If you decided to renovate your kitchen or just rearrange the furniture, it is important to plan in advance its functionality and comfort for users. The kitchen ergonomics affect how pleasant it will be for you to spend time there and how comfortable you will be during all processes, and even the time you will spend for cooking.

We can help you make your furniture ergonomic. But you can make your kitchen ergonomic yourself if you follow a few simple rules in the early stages of renovation. TopKitchensGroup prepared a detailed review of kitchen ergonomics.

What is ergonomics?

Firstly, it is worth clarifying what ergonomics is. Ergonomics is a special science that allows you to correctly determine the optimal working, living and recreational conditions for a person. During renovation, ergonomics needs to be paid special attention to, as it affects the comfort of the room for its owners.

The concepts of ergonomics and planning are often identified as equal, however, in fact, the latter is only part of an ergonomic room. For example, when renovating a kitchen, besides a good planning, you should also consider ease of use, the size and placement of furniture, lighting and power supply, and safety.

The stylistic and colour scheme of the kitchen is, of course, also important. However, these components do not play a decisive role in the renovation. You can choose any style and colour palette for your kitchen, but the most important thing is that the room is functional and comfortable.

Correct kitchen planning

The comfortable and correct kitchen planning is one of the main keys ensuring its ergonomics. Your comfort while using the kitchen depends on the correct arrangement of kitchen furniture and appliances. This will protect you from injuries that may occur as a result of a bump with the equipment, and will also significantly save you time spent cooking.

For example, even a small kitchen can be made comfortable for cooking and eating with the help of planning. Or, if the kitchen is large, a good planning will allow you to put everything you need at your disposal.

All of this can be done if you follow the basic principles of ergonomics, which will help you significantly increase the level of comfort and cosiness in the kitchen. Of course, TopKitchensGroup designers will take care of your ergonomics in advance when planning your kitchen.

Kitchen triangle rule

The fundamental law of kitchen planning is the correct placement of the three main kitchen elements, which are called the kitchen triangle. The three main working areas in the kitchen include:

refrigerator – food storage area;
sink;
stove – food processing area

When we cook, we spend most of our time around these elements. That is why experts recommend to imagine a triangle when planning a kitchen. The parameters of the triangle are not very important – it can be extended, rectangular or equilateral. However, there are a few tips that you should consider.

Firstly, if you want to spend less time and effort during cooking, the sum of all sides of the kitchen triangle should be no more than 6 metres. Secondly, follow a clear sequence: fridge – sink – stove, oven.

You can create an island kitchen if the space allows. In such case one of the working elements is placed on a special “island”.

In the case where the kitchen is relatively small, there are other options for the main working areas planning. For example, a linear planning is often used in cases where all zones are placed in a sequence.

Additional kitchen accessories

Besides the kitchen triangle, there are other kitchen accessories and appliances in the kitchen. One of the most important elements is the extractor hood. The size and power of the extractor hood should be chosen depending on your needs and the frequency of cooking. Sometimes all you need is a compact model that will absorb most of the grease and steam.

The extractor hood should be installed above the cooking hob. The distance from the hob to the extractor hood should be at least 55 or 65 cm for electric and gas hobs, respectively. The distance may be longer. It depends on your height, so that the extractor hob does not disturb you during cooking.

A microwave is usually placed close to the refrigerator, as it is used to warm up prepared meals. If there are children and the elderly in the house, the microwave should be placed at a height that is comfortable both for children, adults and the elderly. The standard height for its placement is at chest level.

Previously, the oven was part of the gas hob and was placed below, but nowadays the electric hob and oven can be placed independently of each other. It is also convenient to place the oven at chest level so you can keep an eye on the cooking process. Also, there should be a surface near the hob on which you can place the finished dish.

Dishwashers are not mandatory household appliances, but this device is becoming more and more common in modern kitchens. The dishwasher is placed next to the sink, as it requires a water supply to function.

Social planning factors

Social conditions include the number of people who use the kitchen regularly, their ages, habits and individual traits. This allows you to plan the dining area properly – table size, number of seats, a special place for a child, etc. The placement of household appliances that are used most often also depends on social the factor.

Besides, the height of the Worktop and work surfaces depends on this factor. Usually, the height of the Worktop can be adjusted to the height of the person who will be cooking in the kitchen more regularly than others. The same applies to hanging cabinets and shelves – they should not be placed too high so that you can reach everything you need without any assistance.

Functionality

All actions in the kitchen, involving opening of cabinets, pulling out drawers and using appliances, should be easy and without obstacles. Handles and doors should not overlap or collide. That is why you need to calculate the free opening distances in advance and include them in the planning of an ergonomic kitchen.

For example, you should leave at least 90 cm of free space in front of drawers. A 100 cm space is usually left in front of the sink, and 110 cm in front of the oven.

Generally, the optimal distance from the wall to the end of the work area, considering the width of the Worktop, is usually about 170 cm.

Optimal distances

The most important distances in the kitchen should be kept in order to make cooking more comfortable. For example, you should leave about 45 cm of free space next to the sink to prevent splashes of water when washing dishes or food from getting on other surfaces.

A similar distance is recommended for the stove. Surfaces at a distance of 30-45 cm will be constantly heated. Besides, they will get very dirty during cooking.

Another important distance is from the Worktop to the upper cabinets. This distance is usually 45-65 cm. The distance is calculated more accurately individually, depending on your height.

Furniture dimensions

The standard height of a worktop is 85 cm, but it is not suitable for everyone. A convenient worktop is 10-15 cm below the waist of the person who uses the kitchen most regularly. If several people will be cooking, the height of the worktop should be an average value that is optimal for all users.

The width of the worktop for a comfortable work of one person is about 110 cm. However, if the number of people who will be cooking at the same time increases, the width of the working area should also be increased to 120-130 cm per person.

The dining table size should also be considered in advance. A small table can be uncomfortable for all family members. You should provide at least 60 cm of free space for one person to feel comfortable. Therefore, we can make a conclusion that the minimum size of a dining table for a family of 3-4 people is 80×120 cm.

Furniture placement

There are several rules of furniture placement for kitchen ergonomics. One of the most important principles is that between any large elements you need to leave enough space for movement. For example, it applies to a table or an “island” kitchen.

The dining area should be placed at least one metre away from the kitchen triangle. It is also important that the chairs do not interfere with movement around the kitchen. The ideal distance from the back of the chair to other furniture is at least 75 cm.

The kitchen ergonomics with two rows of furniture or a “П” shape requires a minimum 120 cm wide aisle between the rows.

Principles of storing in the kitchen

You should follow certain rules when arranging crockery and food in the cupboards. Firstly, the items that are used most often should be placed as close to the work area as possible. All items should be grouped by purpose and stored in groups.

It is recommended to use hooks, organisers and dividers to avoid chaos inside cabinets and drawers. Besides, vertical placement of items is preferred and saves more space.

Another popular option is storing crockery in open areas. This option is suitable, for example, for decorative plates or beautiful crockery sets. Then, all you need to do is install wide shelves or screw in special hooks to store them.

For food storing, you can use a separate storage room or a tall cabinet with shelves.

Dining area planning

If it is possible, the working and dining areas should be placed as far away from each other as possible. At the same time, you should leave a distance of about 1 metre from all sides of the table to allow for easy movement around and sitting at the table.

When choosing a table, the owners often prefer minimalism. The compactness and convenience are really a priority for kitchen furnishing. Besides, such a kitchen often looks more pleasant. However, it is worth keeping in mind that in order to maintain a minimalist style, you need to keep the kitchen clean and avoid unnecessary elements on visible surfaces.

One more option for the dining area, which has become quite popular recently, is a bar counter. It is a great solution for small kitchens. The counter allows you to save space, as it can be part of the seating area and is often attached to a high window sill.

In any case, you should focus on your own needs and wishes when planning the dining area. This part of the kitchen should be cosy and comfortable for everyone who lives in the apartment.

Adding cosiness and comfort

You should also consider the convenience of moving between rooms. The width of the doorway to the kitchen should be at least 80 cm, and in some cases even 90 cm. It is better if the doors open outwards and do not touch the walls or other objects.

You can use sliding doors instead of traditional doors or make an arch of any shape you like. In such case, the door may become a decorative element, and besides its practical function, it may also perform a stylistic one.

When it comes to stylistic solutions, modern style is becoming more and more popular today. Light colours mostly prevail in the design of doors, while Worktops are more contrasting, with darker shades. However, the kitchen style depends entirely on its owners, so don’t be afraid to pursue your wildest desires.

Lighting and power supply system

If you want to make your kitchen comfortable both for cooking and relaxing, you should consider a high-quality multi-level lighting system. To do this, you require several devices. Firstly, a chandelier on the ceiling. You can choose one option, or choose separate models for the working and dining areas, allowing you to visually divide the room into zones.

Secondly, you have to choose a backlight for the working area. One of the most common solutions is to install an LED strip that is attached along the entire length of the apron, under the upper cabinets. Besides, you can choose local lighting for the sink, stove and worktop. Besides, you can add decorative lamps that will not only serve as an additional lighting source, but also add cosiness and highlight the stylistic features of the room.

Another important element is the power supply. A lot of appliances are used in the kitchen all the time, so think about the placement of sockets in advance. Count the number of electrical devices you will use and add 2 more sockets as a reserve. You can place them in the working area, along the bottom of the cabinets, or near the largest appliances: refrigerator, oven, extractor hood, etc.

Social planning factors

Kitchen safety

The last but not the least element of kitchen ergonomics in our list is safety. The most of safety issues are related to the stove, regardless of whether it is gas or electric. At the earliest stages of kitchen planning, it is important to choose the right place for the cooking hob.

Do not place the hob near the door, as the risk of bumping into hot dishes increases significantly. You should also place the hob at least 45 cm away from windows, especially curtains, so that the fabric does not touch the hob, which may cause a fire.

Certain distances must also be maintained in the working triangle. Place the hob at a distance of 35 cm from the fridge and at least 50 cm from the sink. In addition, it is important that the hob is not placed too close to a wall or cabinet.

Besides the safe placement of the cooking hob, you should also consider other risk areas. For example, in order to avoid injuries and bumping your head on the furniture, it is better to make the upper row of cabinets slightly narrower than the lower row. If your upper cabinets reach the ceiling or have an entresol, we recommend buying a special stand or ladder. Chairs are not designed to be used for this purpose all the time, and can be dangerous.

Place the sockets in such a way that you can quickly disconnect the device from the network if an emergency occurs. Also, do not place the sockets closer than 30 cm to the stove and sink to avoid grease and water spray and to prevent accidents.

Short summary

Obviously, a kitchen is an individual product that requires cooperation between the customer and the designer. Even if you are perfectly prepared and have researched everything about your dream kitchen, you can still miss the details that only a specialist would know. We have a lot of them, for 15 years we have been creating furniture and learning from mistakes, we know how to make a kitchen:

If you are looking for a free consultation from our specialist, just call us and we will help you.

TopKitchensGroup – you can trust us.