The secret to planning your kitchen appliance layout

A fundamental part of your kitchen layout design is carefully positioning your appliances to meet the needs of your space.

When choosing everything from extractor fans to the all-important oven and hob combo, it's important to consider space and function, as well as your kitchen design requirements.

With this in mind, we’ve put together a selection of appliance layout ideas and inspiration to help you get the most out of your kitchen space.

The kitchen triangle

One of our favourite kitchen appliance layout ideas is the kitchen triangle, also known as the kitchen working triangle or the golden triangle.

It's a concept that has been around since the late 1940s. Originally developed to cut construction costs, today it is an integral part of kitchen planning design.

It works by sectioning your kitchen area into three core work zones: the sink, the fridge and the hob. These appliances should be laid out loosely to form a triangle, helping you to undertake everyday tasks at ease without any major obstruction.

Whatever point you find yourself at in your kitchen area, with a triangle layout you should be able to easily reach the other two. This helps to create a free-flowing layout that enhances both your kitchen dynamic and food prep efficiency.

After considering where to position the sink, fridge and hob, you can begin thinking about where you want your other kitchen appliances to sit, such as the microwave, dishwasher, wine cooler and more.

L-shaped kitchen

If you’re looking to maximise the worktop space in your kitchen whilst maintaining an open plan layout, an L-shaped kitchen could be the perfect solution.

As the name suggests, L-shaped kitchens are set out in an L shape, requiring the use of one or two walls, to create a spacious setting that's ideal for socialising.

Practicality is at the forefront of an L-shaped kitchen design and its stylish layout provides space-saving storage solutions and a great amount of worktop span.

Typically this layout will feature appliances for cooking and cleaning (hob and oven) at one end of the kitchen and space for storage at the other side.

L-shaped kitchens are highly versatile, suitable for both small and large kitchen spaces, and for both contemporary or traditional designs.

When it comes to picking a colour scheme for your L-shaped kitchen, your possibilities are almost endless.

You may choose to keep things simple with a glossy black finish for your kitchen, combined with a vibrant colour pop or white kitchen appliances to really bring the aesthetic together.

If you are looking to create a more rustic feel in your kitchen space, opt for wooden cabinets, teamed with white marble countertops and matt black kitchen appliances.

Galley kitchens

Whether you’re starting from scratch or remodelling, a galley kitchen can work exquisitely as one of the most functional spaces in your home.

A galley kitchen is essentially a long, narrow kitchen layout with appliances positioned on one or both sides - making it an ideal design for smaller properties. It also create a sleek and sophisticated concept for larger homes.

A typical galley kitchen consists of two parallel rows of units, including cabinetry, appliances, and countertops, positioned in a walk-way layout.

For smaller spaces, get creative with your storage spaces and tuck away any large appliances which aren’t in use.

U-shaped kitchens

A U-shaped layout is a common kitchen layout that features built-in cabinetry, countertops and appliances on all three sides.

Typically U-shaped kitchens work best in large spaces, but it is also possible to make this layout work with a smaller space.

In larger kitchen layouts, U-shaped kitchens are often fitted with a free-standing island and seating, in smaller spaces, a breakfast bar may be fitted to provide extra counter space.

In many U-shaped kitchen designs, the sink sits at the top of the ‘U’, typically under a window, with the fridge and cooker on opposing sides to make up a 3-point ‘golden triangle’ structure.

If one of your opposing units is longer, it is best to put your cooker on this side to provide you with extra food prep space.

U-shaped kitchens benefit from the use of lighter colour palettes to expand the look and feel of your kitchen space.

You might choose to accentuate softer colour palettes with hues of grey, statement pops of colour or keep things minimalist with black kitchen appliances.

When it comes to planning storage in your U-shaped kitchen, utilise straightforward cabinet units and corner cupboards to maximise your storage space. Keep everyday ‘bulky’ appliances such as toasters and blenders stored away to free up counter space.

You can find more smart storage solutions in our handy guide.

The beauty of built-in appliances

From ovens, dishwashers and fridge freezers to microwaves and coffee machines - there’s a whole host of appliances you need to fit into your kitchen space.

Both sleek and functional, built-in appliances are a savvy way to save space and streamline your kitchen.

You may choose to completely integrate some of your appliances, such as the dishwasher and fridge freezer, into your kitchen design.

Integrated appliances are covered with an exterior panel that blends in seamlessly with surrounding cabinetry to offer a sleek, seamless appearance.

Which of your appliances can be integrated?

Oven - An oven can be built into your floor or wall units at your desired height. A built-in microwave and oven combination can help free up your workspace and prevent your kitchen from looking cluttered.

Hob - A built-in hob fits seamlessly into your worktops, helping to offer a sleek finish.

Dishwasher - A dishwasher can be fitted into your kitchen cupboards, and can be either exposed or integrated.

Fridge and Freezer - A fridge freezer can be either integrated or exposed depending on your desired design theme.

Small appliances - There are an array of small domestic appliances that you can integrate into your kitchen design, including wine coolers, coffee machines, microwaves and more.

Create your perfect Magnet kitchen with our easy-to-use kitchen planner.

Pros of built-in appliances

• Built-in appliances can be integrated into any kitchen of any size.
• Built-in and integrated kitchen appliances offer a sleek, modern and visually appealing design.
• Opting for built-in appliances, such as coffee machines and microwaves, can free up countertop space, as well as allow you to install a wider range of appliances.
• Built-in appliances offer better functionality.
• Can increase property value.

Cons of built-in appliances

• A downside to having your appliances built in is that they are often more expensive than the free standing models with the same specifications.
• You may also find that some appliances don’t hold the same capacity, for example fridges.
• You will have to leave built-in appliances behind if you decide to move house.
• Built-in appliances like fridges and freezers can use more energy as they rely on more powerful cooling systems.

Other appliance planning considerations

Below we’ve outlined some of our top kitchen appliance layout and kitchen planning tips:

• Design - first and foremost, it’s important to consider how your appliances will fit in with the overall design of your kitchen. For a modern and sleek finish, consider integrating your kitchen appliances, and if you are looking to create a more traditional finish, built-in appliances will work best.
• How you use your kitchen space - It's important to consider what appliances you use the most in your kitchen, the size of your household and how often you choose to entertain. This will help you determine what size your oven will need to be, whether you need to integrate a microwave or install a coffee machine.
• Convenience - when planning your kitchen area, you will also need to consider what small appliances you may need, including toasters, coffee machines, blenders and kettles. Decide in the planning stages where you would like these appliances to be.
• Utilise your kitchen island - Create both a stylish and practical kitchen island, with a selection of practical storage designs and integrated appliances.

• Oven capacity - in the planning stages you will also need to contemplate how many ovens you will need, as well as the capacity you will need your oven to have. This all depends on how often you and your family tend to cook. Larger families may want to install two ovens into their cooking space for ease.
• Hobs and extraction - all kitchens will have integrated hobs, however you will need to decide whether you want to opt for a gas, induction or ceramic hob.
• Refrigeration - Ensure that you consider both the size and capacity of the fridge and freezer you will require, as you don’t want to be short on space.
• Food preparation - plan an area next to the refrigerator for food preparation, this will help add to the practicality of your kitchen space.

Think about the extractor

Your extractor acts as the filter for your kitchen, helping to remove any grease, smoke or smells from the air to keep your kitchen clean.

Your extractor fan always needs to be positioned directly above the hob and there are a few styles you can choose from to suit your preferred kitchen design.

An integrated hood will remain hidden when not in use. They are very discreet and look like a mounted cabinet from the front.

Floating island hoods are designed to float above the hob on your kitchen island.