The kitchen is the heart of any home. This is where the family gathers to prepare and serve lunch together. In fact, we can even venture to say that the kitchen has taken over the duties of living for many families. Therefore, the arrangement of this space is extremely important. The kitchen furniture must be carefully chosen, in order to optimally combine the design elements with the functionality.
Choosing the furniture according to the shape of the kitchen
Depending on the space and how it is distributed, you can choose the right kitchen furniture for you. Here are the most common forms:
- With island: it is the ideal choice for extremely spacious kitchens. The island kitchen is a real help if you want to spend time with your family while you cook. At the same time, it can become a dining room, a bar, a separator between the kitchen and the living room, etc.
- In parallel lines: the kitchen layout in this way is the ideal choice if the window and door are parallel. Thus, the kitchen furniture will be positioned on the other two walls
- Inline: it suits extremely small spaces and involves placing furniture on one wall. Thus, it will create an airy look, which will give the illusion of more space
- L-shaped: involves placing the furniture on two walls, arrange them L-shaped. This form of the kitchen will allow the arrangement of dining space on one of the perpendicular walls.
- U-shaped: it involves arranging the furniture on 3 walls. It is an ideal solution for large families, where additional storage space is required and requires two people to cook simultaneously
Choosing the furniture according to your needs
Another element you need to consider when choosing the right kitchen furniture is for your needs. If you cook a lot, you need to make sure that your kitchen is as functional as possible. Thus, you have to make sure that you have the 5 necessary work areas: the supplies area (storage/closets), the storage area (the fridge), the cleaning area (the sink), the preparation area (the countertop) and the cooking area (the hob + the oven).
Choosing the furniture according to the opening systems
Even if it looks superficial, the opening technologies of furniture can make your work easier or more difficult. The most appreciated such systems are: push to open technology for drawers, doors with easy opening and position retention, silent closing by integrated damping, etc. Carefully analyze existing options and opt for what suits you.
Choosing the furniture according to the safety distances
In order to work and feel as comfortable as possible in the kitchen, we recommend that you choose the height of the furniture according to your height. The distance between the countertop and the elbow should not be greater or less than 13-17 cm. There are also some safety margins to keep:
- Between refrigerator and stove: approx. 40 cm
- Between stove and sink: approx. 60 cm
- Between the base of the hood and the stove: approx. 65-70 cm
Light sources embedded in furniture
You need to make sure that the items of interest in the furniture are properly lit. We mention here: the countertop, the sink, the stove. If you have the opportunity, we recommend that you choose furniture with included spots. They will be of real help when the main light source is not enough.
Possibility to incorporate appliances
More and more people prefer to incorporate household appliances into furniture. If you want to do this, it is best to either carefully measure the spaces and choose the appliances accordingly, or to opt for custom furniture, optimally adjusted to your needs.
These are the main variables you need to consider when choosing kitchen furniture.
