitchen floor plan, it can seem rather overwhelming in the beginning. It is best to understand the needs of the users and the style they are looking for. Many times the layout of the kitchen is based on the size of the kitchen and how it will be used. Medium-sized kitchens do very well with L-shaped layouts. A galley kitchen layout is a better option for smaller kitchen spaces, since it gives the illusion of being bigger than it is. U-shaped kitchens provide more countertop space than L-shaped kitchens if you have the space to do it. But if your needs are very small, perhaps a one-walled kitchen will work with your space requirements. Also, when designing the kitchen floor plan, don't overlook the needs of the cook. The layout of the kitchen needs to be comfortable for the cook and meet his needs for how and what he cooks. Some people prefer gas cook tops, while others prefer electric. Some people like having a separate freezer from their refrigerator. Some people prefer the smaller dishwasher drawers over the regular dishwashers, because they like to do small loads. Once you understand the size of the kitchen, the needs of the cook and how the kitchen will be used, you are then on your way to designing a kitchen floor plan that will be perfect for that particular space.