THE WORK TRIANGLE
WITHIN KITCHEN DESIGN

The kitchen is one of the most important
rooms in a home and is the place where you do a fair amount of work on a
daily basis. Due to the amount of traffic and usage a kitchen entails it is
important that the design of your kitchen is perfect for you so it is wise
to be aware of the fundamental kitchen design principles and elements
involved; this is where the work triangle comes into play.

If you need some help there are companies
around who offer assistance and, in some cases, even provide a
free kitchen design service.

What is the work triangle?

When designing your new kitchen have you
stumbled across the term ‘The Work Triangle’? Many interior designers
use this phrase when they talk about the kitchen.

The work triangle means the distance between the three important parts to a kitchen – the fridge, sink and oven. In order to obtain a brilliant work triangle the distance between these three work stations is kept fairly small to ensure that you don’t have to walk far when you’re cooking e.g. from the sink/work surface to the oven and back to the fridge.

The work triangle is one of the fundamental
principles to have in mind when designing your new kitchen and the three
sides of the triangle should be between 3600mm and 6600mm.

Kitchen storage

Wall and floor kitchen cabinets usually
come in the same widths, for example a single cupboard can start at 20cm and
increase to 60cm and a double kitchen cabinet will measure 120cm.

Wall kitchen cabinets are normally 30cm
deep, it is a good idea to place your wall cabinets 45cm above the
work surface otherwise you won’t be able to utilise the space underneath or,
if placed higher, you won’t be able to reach anything inside your kitchen
cabinets.

It is really important to think about the
measurements and placement of your storage area first as the other integral
pieces to your work triangle will fit in around your storage area. 
Most appliances are made to the same dimensions as floor cabinets which
makes it easier to integrate them within your design.

Where does everything go?

When designing your new kitchen with the
work triangle in mind it may be confusing when you have to decide where to
put your appliances.

• Dishwashers should be placed near the
  sink and as close to the plumbing of the kitchen as possible. When
  siting a dishwasher it is imperative to ensure that it will be possible
  to open the door once installed e.g. it isn’t a good idea to place the
  dishwasher in a corner.
   
• The oven shouldn’t be placed near windows or curtains and you should
  make sure that there are plenty of work surfaces available around it.
  Make sure you don’t place the hob under any kitchen cabinets unless you
  install an extractor fan underneath the storage area. The oven should be
  placed at least 30cm away from a corner to allow the door to open easily
  although many oven doors now have a hinge along the bottom allowing the
  door to drop down, it just depends on which type of oven appliance you
  choose for your kitchen.
   




• The fridge and freezer should adhere to the work triangle rule
  although there aren’t any special places for them to be placed within
  the kitchen, just make sure that there is enough space so that the door
  is easy to open and close. It is also important to remember that the
  fridge and freezer door needs to be able to open wide enough to allow
  the removal of drawers.
   




• When placing your sink, make sure it is near the plumbing of the
  kitchen and that there is a minimum of 1 meter space for it. Most people
  place the sink under the kitchen window to make washing pots and pans a
  more enjoyable chore.

Hints and tips

It is important to place your work triangle where there isn’t a traffic flow as this would disrupt the efficiency of the work triangle.   The work triangle shouldn’t cut through a kitchen island by more than 12 inches.   It is possible to have more than one work triangle if you have a large kitchen.

The work triangle is a design secret that
enables efficiency and a better flow for the busiest room in the house. It
makes cooking a more enjoyable task and you won’t be wasting energy on
traipsing around the kitchen or parlour for your herbs and spices.

Turning your kitchen into an ergonomically
correct space enhances the productivity in the kitchen and keeps it a
cleaner and tidier space too.