Kitchen design in the shape of the letter P: convenient solutions and design ideas

Who would this layout suit?

The arrangement of furniture depends on the parameters of the room and consumer needs. The U-shaped kitchen layout is suitable if you:

• cook often and want to simplify all work processes;
• plan to move the dining table into the dining room/living room or get by with a small bar counter;
• want to zone the space of the studio;
• are going to use the windowsill;
• have a lot of kitchen utensils and appliances.

Pros and Cons

Kitchen Unit in the shape of the letter U has its advantages and disadvantages. Study them before ordering furniture.

• Roomy, thanks to a large number of cabinets and shelves.
• The size of the countertop allows 2-3 people to cook comfortably at once.
• Cooking is faster due to the convenient arrangement of equipment.
• Symmetry is pleasing to the human eye.

• A kitchen set requires a lot of space, space between rows.
• An abundance of furniture looks bulky.
• The price of the set will be high due to its size and the necessary fittings.
• The location of windows, doors, communications, will interfere with the placement of furniture.

How to organize everything correctly?

The design of a U-shaped kitchen begins with measurements and creating a project. The distance between modules for maximum convenience is 120 cm. It is uncomfortable to walk, open lower cabinets, and pull out drawers in a passage less than 90 cm. If the distance is more than 180 cm, you will have to run between the drawers while cooking, making a lot of unnecessary movements.

The following tips will help you create the perfect kitchen plan:

1. Replace the upper drawers or some of them with shelves, this will “lighten” the overall look.
2. Choose a stylish hood that will become the highlight of the interior.
3. Use the corners to the maximum – put pull-out, rotating shelves in the corner modules, replace them with drawers.
4. Remove the handles, installing a door push-off system.
5. Order light facades to increase the space.
6. Prefer glossy facades if the kitchen area is small.
7. Make the modules 40-45 cm deep to increase the passage.
8. Shorten one side to put a table.
9. Build cabinets to the ceiling, so the room will appear higher.
10. Give up the central ceiling light in favor of spotlights above the work area and a chandelier above the dining area.

What is the best way to arrange furniture, appliances and plumbing?

The ergonomics of a U-shaped kitchen set depends on the correct arrangement of furniture and appliances. Even if you take into account all the recommendations on sizes, but arrange the work areas chaotically, cooking will take a lot of effort.

Change the triangle rule: place the stove, sink, work surface on one side so that during cooking everything you need is in front of your eyes and you don’t have to spin around.

Where to put the refrigerator in this layout, which place is more convenient for the sink, how to introduce an island into a kitchen project with a U-shaped layout – we will discuss below.

Select one of the walls for the refrigerator and pencil cases, installing tall items next to each other on the edge of the U-shaped set. This way, the countertop will remain solid and you will find it convenient to use.

This kitchen layout suggests two solutions for the refrigerator: a modern built-in one or a classic one.

The photo shows a U-shaped layout with a refrigerator.

The undeniable advantage of the first is its appearance, it does not spoil the appearance of the kitchen unit. But built-in models are 20-30% more expensive than their counterparts.

Freestanding refrigerators are cheaper and can become an accent – for this, choose a bright model. For example, a red refrigerator in a white room will be a design solution.

The photo shows a light kitchen with white appliances.

A U-shaped layout with a bar counter is the best solution for a kitchen if you need to make zoning in a studio.

The bar counter can be inside the p-shaped furniture, at the level of the countertop, or located higher, attracting attention. It is not necessary to place the counter on the edge – it can be built into the furniture opposite the window. In a layout with a balcony, the counter is made on the windowsill, removing the double-glazed window.

This option cannot completely replace the dining table, so it is suitable for 1-2 people, as a place for breakfast in addition to a large table in the adjoining room.

The lack of storage systems in a small space is compensated by tall cabinets – tall cabinets. To prevent them from cluttering the room, install them as a block on one side of the set, so they will become almost invisible.

The tall cabinet can be used not only for storage, but also for built-in appliances. You can hide a refrigerator in one, and place an oven and a microwave in the other. The oven is built in at a height of 50-80 cm from the floor, the microwave – above it at the level of the hostess’s eyes.

In addition to the classic oven, dishwashers and washing machines are also stored in tall units – this will be convenient if the utilities are no further than 2-3 meters away.

The photo shows a U-shaped kitchen unit with unusual handles.

We have already looked at the option with a stand, but there are other ways of designing it. A U-shaped form with a dining area requires a table or island.

A table with a sofa/chairs requires a lot of space, so it can be placed in a kitchen of more than 10 sq.m., in a studio or a separate dining room. If the work and dining space are located in a common room, they are separated by color or light.

A kitchen island combines the qualities of a table and a counter. We will talk about the advantages and disadvantages of the island further.

The photo on the left shows a dining room combined with a kitchen-living room, the photo on the right shows a built-in dining area.

The central area of any kitchen in terms of functionality is the sink. Wash food before cooking, a knife and board during cooking, and plates after eating. It is with the sink that you need to start planning.

A kitchen interior in the shape of the letter U with a sink in the center of the set looks harmonious. Then the hob should be placed on the left/right, leaving space between them for work.

Another attractive option is a sink under the window. Use it if the distance from the window to the outlet of the pipes is no more than 2-3 meters, otherwise you will have low water pressure and constant problems with the sewerage system during washing.

The photo on the left shows a functional solution for an end drawer, in the photo on the right the U-shaped end of the kitchen set has a blind wall.

How to design a kitchen with a window?

Placing the countertop on the windowsill allows you to functionally use the entire area. You can easily create a U-shaped kitchen set with a window only if its height from the floor is 80-90 cm, in other cases it is necessary to take into account the difference in heights.

When the window is in the middle, build a sink into the center or leave the space empty. Fill the windowsill with potted herbs, install sockets in the slopes and place appliances here.

The photo shows the dining area under the countertop.

If there are two windows, do as described above with the first one, and arrange a bar counter opposite the second one.

Tip: Do not place the hob next to the window to protect the glass from grease stains.

Ideas for a kitchen with an island and a peninsula

The island is placed in kitchens of 20 square meters and more, because there should be at least 90 cm around it on each side. This solution is suitable for a studio: the island will separate the kitchen from the room, zoning the space. In addition, it performs several functions at once: an additional work surface, a place for eating, storage.

The peninsula is no less functional, suitable for rooms less than 20 square meters. It is also used as a place for storage, cooking, eating. But, unlike the island, it can only be approached from 3 sides.

Solutions for a kitchen combined with a living room

A U-shaped kitchen combined with a living room needs zoning. We have already described the most popular option above – to install an island or replace one side with a bar counter.

Another solution is to use the kitchen only for cooking, and arrange the dining room in another room in the house. This way you get a large kitchen and a full table for the whole family and guests.

The photo shows a dark blue nautical style kitchen set.

What is the best way to arrange a small kitchen?

A U-shaped kitchen set in a small apartment is suitable for people who want to use the space to the maximum. This layout allows you to organize a spacious storage area, a spacious work area and install all the necessary equipment. A table as part of a kitchen set (on a windowsill/as a bar counter) will save space if it is impossible to move it to another room.

To prevent upper cabinets from overloading a small room, make them narrow and elongated. And a tone in the color of the walls will “dissolve” them in the space. Or replace them with open shelves, in a small kitchen they are even more practical due to the lack of doors.

You can visually enlarge the room with light shades, and bright or dark accents will help decorate it.

Now you know everything you need to create a practical kitchen. Don’t skimp on planning your U-shaped kitchen set so that you can enjoy it in the future.