For many of us the kitchen is where we spend most of our time when we are at home, whether eating, cooking, enjoying a coffee or a meal with friends. Kitchens come in all shapes and sizes. And even if you don’t have a large surface area, there are design solutions for every space, and the ideas are endless.

In order to make the kitchen as comfortable as possible to use, there are a few rules we should follow.

First of all, you should know that in a kitchen there are three main areas:

  1. Storage area – the fridge.
  2. Preparation area – sink and worktop.
  3. Cooking area – stove and oven.

All these areas should be positioned in such a way that they form a triangle – the ‘Optimal working triangle in an ergonomic kitchen’. By following this essential rule, you will have easy access to each of these areas of the kitchen and the centre of the room will be freer.

You can also opt for a linear, single-sided kitchen configuration, but with the right organisation. In this case, you should keep the following order in mind: fridge, countertop, sink, countertop, stove, countertop. Why three times countertop? Because between the fridge and the sink there needs to be a working space that you use when you take out or put products in the fridge, and between the sink and the stove you need working space when you cook.

For narrower kitchens, there are three other principles we can use:

  1. Use as much wall space as possible. Opt for hanging cabinets for crockery, poles and shelves for spices and utensils, racks for various accessories.
  2. Choose vertical storage. Here we’re talking about modular chests of drawers and shelving columns.
  3. Opt for large built-in appliances (oven, stove, hood, fridge).

The points listed above can help you strike a balance between utility and comfort, so that even the cramped kitchen is as comfortable as possible.

One thing that is paramount and requires attention is the electrical installation. It would be a good idea for large appliances (washing machine, oven, electric cooker, cooker hood, microwave, fridge, dishwasher) to each be powered from a separate socket. Otherwise, you risk not being able to fit the oven, for example, in the place you want it or the electrical installation may not be able to withstand it. Also, the sockets should not be above the sink or cooker, but next to them, at a safe distance so as not to put yourself at risk.

A properly designed kitchen must be well planned! Before ordering furniture and appliances, make sure you have a plan in place and know for sure what and where it will be fitted. This way you will be able to map out the necessary installations (electrical, plumbing, heating) and choose furniture that will meet all your needs!