A U-shaped kitchen offers plenty of space for cooking and storage. We’ll show you what makes a U-shaped kitchen shape, how to plan it, and what advantages and disadvantages it has.

A U-shaped kitchen is suitable for both large and smaller rooms, but is more likely to be used in larger kitchens. The shape offers plenty of storage space and work surface and usually consists of three kitchen units:

The three elements have different lengths depending on the model. A classic U has two longer and one shorter sides. But it can also be constructed the other way around with two short and one longer sides.

In very large kitchens, there is often an additional kitchenette in the room. It is therefore accessible from all sides. The row serves either as a kitchen island, dining area or bar.

You get an open feeling of space if you only attach the tall cabinets and wall cabinets to one of the sides. Otherwise the U-shaped kitchen can quickly look overwhelming and the kitchen looks smaller.

Place devices sensibly in the U-shaped kitchen

You should plan the work areas of the refrigerator, stove and sink close together in order to make the kitchen practical. This saves you walking distances and cooking becomes more efficient when you have everything to hand.

However, the division of the kitchen depends on the size of the room. Therefore, the structure is different in every kitchen. In general, however, refrigerators should not be located directly next to the cooking area with stove and oven.

How does a U-shaped kitchen become ergonomic?

To work as ergonomically as possible, three aspects are important: the direction of work, the height of the work surfaces and the height of the built-in devices.

If you are right-handed, it makes most sense to work from left to right, i.e. clockwise. As a left-hander, it’s the other way around.

In addition, you should adjust the work surfaces to your height. That means: With an angled arm, there should be a distance of 10 cm to 20 cm between the elbow and the work area.

It is best to arrange built-in appliances such as stoves, steamers, microwaves or dishwashers so that you can use them while standing. That saves your back.

Properly plan a U-shaped kitchen

The available space should be large enough so that a U-shaped kitchen can take full advantage of its advantages. As a rule of thumb, an interior area with a width of at least 2 m is ideal. This way you can easily open cupboards and drawers.

If you have a large room or are planning an eat-in kitchen, the open shape looks particularly spacious. But even smaller kitchens can be optimized with floating kitchen cabinets. They interrupt massive-looking wall units.

You should also plan the sink in front of the window. This is the best way to make the most of daylight.

Advantages of a U-shaped kitchen

The U-shape offers generous work surfaces, plenty of space for cooking, and more storage space.
Depending on the size and model, several people can be in the kitchen. Cooking is more fun this way.
There is also enough space for non-built-in kitchen appliances such as a coffee maker or mixer.

You can find out how to make good use of the storage space in the kitchen here. We’ll show you what options there are to neatly store all your utensils in a small space.

Use every corner as storage space

L-shaped, G- or U-shaped kitchens are built around corners. Therefore, many corners are created in these kitchens. You can make good use of these if you plan correctly. Because there are now practical solutions for corners.

Corner cabinets with a rondel offer space for pots or various kitchen machines, for example. The floors of the rondel are mounted around an axis. Just pull them out for easy access.

There is also space for triangular drawers in corner cabinets. You can store smaller things like kitchen utensils in them.

Base cabinets with pull-outs

It is best to plan base cabinets with pull-outs. Drawers that can be fully extended offer the most space and make full use of the available space. Think of a suitable system of organization. In this way you prevent chaos in the drawer from gradually arising. With the necessary order, you can also permanently find baking paper, pot holders, knives, food storage containers and so on in their desired place.

Tip: Don’t buy a typical cutlery box. Rather, rely on a freely configurable drawer division. You can adapt these exactly to your needs.

Hidden drawers for more storage space in the kitchen

Also plan drawers within the drawer. What sounds strange creates additional storage space in the kitchen. This allows you to accommodate different devices. The kitchen front nevertheless remains uniform and thus creates a calm, attractive picture.

Pedestal drawers in the kitchen

Every centimeter used counts, especially in small kitchens. Plinth drawers use the space that would otherwise remain unused. Large, flat objects such as baking trays and serving plates find their place here.

Tall cabinets for more storage space

You gain a lot of storage space in the kitchen with tall cabinets. With different inserts you can design them individually and use them ideally. Also include the cabinet doors in the planning. There is also plenty of storage space here. The OBI kitchen planner helps you plan your perfect kitchen.

Use tight room corners with pocket doors

Both wall and tall cabinets often do not fit into the corners of a room. The doors can then no longer be opened. Include pocket doors here. When closed, they look like a normal door. When opened, however, the door disappears inconspicuously into the slots in the cabinet.

Railing systems on the kitchen wall

A railing system offers you additional storage space in the kitchen. This allows you to use the space on the wall that would otherwise remain empty. A railing system consists of wall rails. You can hang small pans or spoons on them with meat hooks.

A modular wall is more elegant than the railing system. Spices, herbs and all kinds of kitchen utensils find their place here. You can design the system according to your needs.

Install small appliances in the kitchen

Free up space on the work surface by adding smaller kitchen appliances to the kitchen. The coffee machine, ice cube dispenser or other smaller devices disappear from view and create more space for other things.

When planning your kitchen, find out which appliances you can install where.

This is how you use the storage space in the kitchen optimally

These tips will also help you to make the best possible use of the space in your kitchen:

Heavy things always belong downstairs: You should always store big and heavy things downstairs in your kitchen. This includes pots and pans as well as a deep fryer, for example. Smaller people in particular find it easier to stow these devices below and to retrieve them from there.
Create a system: come up with an order for your kitchen and stick to it. Otherwise you are constantly looking for this or that and you will not enjoy cooking. Therefore, establish a system according to which you organize and store things in your kitchen. If disorder gradually creeps in, you put everything back in its place.
Important things are within easy reach: There are some things you need regularly in the kitchen. Put them where you can quickly reach them. Crockery is just as much a part of it as cutlery, kitchen rolls or cutting boards. This makes working in the kitchen much easier for you.

Not all floor coverings are equally suitable as kitchen floors. Find out more about possible materials for your kitchen floor here.

You have to pay attention to this

Since you move around a lot and do various jobs in the kitchen, not every flooring is suitable for every kitchen. The kitchen floor has to withstand a lot:

Your kitchen floor should be sturdy and scratch-resistant.
He shouldn’t mind hot water or oil.
The flooring needs to have enough grip so that you don’t slip.
Last but not least, you should also like the look of the kitchen floor.

What coverings are there for the kitchen floor?

There are a number of materials that can be used for flooring in your kitchen. In addition to their appearance, they also differ in price, resilience and ease of care.

Below you will find an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of tiles, earthenware, vinyl, parquet, laminate, linoleum, cork and carpet.

Vinyl as a kitchen floor

Small and large scratches, dents, or dents are clearly visible.
In contrast to real wooden fronts, the damage cannot simply be repaired, polished away or sanded off.
A real lacquer front is very expensive.

The eponymous material for the vinyl floor is polyvinyl chloride (PVC). For a long time, vinyl floors were considered the standard in kitchens because they are insensitive and inexpensive. There have long been numerous colors and decors, for example in tile or wood optics.

The advantages and disadvantages of vinyl:

Vinyl floors are easy to care for: stains can be easily removed from them. The floors are visually versatile and can also imitate tiles, parquet, or laminate. Vinyl has good impact sound insulation. The material offers a pleasant walking experience.
Vinyl is less robust than other materials: Heavy furniture or chairs can cause pressure points. Vinyl floors must be disposed of as hazardous waste.

Parquet kitchen floor

Parquet is a wonderful floor covering, especially for open kitchens. If the same covering is also in the living room, it visually connects the rooms. However, you have to seal parquet in the kitchen so that it is resistant to stains and water.

The advantages and disadvantages of parquet

Wood optically radiates warmth and conveys coziness; open-pore wood absorbs air moisture and releases it again. The kitchen floor has a positive effect on the room climate. Small splashes of water are not a problem if you have sealed the floor with moisture protection. Thanks to irregularities in the material (e.g. knots), individual scratches or stains are hardly noticeable. The parquet can be repaired and new to seal. It lasts for up to 30 years.
Real wood is relatively expensive: the price range starts at around € 40 per square meter. Despite its robustness, parquet can show some signs of wear over time. Damp parquet can swell. You have to keep it dry at all times, as exposure to sunlight can cause wood to yellow or darken.

Natural stone kitchen floor

Natural stones such as marble, slate or granite are an extremely attractive floor covering for the kitchen. The material is robust and gives the kitchen an individual look.

The advantages and disadvantages of stone
Stone is water-repellent and easy to clean. Hard stone tiles, for example made of granite or slate, are extremely hard-wearing and insensitive to scratches. Stone is a natural product, which is why every floor covering is unique.
The price of natural stone floors can be several hundred euros per square meter. Tiles made of marble or limestone need a surface sealing. You should also quickly wipe off any splashes from sealed material. Stone is sensitive to acids – vinegar cleaners are therefore taboo. Stone floor coverings are difficult to remove from the kitchen.

Tiles for the kitchen floor

Floor tiles come in countless colors and formats. But tiles also differ significantly in terms of quality. There are noble, glazed and more rustic, unglazed tiles.

The advantages and disadvantages of tiles
Many tiles are extremely cheap: their price range starts at around € 5 per square meter. The selection of tiles in different looks is immense. Tiles are robust and, if properly cared for, will last up to 30 years. Glazed and carefully grouted tiles are easy to care for: grease and other stains can usually simply be wiped away.
Especially in winter, the flooring feels uncomfortably cold. Unglazed tiles are more sensitive and stain more easily than glazed tiles.

Laminate as a kitchen floor

Laminate is the inexpensive alternative to parquet. It can be laid over old flooring so you don’t have to remove it.

The advantages and disadvantages of laminate

There are many different types of laminate, and high-quality laminate is hard-wearing. Even falling kitchen utensils cannot harm it. With impregnation protection, laminate flooring is water-repellent and easy to care for. Nevertheless, you should remove moisture quickly. Laminate is inexpensive: The high-quality flooring is available from € 15 per square meter.
You usually have to replace laminate after 15 years; Laminate can be repaired, but not as easily as parquet. Larger scratches may remain visible in the laminate. Standing water causes the laminate to swell quickly – especially if it penetrates the joints. Laminate looks less elegant than parquet and feels colder.

What are the kitchen trends in 2021?

Timeless elegance and well-considered arrangement are the order of the day when it comes to current trends in kitchen design: When it comes to colors, black and gray tones are on the rise, and matt fronts are racing against the glossy versions. General trends are also increasingly being transferred to the kitchen: Micro living, smart home, and sustainability are trends that are being reflected in more and more kitchens.

Muted, dark colors dominate

Inconspicuous, subtle colors dominate the trends in the kitchen. While white was recently the undisputed leader among kitchen colors, the trend is slowly moving towards darker tones such as gray or black. The times of gloss are also over: the fronts are now at best matt and often provided with an anti-fingerprint coating, on which fingerprints are not so clearly visible and which in this way, especially in kitchens without handles, are common Wiping clean saves.

The dark color scheme can be broken up with accents in a different color – there is now plenty of choice for fittings and sinks too. Here, however, you should decide on a color scheme so that the kitchen does not look restless in the end.

Details in the trendy kitchen

Elegant versions made of natural stone and ceramic to match dark, matte facades are the trend for countertops. Unlike their generally bulky previous models, they are now slim and unobtrusive. When it comes to wall design behind the kitchen unit, subway tiles have been making a comeback for several years now, and this still continues due to their timelessness.

Micro living and open living concepts

If you live in a big city, you often have to make little space as clever and versatile as possible. “Micro Living” is the name of the trend that takes this into account and has also spread to the kitchen. After all, in one-room apartments, the kitchen is often also the bedroom and living room.

The increasing trend towards minimalism, which hits a nerve with many young people due to increased environmental awareness and digitization, is also playing into the cards of micro-living.

In the case of micro-living, smart solutions for saving space and storage space are required, which nevertheless fit elegantly into the overall picture of the apartment – ceiling-high cabinet designs, plenty of drawers, and multifunctional use of the sink area with the right tools make this possible.

What is often a must in small rooms becomes an optional extra in large ones: Open living concepts that combine several rooms into one are also very trendy with their modern loft look.

Walls and room dividers are therefore often avoided and instead, the styles of the various rooms are perfectly coordinated. The space gained in this way can be used for a kitchen island, for example.

Smart home in the kitchen

Like all other rooms, the kitchen is increasingly becoming part of every smart home. Kitchen appliances take on more and more tasks in the cooking process completely autonomously and also ensure more cleanliness themselves.

It is no longer uncommon for the kitchen appliance to guide the cook or for the oven to clean itself using pyrolysis.

The control of kitchen appliances is also becoming increasingly simple and central: more and more devices can be controlled by tablet or mobile phone as well as voice.

In addition, there are the usual smart home functions such as light, music, or roller shutter control, which of course can be installed in the kitchen as well as in any other room in the house.

Naturally sustainable

The trend towards sustainability has also arrived in the kitchen: kitchens produced in a climate-neutral manner are experiencing an upswing, as are natural materials.

There is room for wood and natural stone in the modern trend kitchen – after all, it should not only be green in production but also designed in a correspondingly natural way.

Would you prefer your kitchen in a modern country house look, natural version or luxury? Here you can find out all trendy kitchen styles and how you can find kitchen remodeling ideas.

Which kitchen styles are popular right now?

The design variety in the kitchen is great. However, those who orient themselves towards a certain style in the furnishing and the details will ensure that everything harmonizes perfectly with each other. We present three different styles that can do this.

Even modern country kitchens have lost none of the romance of the original country house style. The classic light and neutral earth tones can either be complemented by solid wood furniture or loosened up by pastel colors or furniture in a shabby chic style.

Naturalness and sustainability also play an increasingly important role in the kitchen. That is why untreated wood and ceramics meet accessories in Scandinavian design and natural tones as well as unpackaged food in the natural kitchen.

The focus on the luxury kitchen, on the other hand, is on smart devices that do much of the work on their own. These are paired with worktops and fronts with a marble look made of ceramic or quartzite in elegant anthracite or light white or beige tones and fittings in gold or copper.

The modern country kitchen remodeling ideas

Rural flair
The country house style always seems to be trendy – and there are good reasons for that. Because the traditional style has continued to develop and is now interpreted in very different ways. Implement it in your home in a classically romantic way or adapt it to your lifestyle – with a pinch of shabby chic or a modern touch.

The implementation
Light colors such as white and cream and neutral earth tones such as beige and brown characterize the harmonious image of the country house style. But even light splashes of color – such as a delicate green – fit into the style and give it a more modern, fresh look. Furniture made of solid wood goes best with the natural colors that are already spraying country air. Local woods such as pine, oak and birch look particularly good in your country house kitchen. Whether you keep the natural color of the wood or paint it white is up to you. To round off the country house style, you can choose furniture with playful decorations or carvings.

Do you want to give the style a modern twist? To break up the classic, playful style, you can use furniture in a shabby chic look for the kitchen or dining area, for example. The look is naturally rustic thanks to peeling paint, aged wooden surfaces and rusty metal. Or you can combine a classic wooden table with modern designer chairs. Just give yourself a try and find your own personal style.

The natural cuisine remodeling ideas

Of course!
The trend towards natural materials, eco-friendly furniture and durability has long since arrived in the kitchen. Shiny and massive kitchen fronts and plastic have had their day. Instead, many are back to natural cuisine.

The implementation
The kitchen has always been the place where the whole family meets. Here you spend half the night with friends, here you not only eat, but also play, drink, laugh and cry. Cooking, eating and living merge into one unit. The return of the natural kitchen ensures more cosiness again – kitchen fronts made of untreated wood, lots of ceramics and accessories radiate warmth and make the kitchen your absolute favorite room. Natural tones in green, brown or gray set great color accents and give the kitchen an additional natural flair.

The luxury kitchen remodeling ideas

Pure luxury
The trend towards more luxury, intelligent household appliances and kitchen gadgets that take over all your tasks independently, continues and culminates in the fully automatic luxury kitchen with a corresponding look.

The implementation
Since our daily workflow is already quite tight, we understandably prefer to be comfortable at home. In conjunction with increasingly sophisticated technology, this also leads to smart devices in the kitchen that make our work easier or even take it off completely. However, a kitchen front made of grained wood does not necessarily go well with state-of-the-art high-end kitchen appliances that bake almost independently, dishwashers that give themselves the right dose of washing-up liquid and start all by themselves, and ovens that open on demand or an antique table with a long-lasting patina. Instead, functionality, minimalism, and strict clarity play a role in the luxury kitchen. Monolithic kitchen blocks made of high-quality materials, matt, and noble-looking fronts without handles convey the highest level of luxury and make the kitchen a prestigious room.

For further information about kitchen cabinets, countertops or to add granite, marble, or quartz countertops to your kitchen, call Potomac Kitchen & Bath Now! You can also make a free appointment to get service in:

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