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Efficient kitchen design : The kitchen work triangle

  • Kitchen Design
Jun 14, 2022
L-shaped kitchen design with kitchen work triangle - Beautiful Homes

What is the Kitchen Work Triangle and is this design layout actually something you need to have for an efficient and aesthetically pleasing kitchen? If you have these questions and more like it, then we have the answers for you!

Much before the current era, where high-efficiency and easy functionality are prized, there was research being done on ways in which to optimise the kitchen layout in homes. In fact, it was nearly a century ago that the concept of the Kitchen Work Triangle, also known as the Golden Triangle, was born. This design idea is still very much in use today – being both time-tested and well-loved – and is often a mainstay of modular kitchen design. Knowing the basic principles behind this design concept can help you make sure your kitchen is designed with a layout that’s not only practical, but also ergonomically comfortable and aesthetically pleasing.

 

So, let’s talk a little bit more about the Kitchen Triangle in kitchen design; what it is, how it works and why you need it!

 

What is the Kitchen Work Triangle?

What the Kitchen Triangle is All About & Why you Need it

The core concept of the Kitchen Work Triangle is based on the idea that there are three primary work zones in the kitchen and simplifying the movement between them – ensuring that they are at the optimum, equal distance and that the pathways between them are clear – will make your workflow in the kitchen more efficient. Of course, since you have three points that need to be equidistant, a triangle is formed, creating the Kitchen Triangle rule.

 

The three areas that make up this Kitchen Golden Triangle are the refrigerator (food storage), the stove (cooking range), and the sink (prep work and cleaning). 

Kitchen golden triangle for your modern kitchen - Beautiful Homes
Modern white & grey kitchen interior design - Beautiful Homes

Why these three? Well, not only are they the three areas that are used the most frequently in any kitchen, but they also can’t generally be right next to each other due to their functional aspects (heat, water, electricity access, etc). Since a cook’s major walking time and movement in the kitchen is between these stations, with the Kitchen Triangle in place, you can ensure that they are neither too close together or far apart – so that a cook can easily reach their food storage, cooking, and cleaning areas, but still have enough space between them to avoid creating a bottleneck or feeling crowded – cutting down on time, effort and general bother.

How the Kitchen Triangle Works Today

An important point to keep in mind is that while the concepts behind the triangle kitchen layout are very applicable when creating a practical design plan for a modern kitchen design, the size and style of kitchens and even the way we use them has changed a lot from the early 1920s. So you can follow the tenets of this design concept, but treat them more like guidelines rather than hard rules or laws.

Island kitchen design with golden kitchen work triangle - Beautiful Homes
Modular kitchen design with storage space in the kitchen triangle - Beautiful Homes

The ideal outcome that you want to achieve with the modern Kitchen Work Triangle is an easy, rotational movement between the main kitchen tasks of cooking, cleaning and storage, and each section of the triangle represents this traffic flow within a kitchen. So, the main points to keep in mind are that your three key sections are a comfortable distance from each other and that there are no other major traffic patterns that cut through or block the work triangle in kitchen design.

By sticking to these points and being a little less rigid about the other specifics, even with open-plan layouts and the larger kitchens of today, you can still have a version of this golden triangle. You can even create multiple types of Kitchen Work Triangle within your available space. In fact, creating a second triangle is a good way to achieve a workable Kitchen Triangle with island or peninsula kitchen layouts – you could use this method to set up a speciality workstation for prep work or desserts/baking. One thing to keep in mind with this, is that the two triangles should not cross the traffic flow of each other, this will prevent possible accidents from movement being blocked, and also make it convenient for more than one person to work in the kitchen at one time.

White & grey colored wall mounted kitchen cabinet for your home - Beautiful Homes


Ideal Traffic Flow in the Work Triangle 

To create an ideal workflow in any shape, size or style of kitchen, there are some basic Kitchen Work Triangle dimensions to follow:

Hanging lights for your modern kitchen interiors - Beautiful Homes
  • The total distance of the Kitchen Triangle shouldn’t exceed 26  feet. Ideally, staying in the range of 13 - 26 feet works best.
  •  The distance between each of the three points (i.e. the length
     of each side of the Kitchen Triangle) should be between 4 an 9 feet.
  • Major traffic pathways should be clear of obstructions and ideally around 3 feet wide to allow for easy movement and increase the safety of the space.

Planning Storage & Placing Appliances in the Work Triangle

When planning out your kitchen design, triangle points should align with the storage needs of those areas – spices and large utensils around the cooking section in shelves and drawers; prep tools (like knives, colanders, peeler, etc) and waste bins near the sink/preparation zone; dry goods and other pantry items within easy reach of the fridge, creating a clear storage zone.

 

Obviously when the Kitchen Triangle was first thought up, there were no modern appliances such as the dishwasher or microwave, so how do you make them work in the design? 

Wooden U shaped kitchen design layout with kitchen work triangle - Beautiful Homes

A simple Kitchen Triangle rule is to include appliances into the layout by situating them near areas of similar functional need (i.e. the microwave near the fridge or the dishwasher by the sink). Also, remember to keep the open doors and access needs of kitchen appliances in mind when you plot out your Kitchen Triangle dimensions within the footprint of your space.


 

TLDR : Kitchen Work Triangle FAQs

#1 : What is the Purpose of the Work Triangle?

The main purpose of the Kitchen Triangle in kitchen design is to make the workflow and traffic flow within the kitchen more streamlined and easier. This is why the basic Kitchen Triangle rule is to ensure the three primary workstations are at a comfortable distance from each other and have clear pathways between them.

 

#2 : What are the Three Areas in the Kitchen Triangle?

The Kitchen Golden Triangle is made up of the refrigerator (food storage area), stove (cooking area), and sink (food prep and washing area). These form the kitchen design triangle because they are the three main and most used areas in any kitchen.

 

#3 : Is the Kitchen Work Triangle Still a Relevant Layout Concept?

At its root this is still a very effective and efficient design. Today there are many types of Kitchen Work Triangle that make up the modern Kitchen Work Triangle, since it’s easy to layer this design concept with other, more modern design concepts, such as kitchen Work Zones.

 

#4 : Does the Kitchen Triangle Work for Every Kitchen Layout?

While modular kitchen design layouts such as the straight kitchen, galley kitchen or island/peninsula kitchen may not lend themselves perfectly to this design concept, it is quite easily adaptable and can be made to work in a looser form. For example, to make a workable Kitchen Triangle with island layouts, you could create two separate triangles that do not overlap, or adapt the pattern to include the island, creating a quadrangle instead. For straight or galley kitchens maintain the rule of clear pathways and try to arrange your kitchen accordingly.

 

#5 : What are the Dimensions of the Kitchen Work Triangle?

There are four simple and easy to follow Kitchen Work Triangle dimensions that should be kept in mind while planning your kitchen layout:

  1. The sum of the three sides of the work triangle in kitchen design should be between 13 and 26 feet.
  2. Each side should measure between 4 and 9 feet.
  3. Pathways should be at least 3 feet wide.
  4. Anything that protrudes should not extend more than 12 inches into the triangle.

 

If these Kitchen Triangle dimensions are roughly maintained, your kitchen will be more efficient and easy to work in. Plus, it will look neater and more aesthetically pleasing as your work zones will be appropriately spaced out.

 

If you can’t wait to have a kitchen that looks great and is highly functional, and you’re wondering how you can make the Kitchen Triangle work for your home, then maybe it’s time to reach out to us.

 

Here at Beautiful Homes Service by Asian Paints, we partner with you to craft the home of your dreams – from making those first design decisions to delivering the ideal final outcome, we’re there for you, every step of the way! We even make it easier for you to source the latest in furniture, home accessories and décor styles with our curated collection. So, if you’re eager to get started on creating that perfect haven, and live in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, Delhi, Pune or Kolkata, now’s a good time to get in touch with our team.

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