The Top 5 Kitchen Layouts

The single-wall kitchen is very basic and a popular choice for small homes and loft apartments because it makes the most of the space. As the name implies, counters and appliances are all lined up against a single wall, which also makes installation simpler and cheaper without having to deal with pesky corners. The classic work triangle loses its general shape but moving between the key zones of a one-wall kitchen should be easy and unimpeded. If space allows, an island of any size really improves the functionality of this layout, providing more counter space for prep work.

A galley kitchen is simply two single-wall kitchen layouts running parallel to each other. This is another compact layout that works well in smaller homes, and given the tight space between work zones, is really optimized for only one cook. If the interior wall closing off a galley kitchen can be removed, swapping a wall of both upper and lower cabinets for a long island will make the space feel much less cramped without losing any of the counter space (and only half of the storage).

The L-shaped kitchen is one of the most popular layouts because it’s super functional and can be adapted for almost any sized space. As the name implies, an L-shaped layout features cabinetry and appliances along two adjacent walls, creating an obvious triangle path between work zones. Unlike a galley kitchen, an L-shaped kitchen rarely requires non-cooks to have to walk through the space, but there certainly is more room for additional cooks with this layout. The length of the two walls need not be equal, but if the room is fairly large, this layout can be optimized further with a central island.

The U-shaped, or horseshoe, kitchen adds a third wall to the L-shaped layout, surrounding the cook with workspace on all three sides, and providing seamless countertop and storage space. U-shaped layouts are functional in small or large spaces, and the third wall can adapt to be an attached peninsula or floating island, which will keep the room from feeling closed-off and optimize traffic flow.

Rounding out the letter-inspired kitchen layouts is the G-shaped kitchen, which essentially occupies three full walls and a partial fourth. The fourth wall is typically a peninsula, ideal for barstool seating. In a small room, the G-shaped kitchen can feel quite cramped, so it will likely benefit from removing one of the walls to open the kitchen up into an adjoining room—or at the least, removing the upper cabinets from one wall and installing shelving to open up the space.