L-shaped kitchens are incredibly efficient layouts, perfect for open plan living. With the cooking, cleaning, and prep zones all within easy reach of each other, a flexible design allows you to place them in whatever configuration you like. This arrangement is ideal for individuals seeking to maintain convenient access to their kitchen while enjoying ample open space for easy movement.
WHAT IS AN L-SHAPED KITCHEN LAYOUT?
The L-shape is an efficient design as it can facilitate a great work triangle to meal preparation, cleanup, and of course cooking. Why is it called L-shaped? In short, it’s because of the floor plan – there’s no additional restrictions and designs, it’s merely just a kitchen with an “L” shaped look. Among other layouts, this is a favourite among homeowners as it can be suitable for traditional and contemporary kitchens.
If you’re trying to build a new kitchen or just renovating the old one, and you’re considering the L-shaped design, here’s what you need to know about the pros and cons of the L-shaped kitchen.
WHAT ARE THE PROS OF HAVING AN L-SHAPED KITCHEN?
- Excellent for Open Floor Plans
The L-shaped kitchen can adapt to any floor designs. Its adaptable character allows it to give you enough space and room for your gadgets, appliances, and kitchen equipment. It will provide you the flexibility of setting up any boundaries with kitchen islands. With this layout, you’ll have more space to walk around and make best use of your kitchen.
- Separate Cooking Space & Sink
The L-shaped kitchen allows you to have enough space to separate your cooking area, preparation area, and washing area. In this way, you can work comfortably without constricting yourself. Moreover, the L kitchen design makes the working process more manageable than the other kitchen layouts.
- It Can Have Clever Corner Storages
The L-shaped kitchen layout allows you to add any smart corner storage units such as Magic corner units, Carousel units, and Le Mans pull-out units, all of which provide ample storage that maximised the space available. When you open the corner cabinet, it will rotate outwards and towards you, making it easier for you to get the contents inside the cabinet. On the other hand, the Carousel unit is circular and doesn’t extend outward. However, you can rotate through 360 degrees until you reach your preference.
- A Work Triangle Is Applicable
An L-shaped kitchen layout embraces the “work triangle” design, providing you with a convenient arrangement for prepping, cooking, and washing up. It’s a simple layout, but it can be the most suitable kitchen design for your home.
- Eliminates Traffic Flow
L-shaped kitchens can also create a guest-friendly area in the house, as this design eliminates traffic in the kitchen, which makes it easier for the cook to cater for and interact with the guests. When you have a bigger space, it can also make room for a few countertops or a small dining area. As you divide the workstations, it creates an illusion of more space in the kitchen.
- It Can Increase Productivity
Having an L-shaped kitchen layout lessens the hassle and increases productivity. When you’re a cook, the bigger the space, the more you can move, and the more you can move, the more efficient you become.
- Efficient for Smaller Areas
This design initially has the characteristics to make the area look spacious. Having an L-shaped layout is efficient in medium to small-sized kitchens as this kind of arrangement only requires two adjacent walls. If you have a small kitchen area, then consider installing an L-shaped kitchen design with the help of home builders in Melbourne, as this would make your area a bit more free and spacious.
Other benefits of an L-shaped kitchen for your home
- Perfectly suited to medium or large family homes
- Streamlined layout for optimal efficiency in the kitchen
- Ideal floor plan layout for an open plan house
- Cooking, cleaning and prep zones within easy reach
- Island benches are easily incorporated into the design
THE CONS OF HAVING AN L-SHAPED KITCHEN
Along with the functional advantages of having an L-shaped layout for the kitchen area, it also has its fair share of cons that you need to know about it.
- The Bigger the Space, The Less Efficient it Becomes
For larger kitchens, the L-shaped design isn’t necessarily the best use of space. Bigger spaces may help you put your appliances and equipment in place, but if these appliances are spread out, it will be hard for you to access them one at a time.
- It’s Applicable for a Single Cook Only
L-shaped layouts are usually for small kitchens with a single person cooking. However, if you have multiple cooks in a limited area, this may cause a ruckus.
- Corner Cabinets Might be a Problem
If you consider installing an L-shaped kitchen, you might want to set up a trolley unit in the corner cabinets, as it can be a problem for you to access the cooking equipment such as the frying pans, kettle, etc.
Other potential drawbacks of an L-shaped kitchen for your home
- The spacing of the various components might present a set of issues (GIA Bathrooms & Kitchens’ expert designers can help you overcome this problem)
- The corner cabinets need to be designed in a way that they don’t waste the corner space, which is an integral part of the overall design
- You may find that an L-shaped kitchen design doesn’t provide you with enough storage space (again, our professional team can work closely alongside you to devise an innovative solution)
Your basic L shaped kitchen design
L-Shaped Kitchens: What’s the takeaway?
To sum it up, L-shaped layouts can be a highly efficient and very suitable design for your home kitchen in a lot of ways, but it depends on the spatial limitations and unique floor plan layout of your specific home. Be sure to consider these pros and cons if you want to opt for an L-shaped layout design for your kitchen.
If you’re looking for a way to make the most out of your kitchen space, consider adding an island bench. This will give you extra prep area and storage space, and is the perfect place to sit and eat in your kitchen. With so much room to work with, you can really get creative with your design.
Where can I get a quote?
Getting a quote is as easy as reaching out to our helpful team at GIA Bathrooms & Kitchens. We offer a wide range of modern L-shaped kitchen designs that will suit your needs and budget – our experts can guide you through your renovation and help you find the perfect solution for your household.
Call us on 1300 442 736 or submit our online form and we’ll respond to your query as soon as we can. At GIA Bathrooms & Kitchens, we specialise in kitchen renos, bathroom renos and home extensions.
Olivia Cirocco
Design Manager
As a Bachelor of Interior Architecture graduate of The University of South Australia, Olivia has gained extensive experience in the field. In addition to developing critical analysis skills, Olivia learned how to implement creative, environmentally and socially sustainable settings. Using these techniques she has since enjoyed specialising as a bathroom and kitchen designer.
