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Four kitchen layouts compared in the same room
We drew four layouts in the same 420 × 440 cm room, with the same window, door and sink, on 21 September 2026. Keeping the room the same shows what each layout really changes.
| Layout | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| One-wall | Narrow rooms and open-plan spaces | Enough worktop between the appliances |
| L-shaped | Most rooms with two free walls | Hard-to-reach corner cupboards |
| Peninsula | Extra worktop or seats without walking all round | The one open end can become a bottleneck |
| Island | Larger rooms and a second work area | About 42 in (107 cm) free on each work side |
Source: BTTR Space plans of the same room, drawn to scale; island space from NKBA Kitchen Planning Guidelines 6–7. Checked September 2026.
If you are leaning towards an island, check our guide to space around a kitchen island first. All our room planning guides use the same way of measuring.
Start with what cannot move in your room
Draw the room to scale before you look at kitchen photos. Mark the things that are hard or expensive to change:
- doors and windows, and which way each door opens;
- low window sills, radiators and columns;
- where the sink, hob and drains are now;
- the walls you could use for tall units.
Then write your three priorities in order, for example more worktop, more storage, then two seats. When two layouts both fit, these priorities decide.
One-wall and L-shaped kitchens keep the middle free
One-wall
Everything sits on one wall, so the middle of the room stays free. Check that you still have a clear stretch of worktop between the sink, hob and fridge, the three points of the kitchen work triangle. The worktop a sink needs on each side is in our guide to standard kitchen sink sizes.
L-shaped
A second run on the next wall adds worktop and keeps the middle open. Check the corner: the cupboard there is harder to reach than it looks.
A peninsula or an island adds a second work surface
Peninsula
A peninsula is a counter joined to the cabinets at one end. It adds worktop or seats without needing space all round. Walk the route from the door to the sink: the open end must not block it.
Island
An island stands free, so people can work and walk on every side. In this room a 90 × 180 cm island leaves 135 cm at the sides and 130 cm at the ends. Give it a clear job, such as prep, storage or seats.
How to test a layout against an ordinary day in five steps
Use the same short routine on every option and trace it with a pencil.
- Come in with shopping and put cold food in the fridge.
- Wash vegetables at the sink and carry them to the worktop.
- Cook, then carry a plate to the table.
- Load the dishwasher with its door open.
- Check it: repeat while a second person walks through the room. If anyone has to wait, try the next layout.
If you pick an island, open this room in the island calculator to see how the space changes when you add cabinets.
Common problems with a kitchen layout, and how to fix them
Most layout problems show up when two things happen at once: a door opens while someone walks past, or two people need the same worktop.
| What you see | Why it happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Nowhere to put the shopping down | No worktop near the door or fridge | Move the fridge, or add a short counter by it |
| Two people get in each other’s way | The work aisle is too narrow | Widen it, or move one task to another wall |
| People walk through the cooking area | The route crosses the work zone | Turn the island or shorten the peninsula |
| Everyday things are hard to reach | Storage is far from where you use it | Put drawers next to the sink and hob |
| The corner cupboard is wasted | Deep corners are hard to reach | Use corner fittings, or keep rarely used items there |
Source: BTTR Space plans of the example room; work aisles and walkways from NKBA Kitchen Planning Guidelines. Checked September 2026.
Once the layout works, keep it fixed and choose the finishes with a kitchen mood board. You can also measure the countertops for each option.
For colours, doors and worktops, browse our style inspiration guides.
Quick questions
- What are the main kitchen layouts?
The common ones are one-wall, galley (two parallel runs), L-shaped, U-shaped, peninsula and island. Most kitchens are one of these or a mix, such as an L-shape with an island. The right one depends on your room, not on the style.
- Is an island better than a peninsula?
Not always. An island lets people work on every side but needs about 42 inches (107 cm) free on each work side. A peninsula is joined at one end, so it fits smaller rooms. Draw both in your own room before you choose.
- Should I choose the style before the layout?
No. Collect photos you like early, but fix the layout first. Finishes are much easier to compare when the room and the layout stay the same.
- Can I plan a kitchen layout from a photo?
Only roughly. A photo helps you see a style, but it does not give reliable distances. Measure the room before you choose cabinet sizes or check the space around an island.
How we check
We take every clearance from published planning guidelines and manufacturer guides, and record the page and the date we checked it. Our examples are drawn to scale from the dimensions they state. They are planning examples, not approvals for installation: services, fixings and local rules need your designer or installer. Our editorial policy.
Sources1 published guideline and guide behind this page
Numbered in order of first use.
- Kitchen Planning Guidelines: doors, work areas, walkways and aisles, National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). Checked 21 September 2026.
The four plans are BTTR Space’s own scale drawings of one example room. They are options to compare, not client projects or installation plans, and they do not cover appliances, ventilation or accessibility.