10 Key Ways to Create the All-important Kitchen Triangle
Not sure how best to position your sink, fridge-freezer and hob? Check out our new angles on the kitchen triangle...
Three is the magic number, especially when it comes to the kitchen working triangle. The principle is simple – place the sink, fridge-freezer and hob/oven on separate ‘legs’ of your layout, so they’re close enough for you to move from one to the other easily, but not so close they make working difficult. The good news is the triangle suits most designs and is flexible enough to be bent out of shape a little. Take inspiration from these 10 clever layouts.
Fit two elements into one run
While a U-shaped design often uses all three cabinetry runs, the rule isn’t set in stone. Here, two of the elements have been positioned along one wall, freeing up the central area to form a breakfast bar. A trio of pendant lights immediately defines the space as a place to eat and relax.
Revamp your breakfast bar with the help of some stylish bar stools
While a U-shaped design often uses all three cabinetry runs, the rule isn’t set in stone. Here, two of the elements have been positioned along one wall, freeing up the central area to form a breakfast bar. A trio of pendant lights immediately defines the space as a place to eat and relax.
Revamp your breakfast bar with the help of some stylish bar stools
Include your island in the equation
If a room has enough space for an island, it will happily form at least one point of the triangle, often becoming home to a hob or sink. Here, there are two elements along the back run of cabinetry, with the fridge-freezer’s bulk minimised by a wraparound unit. Breaking out of the triangle is a wine cooler, putting it within easy reach of guests and making your dinner parties very popular!
If a room has enough space for an island, it will happily form at least one point of the triangle, often becoming home to a hob or sink. Here, there are two elements along the back run of cabinetry, with the fridge-freezer’s bulk minimised by a wraparound unit. Breaking out of the triangle is a wine cooler, putting it within easy reach of guests and making your dinner parties very popular!
Do the double
A central workstation can be used to form a pair of triangles, one side with a hob and one with a double oven, a layout that lends itself well to two people working in a kitchen at the same time. Here, the sink has been placed in the middle, so the cook can pivot between the oven and sink or hob and sink.
A central workstation can be used to form a pair of triangles, one side with a hob and one with a double oven, a layout that lends itself well to two people working in a kitchen at the same time. Here, the sink has been placed in the middle, so the cook can pivot between the oven and sink or hob and sink.
Position the fridge for family access
In a busy family home, it’s often handy to locate the fridge-freezer on the edge of the working area, so people can help themselves to drinks and snacks without walking behind the cook. Here, rather than the island form part of the triangle, it’s been kept free to form a visual barrier and dedicated eating space.
In a busy family home, it’s often handy to locate the fridge-freezer on the edge of the working area, so people can help themselves to drinks and snacks without walking behind the cook. Here, rather than the island form part of the triangle, it’s been kept free to form a visual barrier and dedicated eating space.
Break the rules
An L-shaped kitchen needs two of the working triangle points to be on one stretch of cabinetry, but it doesn’t have to be the longest run. This design has the fridge-freezer and sink on the back leg, with the hob close by, creating a compact cooking area and leaving the rest of the space for food prep, storage and an unobtrusive seating area.
An L-shaped kitchen needs two of the working triangle points to be on one stretch of cabinetry, but it doesn’t have to be the longest run. This design has the fridge-freezer and sink on the back leg, with the hob close by, creating a compact cooking area and leaving the rest of the space for food prep, storage and an unobtrusive seating area.
Keep the triangle tucked back
A statement island deserves to be just that – the star of the show – so if you have one in your design, there’s nothing to say it has to be part of the triangle. The elements in this kitchen are all positioned along the L of wall cabinets, allowing the central unit to be an inviting place for mid-morning coffee or pre-dinner drinks.
A statement island deserves to be just that – the star of the show – so if you have one in your design, there’s nothing to say it has to be part of the triangle. The elements in this kitchen are all positioned along the L of wall cabinets, allowing the central unit to be an inviting place for mid-morning coffee or pre-dinner drinks.
Push the triangle to suit
A slightly more unconventional U-shaped design, this working triangle is skewed, but for good reason. Adding a tall fridge-freezer within the main runs would have blocked natural light from the single window, so instead, it’s been integrated around the corner. It’s still within reach, stores more fresh food than an under-counter model and frees up a good amount of worktop space.
A slightly more unconventional U-shaped design, this working triangle is skewed, but for good reason. Adding a tall fridge-freezer within the main runs would have blocked natural light from the single window, so instead, it’s been integrated around the corner. It’s still within reach, stores more fresh food than an under-counter model and frees up a good amount of worktop space.
Add a second sink
Opting for a pair of sinks gives your kitchen triangle far more flexibility. Here, the range cooker can be paired with the sink on the wall run for handling hot pans and draining pasta, or used with the island sink and fridge-freezer, integrated into the veneered cabinets, for a perfect food prep area that only requires a single step between each zone.
Opting for a pair of sinks gives your kitchen triangle far more flexibility. Here, the range cooker can be paired with the sink on the wall run for handling hot pans and draining pasta, or used with the island sink and fridge-freezer, integrated into the veneered cabinets, for a perfect food prep area that only requires a single step between each zone.
Work the shape for a galley
Achieving the elongated triangle needed for a single galley means thinking about how you move around your kitchen and who else will be using the room. Generally, it’s best to place your fridge-freezer at one end and the sink and hob close together. This design takes advantage of the natural light from the window for the wet area, and uses a table and chairs to close off the working areas.
Need some inspiration for your kitchen galley? Have a look at these gorgeous styles
What layout do you have in your kitchen? Let us know in the comments.
Achieving the elongated triangle needed for a single galley means thinking about how you move around your kitchen and who else will be using the room. Generally, it’s best to place your fridge-freezer at one end and the sink and hob close together. This design takes advantage of the natural light from the window for the wet area, and uses a table and chairs to close off the working areas.
Need some inspiration for your kitchen galley? Have a look at these gorgeous styles
What layout do you have in your kitchen? Let us know in the comments.
The classic working triangle is easiest to achieve in a U-shaped layout, with the fridge-freezer, sink and cooker each on its own run. However, there’s no set order, so arrange them to suit the way you cook – if you prepare a lot of fresh food, fit the sink on the longest stretch so you have plenty of space for chopping and washing.