Kitchen layouts and how a remodel usually unfolds
The layout of a kitchen shapes how it feels to cook, clean up and gather in. Before choosing cabinets or countertops, many homeowners start by thinking about the layout they have and the one they want. This guide covers the common kitchen layouts and the order the work tends to follow in a remodel.
The common kitchen layouts
One-wall
Everything sits along a single wall: cabinets, counters, sink, range and refrigerator. One-wall kitchens are common in apartments, smaller homes and open-plan spaces where the kitchen flows into the living area.
Galley
A galley kitchen has counters on two facing walls with a walkway between them. Everything is within a few steps, which is why galley kitchens are often described as efficient for one cook.
L-shaped
Counters run along two walls that meet at a corner. The L-shape leaves the rest of the room open, which suits homes where the kitchen also needs space for a table.
U-shaped
Counters wrap around three walls. A U-shaped kitchen offers a lot of counter and cabinet space, and the sink is often placed at the base of the U, under a window.
Island
An island is a freestanding block of counter and cabinets in the middle of the kitchen. It can be added to an L-shaped or one-wall layout where there is room, and it often doubles as a place to sit, prepare food or gather.
Peninsula
A peninsula is like an island that is attached to a wall or a run of cabinets at one end. It can give some of the benefits of an island in a space that is too narrow for one.
The "work triangle"
Kitchen designers often talk about the "work triangle": the paths between the sink, the cooktop and the refrigerator. The idea is that these three should be close enough to move between easily, without a lot of traffic cutting through. It is a guideline rather than a rule, and many modern kitchens think in terms of work zones instead.
The order the work usually follows
A full kitchen remodel tends to move through these stages:
- Design and selections. Agreeing the layout, then choosing cabinets, countertops, appliances, fixtures and finishes. Cabinets in particular can take time to arrive.
- Permits. Many places require permits for plumbing, electrical or structural changes.
- Demolition. Removing the old cabinets, counters and finishes.
- Rough-in. Moving or adding plumbing, wiring, lighting and ventilation.
- Inspections. Where required, before the walls are closed up.
- Walls and flooring. Drywall, then flooring, depending on the contractor's preferred order.
- Cabinets. Base and wall cabinets are installed and leveled.
- Countertops. Stone and quartz counters are usually measured, or "templated", once the cabinets are in, then made to fit and installed later.
- Backsplash, fixtures and appliances. Tile goes up, the sink and faucet are connected, and appliances are put in place.
- Final walkthrough. Going over the finished kitchen and listing any small items still to do.
Living without a kitchen for a while
A full remodel can leave a household without a working kitchen for some time. Many families set up a temporary station elsewhere in the house, with a microwave, a small refrigerator and a place to wash up. Asking the contractor when the kitchen will be out of use helps with planning.
Questions homeowners often ask a kitchen contractor
- Will the layout change, and does that mean moving plumbing, gas or electrical?
- Which items do I choose and order, and which do you supply?
- When will the countertops be measured and installed?
- How long will the kitchen be out of use?
- Is a permit needed, and who arranges it?
When quotes come in, our guide on comparing contractor quotes can help line them up.
General information only, not professional advice. Every home is different. Talk to a licensed professional about your home before making decisions about any work.