Do You Work Your Kitchen or Does Your Kitchen Work For You?

Aside from choosing finishes for your kitchen such as cabinets or countertops, contemplating the layout of your kitchen, and how it can be improved or whether it is fine as is, is an important part of any kitchen remodel project.

Think about how you use your kitchen, whether you are preparing a meal or cleaning up after. Does your kitchen work for you or do you have to work your kitchen – forced to work around a layout that is less than ideal and inconvenient?

The Work Triangle is the most important design element of a kitchen. The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) defines it as an imaginary straight line drawn from the center of the sink, to the center of the cooktop, to the center of the refrigerator and finally back to the sink. These lines form The Work Triangle and correlates directly to a kitchen’s functionality – or lack of.

The goal of The Work Triangle is to ensure the major work stations needed by the cook are nearby without cramping their work space, and to prevent others from interfering in the cook’s workspace.

These are some NKBA approved guidelines for The Work Triangle. Does your kitchen function properly or could improvements be made?

• The sum of the work triangle’s three sides should not exceed 26 feet, and each leg should measure between four and nine feet.

• The work triangle should not cut through an island or peninsula by more than 12 inches.

• If the kitchen has only one sink, it should be placed between or across from the cooking surface, preparation area, or refrigerator.