5 Nightmare Kitchen Floor Plans to Avoid

As longtime home remodelers, we’ve seen some kitchen floor plans you wouldn’t believe. From hard to access ones with little-to-no dining space to rooms full of wasted real estate and even more wasted potential, we’ve come across all the nightmare floor plans you can imagine in our 45 years at work. Some of the worst kitchen floor plans we’ve seen?

They make these huge mistakes:

#1 Poor Placement And/Or No Access

One of the most important factors in a kitchen is accessibility: accessibility to the outdoors, as well as the shared rooms in the house (living area, dining room, etc.). You need to be able to get in and out easily (especially if you’re carrying two arms full of groceries) and want visibility into spaces where kids and pets might need supervision. Ideally, you want your kitchen placed near an outside door, whether it’s the front, back or a door to the garage, and it shouldn’t have tons of walls, doors or other structures blocking access to nearby spaces. You want to have visibility throughout your home, as well as the ability to get in and out quickly when you need to.

#2 Breaking The All-Important Triangle Rule 

Any great kitchen follows the golden triangle rule: by some arrangement, the fridge, sink and stove form a triangle. This isn’t just for aesthetic purposes (though it does look nice). It also allows the kitchen to be as usable and functional as possible. Think of the last time you cooked. Did you bounce back and forth between these three features? At least two of them? More than likely, you did. Now imagine if there were some sort of obstacle in your way — a set of cabinets, 20 feet of space or a table. Wouldn’t that cut down on your efficiency as a cook? Could you have dropped something or burned something along the way? The best kitchen floor plans follow the triangle rule.

#3 Forgetting Counter Space 

It’s great to include a breakfast nook or eat-in island, but when that’s at the expense of counter space? You might want to think again. Most homeowners need lots of counter area. It’s where they store toasters, coffeemakers, makers and other small appliances, and it’s usually where they do most of their cutting and prep work. It can be easy to scrimp on counter space to make room for appliances, a double oven or extra seating, but if you don’t have the area you need to cook on, what’s the point?

#4 Skipping Storage

Even the nicest kitchen remodel can look bad if the space is cluttered and unkempt. That’s why including ample storage space is crucial in any remodeling project. That might mean designing creative, built-in storage areas in cabinets or under islands, or it may mean adding extra shelves, pantries or closets to a room to offer more hideaways. Even installing pot hangers and under-shelf glassware racks can help optimize space.

#5 Ignoring Window And Door Placement

Windows and doors aren’t just important for accessibility, but if you’re in a particularly sunny or warm location, they might impact the overall climate of your space, too. You don’t want the sun blaring down on you at 5 p.m. through your floor-to-ceiling windows as you toil over a pot of pasta. If you can’t change or control the placement of your glass doors and windows, at the very least, arrange your appliances and prep spaces so they’re not in the path of direct sunlight. This will make your kitchen experience much more comfortable and enjoyable year-round.

About Criner Remodeling

At Criner Remodeling, we’ve been in the kitchen remodel business for more than 45 years. Are you interested in a renovation that improves your space — both aesthetically and in value? Then contact us today to discuss your goals.