How to equip a U-shaped kitchen

Due to the fact that the U-shaped kitchen uses three adjacent walls and two corners, it can be called a real dream kitchen.

• First, it is very convenient for it to prepare and conduct all work processes, from unloading products and finishing cleaning;
• Secondly, it provides more storage and cutting surfaces than any other form of kitchen;
• Thirdly, it is quite universal - it can be adjusted to the features of space, varying distance between sidewalls, their size, shape or replacing one of them with a peninsula or bar rack.

At the same time, the U-shaped set is the most cumbersome and requires a minimum of 5 sq. M. meters of free space. It turns out that if the premises are small, the dining room will have to equip a very tiny one or completely replace it with a bar counter, which itself is part of the letter P. In addition, such a layout is not possible in a narrow room, when the short walls of the room have a width less than, m, because the passage is too narrow, and this is not only uncomfortable, but also prohibited by fire regulations security. Disadvantage of U-shaped kitchen can be called the fact that it is not very convenient to cook in a pair and especially in a trio - it is too close.

From this material, you will learn whether the U-shape is optimal for your kitchen and, if so, how to equip and plan it in the best possible way. And here you will find 55 photo-examples of U-shaped kitchens for inspiration and search for design ideas.

In which cases is the U-shaped headset an optimal solution?

• If your kitchen is square or rectangular, the letter "P" will fit into her cheers - the passage between the two sidewalls will not be too wide and not too narrow.
• If the kitchen is used only as a working room, and the dining room is taken out into a separate room or in the adjoining living room, then you have no reason to refuse such a convenient layout.

• If you like to cook, do it often and a lot, then the U-shaped set will make the cooking even more pleasant, will speed up and facilitate all the culinary processes.
• If your kitchen has a bay window and you are ready to organize a workspace under the window, then you will naturally get a U-shaped, or rather a C-shaped set.

• For a kitchen-living room or for an apartment-studio, the U-shaped layout with a peninsula or bar counter is ideal, as it will organically divide the space into zones.

12 advices on arrangement

1. To make the kitchen comfortable, when planning to follow the rule of the "working triangle"

According to this rule, the cooker, sink and refrigerator must form a triangle and be located next to each other. The U-shaped layout is good in that it allows you to easily observe this rule. You can take one of the three walls under each work point, or you can build a slab and a sink along one wall, and place the refrigerator opposite, as shown in the plan below.

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2. It is important that the passage is not too narrow and not too wide

The optimum and most convenient distance between the sides of the cabinet is 120 cm. The minimum allowable distance is 90 cm. And the maximum is 180 cm. The passage of greater width will deprive the U-shaped kitchen of the main advantage - convenience.

3. If the passage is small and uncomfortable, make one side of the headset narrower and sloping

If one of the sidewalls is located close to the doorway and makes entry to the kitchen difficult, then it can and should be made beveled and narrower (for example, a depth of 45 cm). The same solution will be relevant if the kitchen is small and at standard sizes of pedestals the distance between the two sides of the kitchen does not reach a comfortable 100-120 cm.

Also, the pedestal, located at the entrance to the kitchen, can have a trapezoidal or rounded shape. Examples of such configurations are shown in the photo below.

4. One side of the headset may be shorter

So you can allocate more space for a dining group or make the entrance to the kitchen more free.

5. To save space in a small kitchen, build a sill in the headset

To do this, it needs to be leveled with the level of the floor stand, raising or lowering the window, and then combine with the headset a single table top. The built-in window sill can become both a side and a central part of the U-shaped headset, and it can be used as a bar rack or work surface.

• If you want to remodel the window sill in a bar counter, add one or two legs to the tabletop (if necessary), close the radiator with a decorative screen and put a pair of bar stools.

• If you want to use a window sill as a work surface, under the countertop, you need to build in cabinets without a back wall and close them with facades. Thus, you hide the heatsink and create additional storage. Below in the photo is an example of a kitchen area of ​​only 5 square meters. m, in which it became possible to build a U-shaped set only due to the alteration of the windowsill.

When building a window sill in a headset, do not forget to make in the counter top the ventilation holes for the passage of heat from the radiator to the window. If you do not do this, chances are high that the windows will start to fog, because of which the niche will be covered with mold and fungus.

By the way, if you do not have the opportunity to raise / lower the window, and the difference between the height of the window sill and the pedestals is not great, then the joint between the different levels can be closed with a corner, as shown in the photo below.

6. In order not to clutter the kitchen, if possible, give up hanging lockers completely or partially

Even one empty wall will "lighten" the space, especially if the kitchen is not large. And to compensate for storage, one or two walls can be equipped with a block of high pencil cases and, at the same time, carefully plan the lower bollards.

• Equip the corners of the lower tier with roundabouts or pull-out multi-level baskets. Swing boxes prefer rolling drawers. And even a pedestal with a pair of mini-boxes on wheels. So the kitchen will contain everything you need.

Replace hanging cabinets can be a pair of open shelves. Although they are not very practical, they look much lighter.

See also the material on the topic: Kitchen without closets: 6 ideas for storage of things, 5 layout options and 40 photos for inspiration.

7. Project the headset to the ceiling and / or embed the sides of the case, if you want to create a roomy storage system

If you need to create maximum storage locations, design a tall suite with an additional tier and / or one or two sidewalls at once with cupboard cabinets.

• By the way, the canisters are perfectly combined with the built-in appliances - a refrigerator, an oven and a microwave. This combination is good not only for its spaciousness, but also for the fact that it "merges" with the wall and becomes almost invisible.

8. Choose facades of white or in the tone of the walls

The U-shaped set itself is massive and monumental, so it should be "lightened" in all accessible visual ways, especially when it comes to a small kitchen. Here are some tips on how to do this:

• If you pick up the facades in the tone of the walls, then the closet seems to "dissolve" in space, and the kitchen will not seem so tight. Ideally, the color of walls and facades for a kitchen with a U-shaped layout should be light. For example, white, beige, light gray or cream shade is suitable. Below in the photo you can consider the interior of a 10-meter kitchen with beige walls and beige U-shaped set.

• The most unbeatable and universal color of the U-shaped headset is white. With him, even the smallest kitchen will seem spacious.

• Do you want dark or bright colors? You can decorate them with a lower tier, one of the parts of the headset or even an apron.

• Glossy facades work well in a small and dark kitchen. After all, the gloss reflects light and makes furniture "weightless". The same effect will create and glass inserts.
• Want to achieve maximum ease? Choose solid facades without panels and even without handles as in the following photo-example. The more homogeneous the surface of the kitchen, the better.

9. The island will make it easier to make a large U-shaped kitchen

In a very spacious kitchen, a large U-shaped set becomes uncomfortable. The island will help to correct this defect. The main thing is that the passages around it are wide enough - at least 90 cm.

10. Create enough lighting

The table top should be illuminated along the entire length from the beginning and up to the end with a furniture illumination or wall sconces. Ceiling fixtures and hangers are suitable for illuminating the sink. photo), as well as built-in peninsula or bar.

11. Strive for symmetry and focus on the center of the headset

The U-shaped layout looks best when it is symmetrically arranged and has a beautiful center. If you have the possibility of such a layout without compromising convenience, be sure to use it.

• The center can be a hood above the stove, a sink with a nice chandelier or, say, a window with a beautiful curtain.

12. Engage the corners at 100%

Two corners of the kitchen should not be wasted, especially since they have great potential.

• As we have already mentioned, it is necessary to equip corner pedestals with sliding multi-level systems or a carousel. So the corners will be deprived of the "dead zones" and will be very convenient.
• At least one of the corners should be equipped with a sink or stove. In this case, it is desirable that the corner cabinet has a trapezoidal shape as in this kitchen in the photo below.

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Read also:

• . 10 rules of kitchen planning.
• . Features of self-assembly kitchen corner set.
• . Corner kitchen with a bar counter.
• . Kitchen with island - all the features of planning and design.
• . How to plan an ideal corner kitchen.
• . All about planning a straight (linear, single-row) kitchen.
• . Guide for choosing and planning a kitchen set.