What shape is your kitchen? If you’re planning to remodel it, there is a wealth of layouts from which to choose. One shape that may be a perfect fit, though, is a U-shaped kitchen. Why? A U-shaped kitchen offers efficiency and functionality, which are two of the top goals of a kitchen renovation. Let’s look at some of the benefits of this layout.

• A U-shaped kitchen gives you plenty of space to work. Cramped kitchens are not fun places to work. With a U-shaped kitchen, it’s easy to create the essential kitchen triangle, with a food preparation area, refrigerator, and stove within easy reach of each other. Because there are three sides and two corners in a U-shaped kitchen, there’s a practical work triangle to use, and with countertops, on three sides you’ve got plenty of counter space. Even if your kitchen is small to medium-sized, incorporating a U-shaped kitchen layout can make it more efficient.
• Storage is ample in a U-shaped kitchen. Three connected walls mean you’ve got tons of room for incorporating cabinets, pantries, and drawers. This means you can keep your countertops uncluttered and you’ll have plenty of room for your tools, supplies, and kitchen appliances.
• It’s easy to add an island. A U-shaped kitchen can accommodate a seating area so that your kitchen can be a social spot in your home. You can also add a central kitchen island if you have the space. As long as the working triangle doesn’t intersect the island more than 12 inches, it’s a viable option. If you don’t have the room, consider a peninsula instead.
• Foot-traffic flows in this kind of layout. One of the top advantages of a U-shaped kitchen is that it reduces congestion and lets multiple people work in the kitchen at once. Because of all the open area between the three walls, people can move freely in and out, as long as the U is wide enough to accommodate you. If you keep your kitchen to about 6 to 8 feet wide, you’ll have plenty of room to move but still be able to easily reach the things you need.
• A U-shaped kitchen has well-defined workspaces. Especially in an open-concept design, it’s good to have some structure to clearly define the kitchen. If your kitchen is enclosed, you can open it up by tearing down a wall as long as you take the time to consider how you’ll define the end of the kitchen and the start of the living or dining area. In your U-shaped kitchen, you’ll have space to practically identify your various workspaces and make your kitchen a dream for working, whether you’re prepping, cooking, or cleaning.

Capitol Design Build can help. We’ve been performing custom remodeling since 1989 and building custom, high-end homes in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area for 29 years. We serve businesses and individuals in Virginia, Washington D.C, and Maryland, meeting every need from kitchen renovation and bathroom remodeling to custom home design and building. With experience spanning many disciplines, including engineering, design, remodeling, construction, and customer service, we look forward to working with you. Feel free to shop our website, call us at (703) 436-2069, or contact us online for a free, no-obligation estimate.