5 Kitchen Floor Plans to Help You Take on a Remodel with Confidence

Choosing a layout is a key part of designing kitchen floor plans with dimensions that fit your square footage. The floor plan determines how you'll move through the space while cooking or entertaining and how well it functions for day-to-day activities. The best layout will depend on the space available and the level of workability and convenience you desire.

In general, the placement of the work triangle, based on the kitchen layout, dictates its efficiency and this is defined by the locations of the refrigerator, the range or cooktop, and the sink. When picking suitable kitchen layout ideas for your home, consider the work triangle that will work best for you and the room.

Types of Kitchen Floor Plans

Kitchen layouts come in many shapes and orientations, but the configurations of cabinetry, appliances, and seating often fall into a few specific categories. Check out our guide below to learn about some of the most popular types of kitchen floor plans.

1. L-Shape Kitchen Floor Plan

An L shape is one of the most common layouts for kitchens. It requires less space and offers more flexibility in the placement of workstations. This plan works well when the kitchen adjoins a casual room, like a family room or eating area.

A benefit of an L-shape kitchen floor plan is the ability to center a table in the space. This puts the family close to where the meals are prepared and draws guests near the cook when the homeowners are entertaining. This open area can also be filled with a kitchen cart according to your style and budget to expand storage and prep workspace. The sink and dishwasher are often located along one wall with the refrigerator and range, creating a large work triangle.

2. Island Kitchen Floor Plan

Islands tend to work best in an L-shape kitchen floorplan with dimensions of at least 10x10 feet and open to another area. You can increase the functionality of your kitchen by equipping the island with a cooktop or sink. To create space for casual dining, outfit the island with barstools for seating.

This L-shape kitchen layout features an island in the middle. A built-in island provides the option of additional storage. Utilize drawers and open storage within the island to increase the kitchen's storage capacity, which will leave long runs of counter space to make prep a breeze.

3. U-Shape Kitchen Floor Plan

A U-shape kitchen allows the cook to take care of business while still being a part of the action in the adjacent room. U-shape kitchens are great for serious cooks because there's a lot of open counter space, which comes in handy when baking or preparing a big meal.

Pay close attention to the work triangle in this layout. If the appliances are too close together, you'll get trapped in the corner. Instead, consider a half-wall to open the room to an adjacent space.

4. Galley Kitchen Floor Plan

A galley kitchen features cabinetry and appliances on two sides with a corridor running down the middle. The key to not closing in a galley kitchen floor plan is to consolidate counter space near the most-used appliances. To create storage space, consider a pullout tower pantry, a pantry cabinet, or a full pantry adjacent to the galley.

Small kitchens, such as a galley floor plan with dimensions of a snug 8x10 feet, are typically designed for a single cook. Smart space planning will help optimize functionality in a tight space. For example, placing the appliances along the two sides keeps the work triangle open. The stone countertops in this galley kitchen are perfect for working or serving food, and the light-colored cabinets help the space feel bright.

5. P-Shape Kitchen Floor Pan

In this kitchen layout idea, P stands for peninsula. The P-shape layout stems from an L-shape or U-shape plan, extending one stretch of countertop into the room, forming a peninsula. This creates an additional work area in the kitchen without occupying a lot of floor space.

To maximize this home's layout, the designer chose a P-shape plan. The peninsula's countertop and base cabinets add extra work and storage space to the U-shape perimeter. Also, the open design connects the kitchen to the adjacent dining area.

What Else You Need to Consider in a Kitchen Design

Besides choosing and building the floorplan of your dreams, you may also take into consideration kitchen color schemes and styles. While it’s true that most, if not all, of these layout ideas, work with any aesthetic when creating your budget, you can also incorporate details such as an open-brick wall on an L-shape kitchen (for an industrial chic flair) to wooden open shelves, a la farmhouse, to maximize P-shape spaces. Try a DIY butcher block countertop if you’re planning to cook and entertain quite often or build in refrigerators for a sleek finish. For a color boost, you can go for a contrasting color palette to make your kitchen island stand out.

Whatever the route, make sure to plan ahead to ensure all these extra features go within budget and can be finished in a timely manner, especially if you're working alongside designers and contractors.