Kitchen Planning,
How Much Space Do You Need?
Minimum space requirements in
kitchen planning are good guidelines to help you plan your kitchen. By
having enough space in the right areas you will greatly increase the
functionality of your kitchen. As well as making cooking a more
enjoyable experience. Why make it more of a chore than it has to be,
and if you love to cook why not make it better!
Every kitchen needs a minimum of 10 feet of countertop space. If the
kitchen is over 175 square feet the minimum should be 17 linear feet. A
good rule of thumb is to have 1 lineal foot of counter to every 10
square feet of floor space.
Walkways or Aisles
- 42 inches minimum between all permanent structures such as between the countertop and island.
- 48 inches is recommended if more than one cook are regularly in the kitchen at the same time.
Prep Area
- Minimum of 36 inches on both sides of the sink, 42 inches is preferred.
- Minimum 18 inches of counter space by the refrigerator, on the handle side.
- It's
a good idea, but not necessary, to include a minimum of 24 inches of
cabinet storage for cookbooks, canned and dry goods near the prep area.
Cooking Area
- Minimum of 24 inches on both sides of the cooktop or range, but 30 inches is recommended.
- Cabinet
storage should be the same as the countertop space in inches for the
cabinetry width. A pull down rack from the over-the-range cabinet will
utilize that space better.
- Wall
ovens are not used very often, therefore if your kitchen is not very
large it's a good idea to put the ovens in a pantry or adjoining area.
- Microwaves
are better when placed at countertop level to make it easier to use.
Microwaves over the range do double duty and can save space, but only
if no extra room is available on the countertop or if you really want
it over the range.
The Cleaning Area
- The
dishwasher is best placed as close to the sink as possible. Either side
is good but if you are right handed it's better to the right and visa
versa.
- Corner sinks are a good way to get extra space.
- If
your kitchen has a dishwasher a double bowl sink is not necessary. A
single bowl sink will allow for bigger pans to be placed into them for
easier cleaning.
Islands
- An island as a work area should be a minimum of 3 x 4 feet.
- An island as a seating area should allow for 24 inches per person.
- 42 inches all of the way around an island, but 48 inches is recommended.
With islands,
if the work area in the kitchen is on opposite sides, the island may be
more of an interference than a helper. Islands are recommended in
kitchens that are 14 feet wide, or larger, with a minimum of 150 square
feet of total kitchen floor space.
Doorways
- Doorways should be no less than 32 inches, but 36 inches is recommended.
- If for some reason a swinging door is not practical a pocket door is a very good option.
- One doorway should be a minimum of 36 inches to allow more room for moving appliances.
Taking
some of these minimum space requirements into consideration during the
kitchen planning process will help make your kitchen a much easier
place to work.
Kitchen
planning is very important to get right because you are going to live
with it for a long time. I recommend laying out your kitchen in the
actual space to get a good reference of how the space works for you.