You’ve just got the keys to your new HDB, condo or landed property and you need to plan out your kitchen.
For most new homeowners, this is a challenging aspect because you know that if you mess it up, it will be difficult to modify or reverse.
If your goal is longevity, reliability and convenience, a well-thought layout would make a huge difference in your experience in the kitchen, especially when you choose the right cabinets to go with it.
We’ll go through three typical layouts and by the end of the article, you will understand the pros and cons of each layout.
Galley Kitchen
A galley kitchen is a highly efficient layout with two parallel rows of kitchen cabinets and counters.
Its efficiency is the reason why you’ll see this layout in Singaporean homes with smaller, narrower kitchens, because this allows them to have foot-to-ceiling storage and counter spaces.
This ensures that you will have storage space for the ingredients, appliances and utensils for years to come. There are some fundamental rules when building a galley kitchen:
- 90cm of space between stove and sink for food prep;
- Stove should be placed with a bias towards the serving area
- Fridge should be close to the sink
A working triangle is possible with a galley kitchen layout, but some designers would also recommend placing the sink, fridge and stove on one side and using the other side as storage. This really depends on your home’s specific circumstances, your preferences and whether you have an oven, microwave or another essential appliance.
The downside to galley kitchens is that they are not meant for more than one user at a time because space is limited. When more than one user is in the space, you will find yourself having to dodge each other, specifically if the fridge, stove and sink are placed nearer to the entrance of the kitchen.
L-Shaped Kitchen
Characterized by two walls forming an "L" shape, you will often see this layout in Singaporean homes because it allows you to build an efficient kitchen with ease of access to the sink, fridge and stove.
L-shaped kitchens are ideal for smaller spaces with a more squarish shape because this gives you more prep space and the capability to host multiple users, for example, when a family member wants to cook instant noodles or make coffee while another person cooks dinner.
Because of the squarish layout, kitchen users won’t be rubbing shoulders like they would in a narrow galley layout.
Based on the kitchen work triangle concept, the ideal kitchen will have space that allows a minimum of about 1 metre of space between the sink, fridge and stove, to a maximum of about 3 metres.
However, for solo cooks, the spread-out nature of an L-shaped kitchen might prove cumbersome, requiring more movement to accomplish tasks. The increase in workspace also translates to more cleaning.
Additionally, the "L" configuration can lead to tricky corner storage solutions. Cabinets or carousels might be necessary to efficiently use corner spaces, which could complicate your initial setup, but luckily, our aluminium cabinets can do the job.
Open-Concept Kitchen with Kitchen Island
Having a kitchen island might seem like a western thing to do but more and more Singaporeans are choosing to install one in their kitchens because the benefits are huge.
An open-concept kitchen is one where the kitchen, dining and living rooms blend into each other, unlike the opposite where a door or an entryway separates the dining and living rooms.
Think of those restaurants where you never see the cooks and the ones where you can see the chefs preparing and cooking (sometimes behind a glass window). The ones where you can see the chefs come close to an open-concept kitchen.
The benefit of an open-concept kitchen is that you have fewer barriers to interacting with your guests and you can keep an eye on children.
Since the the kitchen and dining room blend into each other, incorporating a kitchen island adds functionality and style. A kitchen island offers enhanced storage, additional work surfaces, and can act as a casual dining area.
Furthermore, a kitchen island will help you build an efficient work triangle, especially if your kitchen only uses a single wall. By placing the sink or stove on the island, you can create a triangle.
The downsides to an open-concept kitchen are noise, smoke and smells that will travel faster around your home. Plus, whatever mess you have created as part of the cooking will be plain for everyone to see. The addition of an island will also be a permanent loss of interior space.
Choosing the Right Layout
Consider the pros and cons of each layout before making a decision.
Galley Kitchen Pros & Cons
Pros
- Highly efficient use of space with two parallel rows maximizing storage and counter space.
- Ideal for smaller, narrower kitchens, utilizing foot-to-ceiling storage.
Cons
- Limited space makes it difficult for more than one person to use the kitchen simultaneously
L-Shaped Kitchen Pros & Cons
Pros
- Efficient layout for smaller spaces with a more squarish shape, improving movement and workflow.
- Accommodates multiple cooks, allowing for diverse cooking activities simultaneously.
- Generally offers more prep space compared to narrower layouts.
Cons
- The spread-out arrangement can be cumbersome for solo cooks, requiring more movement.
- Increased workspace leads to more areas needing cleaning.
- Corner storage solutions may require special cabinets or carousels
Open-Concept Kitchen with Island Pros & Cons
Pros
- Blends kitchen with dining/living rooms; enhancing interaction with guests
- Kitchen island adds functionality, extra storage, additional work surfaces, and can serve as a casual dining area.
- Stylish design element that integrates the kitchen with dining and living areas.
Cons
- Noise, smoke, and odours spread more easily
- Permanent loss of some interior space due to the inclusion of an island
In the end, your choice of a galley, L-shape or open-concept kitchen comes down to your priorities, how many users your kitchen will have and the pre-existing room sizes of your home.
A lot of it comes down to storage priorities. Luckily, for all designs, our aluminium kitchen cabinets can make your kitchen space highly efficient, even in challenging layouts.