Advantages of an L-shaped kitchen

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So many people are now waking up to the potential that an L-shaped kitchen can add to a home, thanks to the natural way that far more counter space can be enjoyed, as well as a generous floor plan. While a U-shaped room layout is often a little more 'normal', there is a lot going for these significantly more clever installations, which is why professional kitchen planners have been witnessing an increase in the number of clients seeking to create something simpler but still functional.  

L-shaped kitchen designs have been proving so popular that it's worth acquainting ourselves with all of the advantages that they have to offer, far and beyond the pure aesthetics involved, which is exactly what this guide has been designed to do, but before looking at very specific examples of these installations, it's worth noting the main upsides to them, as a genre of design:

- They make for a more spacious area. It's so often the case that more than one person in the kitchen feels like too many, but with almost independent lengths of counter to work on, there won't ever be a claustrophobic or cramped feeling when working in an L-shaped space.

- Islands naturally work well in them. This is a point that will be examined in more detail, shortly. 

- They generally offer access to more storage. With an increased amount of countertops, comes a natural void to be filled, underneath. This can be put to great use as extra storage. After all, it;s not possible to have too much, especially in a family home.

- Extra utility areas can be enjoyed. Again, with double the counter space comes more opportunities for extra functional touches, such as another sink.

It's no secret that L-shaped kitchens are good looking, practical and becoming exceptionally popular, but it's the way that they can integrate into absolutely any home that makes them so covetable.

Time for L-shaped kitchen with island?

There's a plethora of reasons why an L-shaped kitchen could be the most sensible idea for everyone, but in terms of honing in that statement just a little, anybody who has long-craved a kitchen island should definitely give serious thought to this particular layout option. 

By flanking a freestanding island with countertops in an L-shaped formation, there is more than enough access left and actually, a room will look far larger, even with an island in the centre, than if simple linear installations were being showcased. The look of L-shaped designs naturally seems to hug an central 'something' and an island makes perfect sense as the star of the show, especially if a dining area would come in handy, as well as extra storage and an excess of counter surface. 

If nothing else, this is a great idea for keen pastry chefs, as an island could have a contrasting marble top, which remains cool and perfect for dough manipulation.

Tiny l-shaped kitchen layouts.

Small L-shaped kitchens shouldn't be seen as a compromise when they work as well as they do. Though there are a number of suggestions as to the best way to get value from a modest kitchen, an L-shaped layout will really seek to maximise all those areas that tend to be dead space, such as corners.

Take a look at this picture, which aptly demonstrates the potential that even a minuscule kitchen can unlock, with wall-to-wall L-shaped counter. What could have been at least two feet of blank wall is now a premium location for a small built-in oven  and the corners have been expertly used to stash bulky countertop accessories, such as appliances and fruit bowls. A galley layout would have made the room feel even smaller than it really is, as apposed to creating the illusion of more spaciousness.

Minimal l-shaped kitchen ideas.

Just because L-shaped kitchens are naturally great for displaying bulky items on the counters, it doesn't mean that they have to be used in that way. In fact, a minimal scheme works terrifically well within an L-shaped context and size really doesn't matter.

It can be tempting to fill a large room with more furniture or cabinetry than is needed, but by aligning with an L-shaped design, the clean lines, airiness and generous proportions of a kitchen can be amplified and enjoyed. Take this room as a prime example. There's a plethora of room, which could have all been swallowed up by extra cupboards, but by installing the storage and counters in an L-shape, the centre of the room is left free and clear for a stylish island and a pared back finish. It simply works so well.

L- shaped kitchen plans with a classic edge.

Understandably, given the recent surge in popularity, there is a school of thought that L-shaped kitchens are merely for more modern or starkly contemporary homes, but that doesn't have to be the case. In fact, though this layout might seem like a current day solution, it works intrinsically with classic carpentry aesthetics, to create a harmonious and beautiful finish.

Traditional Shaker kitchen cupboard and drawer fronts will never go out of style. As long as there are cottages, country properties and people with a love for nostalgic design, it will always be wanted, which is why it's so great that it partners with an L-shaped layout so well. From handleless designs through to rustic interpretations, everything looks right with a right-angled counter in place!

A pop of colour never hurts.

U-shaped kitchen designs were once the epitome of a covetable kitchen layout, but it's all about the L now and to that end, homeowners have been experimenting, to make this layout a little more custom and personal. A tried and tested way to add extra pizazz to an otherwise functional room is to add a healthy dose of colour and L-shaped installations soak up unusual hues like a sponge.

Sleek gloss finishes in fashionable shades work just as naturally as heritage hues and with a contrasting countertop in place, to magnify the practicality of the layout, there really isn't a colour that won;t work in an L-shaped space. From grey, black and orange, the predicted colours of the year, through to bright white and pretty pastels, anything goes.

Cohesive furniture additions.

In a bid to really bed L-shaped kitchens into place, kitchen planners have been looking for ways to integrate appropriate pieces of furniture that heighten the look and usability of the rooms. A popular choice is an L-shaped kitchen table, which mimics the counter layout, or even mirrors it, depending on which way round it is set. 

Naturally, a standard rectangular table will work exceptionally well also, thanks to sharp corner angles and long stretches of straight lines, but an L-shaped table really does add a touch of wow-factor that is impossible to ignore and helps to trick the brain into seeing an extra prep station. This is particularly useful when a choice between a table or an island has to be made.

Perfect for every home, any design genre and a wealth of different homeowners, it seems that L-shaped kitchens are only just getting started.

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