Straight
Good for smaller homes and apartments. It's the least efficient kitchen plan, but it maximizes space.
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Kitchen planning guide
Planning your dream kitchen
Start with your layout, then measure your space. Bring your plan to either showroom and our designers will turn it into a free 3D design.
5 standard kitchen layouts
The first step in planning is choosing a layout for your kitchen. There are five basic kitchen shapes: straight, galley, L-shape, U-shape and G-shape.
The traditional work triangle
The work triangle is the standard layout professionals use to design efficient kitchens. Its three points are the refrigerator, the range and the sink.
Galley
Efficient for up to two cooks, though it leaves little extra room for household traffic passing through.
L-shape
The most common kitchen layout in American homes. It gives plenty of continuous counter space, a well-executed work triangle, and room for a dining area or island.
U-shape
Ideal for the solo cook. Continuous countertops and cabinets surround the cook on three sides, putting everything within reach.
G-shape
A step up from the U-shape, adding extra cabinet and counter space. To avoid feeling closed in, it works best when two walls open to adjacent spaces.
Getting started
Measure your space
Accurate measurements are essential. With them, your designer can help you create your dream kitchen.
Floor plan
Prepare a simple floor plan of your existing kitchen, like the diagram shown. Mark the exact locations of doors, windows, range hood vents, gas lines, water lines, drains, switches, outlets, light fixtures and vents. Double-check all measurements.
Measuring procedure
Measure as outlined below using a tape measure and graph paper.
Horizontal measurement
- Measure from wall to wall at 36″ height.
- Measure from the corner to the window or door opening.
- Measure across the opening from trim edge to trim edge.
- Measure from the edge of the trim to the far wall. Compare the sum of #2, #3 and #4 with #1.
- Mark the exact location of the water line, drain, gas line and electrical outlets/switches on the drawing.
- Measure from wall to wall above the window and compare with #1.
Vertical measurement
- Measure from the floor to the window sill.
- Measure from the window sill to the top of the window.
- Measure from the top of the window to the ceiling.
- Measure from floor to ceiling and compare with the sum of #1, #2 and #3.
Appliance & fixture information
Show the desired locations of appliances on your drawing. Be sure to mark natural gas locations, 110-volt outlets, wall-mounted telephone locations (T) and cable TV outlets (CTV).
| Appliance / fixture | Type | Size (W × H × D) | Hinge position (L/R) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | |||
| Range hood vent | |||
| Cooktop | |||
| Dishwasher | |||
| Sink | |||
| Disposal | |||
| Trash compactor | |||
| Other |
You dream it, we design it
Bring your measurements to a showroom, or ask us to measure your space, and we'll create your kitchen in 3D for free.