Kitchen Planning Guidelines

Guidelines to live by when planning your new kitchen. Share advice to others who are about to embark on a kitchen remodeling effort.

Kitchen Planning Guidelines: Elements of Great Kitchen Design

Some things to keep in mind when planning a new kitchen:

Think about traffic patterns and where people will be walking - and make sure to leave open paths from one doorway or entry to the next. Aisles and walkways should be at least 40 inches wide.
Great kitchens usually have some places to sit. Think about this early in the design process. Consider high chairs vs regular kitchen table seating. Both can be great, but they serve different purposes.
Plan the sink and countertop area with "cleanup" in mind. You spend a lot of time cleaning dishes and prepping food. Think about where dirty dishes can be stacked, where they can dry or sit out, etc. Great designs allow for an "assembly line" from left to right or vice versa.
Dishwasher placement should be very close to the sink, ideally within 2 feet or less of the primary sink.
Safety. Water and electricity don't mix well. keep outlets at least a few inches above the countertops and away from the sink. Also find a spot to keep a small fire extinguisher.
Microwave overn placement. Decide if you prefer to have the microwave on the countertop or above it, embedded into the cabinets.