What is the kitchen triangle and why should you use it?
The kitchen work triangle is the space that links the three pillars of any kitchen; the fridge, the sink and the hob/oven. This is a tried and tested guideline that has been around since the 1940s. The idea is that this triangle works as efficiently as possible at linking all the main areas of your kitchen together so you can get the very most out of your kitchen space. If you think your ‘golden triangle’ could do with some improvements when it comes to accessing all areas with ease and without crowding then let us enlighten you.
The Principles of the Kitchen Work Triangle
All kitchen designers would agree that the principle of the kitchen triangle is to maximise the available space by positioning the most heavily used elements (the food preparation, cooking and storage areas) in optimum proximity to one another. You want the kitchen to feel as roomy and as open as possible, whilst also being able to find and reach the important kitchen items without having t make many unwanted journeys. The right kitchen work triangle will allow for this.
The science behind the triangle
Since the birth of the kitchen triangle, kitchen designers and architects have applied the same set of rules for a clean, efficient design – the following factors should guide any kitchen design.
A full-height cabinet or a kitchen island should never come between any points of the triangle, ensuring your movement between the 3 points is not impacted.
Obstacles should not intersect any part of the triangle by more than 300mm (30cm).
The sides of any length of the kitchen triangle should be between 1.2 and 2.7 metres.
The total length of the 3 sides should be somewhere between 4 and 8 metres.
Within the triangle, there should be no other traffic flow to ensure you can work safely and undisturbed.
There is always the potential for a second triangle to be created by adding a second sink to an island or fourth-wall peninsula (space dependent). This is also an effective way to create a speciality workstation for baking or meal prep.
Creating a More Effective Work Triangle
The kitchen has come a long way since the 1940s and it’s important to remember how the kitchen triangle guidelines are just that – guidelines. If you want to change things up with your kitchen design to work better for your family’s specific needs then by all means do so.
Kitchens now have the potential to be much larger than your average kitchen in the 40s/50s and have become a multifunctional room for many, especially since the pandemic hit and some kitchen/diners also became offices and classrooms. In addition to this the traditional roles within homes are changing, meaning that cooking is a much more collaborative activity between partners, spouses, friends and families and therefore more space is often needed to make from for these shared experiences. For these reasons, modern kitchen designers no longer design kitchens exclusively around the work triangle approach, but often adopt a work zone approach.
The New Work Zone Triangle
The work zone approach breaks your kitchen up into other sections as well as the more traditional kitchen work triangle. This design allows for flexibility and ability to organise the space based on the particular activities that will happen in that room, whether that be working from home, cooking, or even watching tv as you wash up.
Each kitchen can be broken down into four basic zones, with each zone defining a certain activity that the kitchen is used for.
Cooking
The hob and oven is generally in the middle of one wall, giving you room on either side to move around. But in addition to making sure the hob and oven are positioned well, consider where the microwave goes, whether it is next t the oven, below it in a cupboard, or above on a shelf. It’s also important to think about where you want your pots and pans, utensils and plates.
Fridge, freezer and pantry/cupboards
Think anywhere you store your consumables – fresh food, frozen food, tins, condiments, alcohol and anything in between. Keeping these areas close can make it easy to get all of the ingredients you need.
Tableware and Cutlery
Potentially a lot of storage should be dedicated to non-consumable items like silverware, tableware, utensils, pots and pans, baking trays, and more. Make sure you also consider where you’ll to store other items like foil, recipe books, tea towels and so on. We recommend drawers and upper cabinets.
Sink Storage
Most people like to include cleaning and household items in this area such as the dishwasher, bin, recycling, mop, clothes etc. You could opt for a pull out bin and recycling space under your sink to be extra organised and clean.
Preparation Storage
You will want to ensure that you have access to utensils, cutting boards, and mixing bowls, as well as plenty of countertop space. When designing the kitchen it definitely pays off to plan for the storage around the food preparation area.
Other Elements
It is now also common to consider other elements in the design such as where you are able to charge your phone, laptop or other devices, where you will set up your workstation or which area you would like to devote to dining.
Designing Your Kitchen With The Triangle In Mind
The perfect kitchen will expertly marry a stunning design with practical function. Kellyvision Kitchens are kitchen design specialists and will work alongside you to fit a kitchen that works to your exact specifications and wants. Get in touch with our professional team today to take your kitchen work triangle to the next level.