Step 1: Measure Your Kitchen Space

A good kitchen design begins with having accurate measurements. You will first want to decide what you need, what you want, and what existing items you would like to incorporate into your new kitchen. 

Supplies You Will Need:

• Steel Tape Measure
• Pencil (preferably colored)
• Eraser
• Note Pad and Clipboard
• Small Step Ladder (if possible)

How to Measure Your Kitchen

Note:  All measurements should be in mm/m

Walls

Start in one corner and measure along the wall approximately 36″ from the floor. Measure the wall until you reach a stopping point, whether it is from a break in the wall, an obstruction, or an opening. If it is a window or a door, you will want to measure all the way across the window or door, from outside of trim to outside of trim. You will also want to measure the width of the trim and note it on your drawing. Continue on to the next break, obstruction, or opening. If there is none, continue to the corner.

You will want to continue this process all the way around the room. After you have measured the individual spaces on each wall, take a wall-to-wall measurement. This will help you double check your measurements.

Windows & Doors

After you have measured all of the walls, you will need to get additional information for the doors and windows. You will need to measure the overall door height, including trim, as well as the door swing. You will also need to measure the overall window height including trim, as well as the distance from the floor to the window sill. It is often helpful to make a chart and label each window A, B, C, as well as each door. You can record your measurements in the chart.

Ceiling & Soffits

Your next step will be to measure the ceiling height of your kitchen. You will want to take the measurement in a few different areas to judge how level the floor is. If your kitchen currently has soffits, you will also need to measure them. You will want to measure the height as well as the distance they jut out from the wall.

Step 2: Understand the Kitchen Work Triangle

While working in a kitchen, a cook naturally moves between three places where different tasks are performed. The path that you make when moving from the refrigerator, to the sink, to the cooktop or oven to prepare a meal is the Work Triangle. This triangle is the heart of your kitchen design.

In the next step, you will be selecting a kitchen layout. Carefully review the five different layouts to identify which layout is most similar to your current kitchen. Make sure to focus on the Work Triangle while looking at each layout as you may find a floor plan that you prefer over your own.

Additionally, keep in mind that you will need a place for food preparation. The most efficient place for preparing your food is within your Work Triangle–whether it’s a countertop, on an island, or between the cooking and food storage zones.

Step 3: Choose the Ideal Layout

Once you have measured and drawn out your floor plan, you can start to layout your ideal floor plan for your new kitchen. Your first step in doing this is to understand the work triangle. Your basic work triangle is an imaginary line drawn between your kitchens three primary work areas:  food storage (refrigerator), food preparation (stove), and clean up (sink). 

L-Shaped Kitchen

The L-shaped kitchen is one of the most popular styles because it is very flexible. Its work triangle is uninterrupted by traffic, and there is ample room for appliances. It is ideal for adding a dining area or an island.

U-Shaped Kitchen

A U-shaped kitchen surrounds you on all three sides with storage, countertops, and appliances. This kitchen is a very popular layout because of the compact work triangle it creates. It often contains generous counter space and helps provide an efficient work flow.

G-Shaped Kitchen

The G-shaped kitchen is similar to the U-shaped kitchen in that you still have the same amount of countertop space and storage options that surround the cook on three sides. What the G-shape layout adds is a peninsula or partial fourth wall of additional cabinets.

Galley Kitchen

The galley kitchen is ideal for small kitchens and is incredibly efficient. People walking through the kitchen can get in the cooks way, however; and counters and storage can be limited.

Single-Wall Kitchen

The single-wall kitchen is ideal for apartments. It provides an open and airy layout with all three work areas being located on one wall.