How to equip a U-shaped kitchen

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

• Firstly, it is very convenient to cook and carry out all work processes on it, from unloading products to cleaning;
• Second, it provides more storage and cutting surfaces than any other kitchen shape;
• Thirdly, it is quite versatile – it can be adjusted to the characteristics of the space by varying the distance between the sidewalls, their size, shape, or replacing one of them with a peninsula or a bar counter.

At the same time, the U-shaped headset is the most bulky and requires at least 5 sq. meters of free space. It turns out that if the room is small, the dining area will have to be equipped with a very tiny one or even 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 are less than 2.2 m wide, after all, the passage turns out to be too narrow, and this is not only inconvenient, but also prohibited by fire safety rules. The disadvantage of the U-shaped kitchen is the fact that it is not very convenient to cook on it in pairs, and even more so in a trio – it becomes too cramped.

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

When is a U-shaped headset the best solution??

• If your kitchen is square or rectangular, the letter “P” will fit into it with a bang – the passage between the two sidewalls will turn out not too wide and not too narrow.
• If the kitchen is used only as a working space, and the dining room is taken out in a separate room or in an attached living room, then you have no reason to refuse such a convenient layout..

Design of a U-shaped kitchen with a dining room taken out into an attached living room

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

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

• Kitchen with an area of ​​14 sq. meters with a U-shaped set and a glass partition
• Kitchen with an area of ​​14 sq. meters with a U-shaped set and a glass partition
• Kitchen with an area of ​​14 sq. meters with a U-shaped set and a glass partition
• Kitchen with an area of ​​14 sq. meters with a U-shaped set and a glass partition
• Kitchen with an area of ​​14 sq. meters with a U-shaped set and a glass partition
• Kitchen with an area of ​​14 sq. meters with a U-shaped set and a glass partition

12 home improvement tips

1. To make the kitchen comfortable, observe the “working triangle” rule when planning

According to this rule, the stove, sink and refrigerator should form a triangle and be located next to each other. The U-shaped layout is good because it allows you to easily follow this rule. You can assign one of three walls for each work point, or you can arrange the stove and sink along one wall, and place the refrigerator opposite, as shown in the plan below.

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

The optimal 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.A larger passage will deprive the U-shaped kitchen of its main advantage – convenience.

3. If the passage is narrow and inconvenient, make one side of the headset narrower and beveled

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

• An example of a beveled kitchen cabinet
• An example of a beveled kitchen cabinet

Also, the cabinet located at the entrance to the kitchen can have a trapezoidal or rounded shape. Examples of such configurations, see the photo below..

Small U-shaped kitchen with a trapezoidal cabinet at the entrance

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4. One side of the headset may be shorter

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

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

To do this, it must be leveled with the level of the floor pedestals by raising or lowering the window, and then combining it with a single tabletop with the headset. The built-in window sill can become both the side and the central part of the U-shaped headset, and it can be used as a bar counter or a work surface.

• If you want to convert the window sill into a bar counter, complete the tabletop with one or two legs (if necessary), cover the radiator with a decorative screen and put a pair bar stools.

U-shaped kitchen with a bar in the center

• If you want to use the window sill as a work surface, it is necessary to build cabinets without a back wall under the countertop and close them with facades. This will hide the radiator and create additional storage space. An example is shown below in the photo. kitchens with an area of ​​only 5 sq. m, in which it became possible to build a U-shaped set only thanks to the alteration of the window sill.

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When building a window sill into a headset, do not forget to make ventilation holes in the worktop to allow heat to pass from the radiator to the window. If this is not done, it is highly likely that the windows will begin to fog up, due to which the niche will become covered with mold and mildew..

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 floor pedestals is not great, then the joint between the multilevel countertops can be closed using a corner, as shown in the photo below.

6. In order not to clutter up the kitchen, if possible, give up hanging cabinets in whole or in part.

Even one empty wall will greatly “lighten” the space, especially if the kitchen is not large. And to compensate for storage space, one or two walls can be equipped with a block of tall cases and, at the same time, the lower cabinets can be carefully planned..

• Equip the corners of the lower tier with carousels or pull-out tiered baskets. Prefer drawers over swing cabinets. And even equip the plinth with a couple of mini-boxes on wheels. So the kitchen will accommodate everything you need..

You can replace the wall cabinets with a couple of open shelves. Although they are not very practical, they look much lighter..

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See also the material on the topic: Kitchen without upper cabinets: 6 storage ideas, 5 layouts and 40 photos for inspiration.

7. Design the headset up to the ceiling and / or embed side-by-side pencil cases for roomy storage

If you need to create a maximum of storage places, design a tall headset with an additional tier and / or equip one or two sidewalls with pencil cases.

• By the way, pencil cases are perfectly combined with built-in appliances – refrigerator, oven and microwave. This combination is good not only for its spaciousness, but also because it seems to “merge” with the wall and becomes almost invisible.

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8. Choose facades in white or to match the walls

The U-shaped set itself is massive and monumental, so it needs to be “lightened” by all available visual means, especially when it comes to a small kitchen. Here are some tips on how to do this:

• If you pick up the facades to match the walls, then the cabinet seems to “dissolve” in space, and the kitchen will not seem so cramped. Ideally, the color of the walls and facades for a kitchen with a U-shaped layout should be light. For example, white, beige, light gray, or cream will work. Below in the photo you can see interior of a 10-meter kitchen with beige walls and beige U-shaped set.

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• The safest and most versatile color for a U-shaped headset is white. With it, even the smallest kitchen will seem spacious..

White U-shaped kitchen

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

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• Glossy fronts work well in a small and dark kitchen. After all, gloss reflects light and makes furniture “weightless”. Glass inserts will create the same effect..
• Want to be as light as possible? Choose solid facades without panels and even without handles as in the following photo example. The more uniform the kitchen surfaces, the better..

9. The island will help make a large U-shaped kitchen more convenient

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

10. Create adequate lighting

The tabletop must be illuminated along the entire length from the beginning to the end of the headset using furniture lighting or wall sconces. Ceiling lamps and suspensions are suitable for lighting a sink (see photo), as well as a built-in peninsula or a bar counter.

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

U-shaped layouts look their best when they are symmetrically arranged and have a nice center. If you have the option of such a layout without sacrificing convenience, be sure to take advantage of it..

• The center can be a cooker hood, a sink with a nice chandelier, or, say, a window with a nice curtain..

• Symmetrical U-shaped kitchen in a classic style
• Symmetrical U-shaped kitchen in a classic style

12. Use the corners 100%

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

• As we already mentioned, corner cabinets should be equipped with retractable multi-level systems or a carousel. So the corners will lose “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.