If you watch television or spend any time on YouTube, you’ll likely see a lot of cooking shows and profiles of high-end restaurants. Bon Appetit has a pretty robust YouTube channel doing that. One thing that you’ll notice is that unlike the chaos you see on shows like “Hell’s Kitchen” or “Top Chef,” instead of cooks running frantically from station to station, they quietly work in a small, organized space where everything is within reach to quickly produce a plate of food.
In a commercial kitchen the initial design doesn’t so much focus on which stove to buy or what knives to purchase, but rather the efficiency of the layout and the economy of movement needed for the cooks.
It’s about the ergonomics.
For home kitchens, many of the same rules apply.
Another trend is videos of people who have embraced “tiny living.” We don’t build tiny homes. But if you watch videos on a channel like Never Too Small, you’ll see people making the most of a 300- or 400-square foot apartment. Their kitchens meet all their daily needs in a very compact space. These folks are often talented cooks as well. They don’t have to compromise their culinary wants due to a lack of space.
No matter the size of your kitchen, most designers utilize something called “The Triangle Rule.” Everything you need to prepare a meal should be accessible in as few steps as possible, and is organized into three points – preparation, cooking, and cleaning. You have a space to prep, an easy reach to a stove or oven, and then over to the sink or dishwasher.
Think of it this way: If you enjoy making pasta, would you want to fill your pot at the sink and then have to walk around an island to get to the stove?
There are other design ideas that can help improve the efficiency of your kitchen.
If your island is your prep area and you like entertaining, consider a second island. Designate one for staging and preparing foods and the second for drinks and mingling.
If wine is your thing, create a wine nook for storing your most popular bottles. You can do the same with a designated bar area or coffee station. A small bottle fridge, countertop, and glass storage can allow your guests to make a beverage without crowding your cooking space or running to your refrigerator.
While some like to proudly display pots and knives and cooking utensils, consider convenient storage areas instead. They’ll still be within reach but keep your countertops clutter-free.
Nobody expects you to cook or entertain like you’re running a Michelin-starred restaurant, and you don’t need to cram everything into three square feet to be efficient. But simple design choices can make your kitchen both beautiful and useful.