10 Top Design Tips for an Ergonomic Kitchen
From bench heights to your choice of sink, we reveal up-to-date details of modern kitchen design
Good ergonomics are more important in the kitchen than any other room in the home. Get it right and you’ll create a smart space with good flow where every meal is cooked smoothly and in style. Get it wrong and you’ll be frustrated on a daily basis. Here are 10 clever tips – as well as mistakes to avoid – to help design a fit-for-purpose kitchen.
These days we also have more appliances, such as microwaves and dishwashers, so it’s often impractical – or downright impossible – to plan your kitchen according to the triangle. Instead, consider which appliances you use most and allow unobstructed lines of movement between them.
This Brisbane kitchen is divided into two main work zones. The cooking and food-preparation zone combines ample bench space with the stovetop, oven, sink and other key appliances; while the beverage zone groups the wine fridge, liquor cabinet and a second sink.
This Brisbane kitchen is divided into two main work zones. The cooking and food-preparation zone combines ample bench space with the stovetop, oven, sink and other key appliances; while the beverage zone groups the wine fridge, liquor cabinet and a second sink.
2. Plan the right distance between benches and fixtures
Having enough room between work spaces such as benches is essential – too little and you will feel cramped, too much and you will constantly be stretching and reaching for hot, heavy pans. A distance of 1050 millimetres is often regarded as the minimum, while 1200 millimetres is ideal for most. More than 1400 millimetres between benches and fixtures can result in ergonomic inefficiency and wasted space.
Having enough room between work spaces such as benches is essential – too little and you will feel cramped, too much and you will constantly be stretching and reaching for hot, heavy pans. A distance of 1050 millimetres is often regarded as the minimum, while 1200 millimetres is ideal for most. More than 1400 millimetres between benches and fixtures can result in ergonomic inefficiency and wasted space.
3. Store crockery near your dishwasher, not above it
To save your sanity and your spine, keep plates and glasses on either side of your dishwasher, or even behind it if you have two facing benches. This lets you unstack your dishwasher with smooth, swift movements.
Housing crockery in wall-mounted cupboards directly above a dishwasher forces people to lean over it when it’s open and reach up awkwardly to put away clean dishes. This kitchen cleverly avoids such a fate by positioning the dishwasher in an island bench.
To save your sanity and your spine, keep plates and glasses on either side of your dishwasher, or even behind it if you have two facing benches. This lets you unstack your dishwasher with smooth, swift movements.
Housing crockery in wall-mounted cupboards directly above a dishwasher forces people to lean over it when it’s open and reach up awkwardly to put away clean dishes. This kitchen cleverly avoids such a fate by positioning the dishwasher in an island bench.
4. Consider raising your bench height
The standard bench height of 900 millimetres has become a common culprit of back pain for more statuesque souls. These days 920 millimetres is often preferred, and 950 millimetres or even higher is not uncommon. If the head cook in your home is tall, raising your bench height will improve the ergonomics. Likewise, if you’re less than leggy, an 850 millimetre bench height will save sore shoulders when you’re stirring at the stove.
This Sydney kitchen utilises different bench heights to hide power points and messy food preparation. The raised height of the recycled-timber frame is more conducive to bar stools and delineates the stone benchtop as a separate work zone.
The standard bench height of 900 millimetres has become a common culprit of back pain for more statuesque souls. These days 920 millimetres is often preferred, and 950 millimetres or even higher is not uncommon. If the head cook in your home is tall, raising your bench height will improve the ergonomics. Likewise, if you’re less than leggy, an 850 millimetre bench height will save sore shoulders when you’re stirring at the stove.
This Sydney kitchen utilises different bench heights to hide power points and messy food preparation. The raised height of the recycled-timber frame is more conducive to bar stools and delineates the stone benchtop as a separate work zone.
5. Watch your head!
If you’ve ever leant forward to smell that delicious sauce simmering on the stove and bumped your forehead on the range hood, you’ll know how important it is to position wall-mounted appliances above your head height. The minimum clearance in Australia between stove and range hood is 600 millimetres for an electric stovetop or 650 millimetres for a gas stove, though most manufacturers recommend a distance between 700 and 750 millimetres, which can be increased.
Likewise, consider reducing the width of wall-mounted cupboard doors so they don’t open too far beyond the bench, or install retractable hinged systems as in this Sydney kitchen.
Find your dishwasher sweet spot
If you’ve ever leant forward to smell that delicious sauce simmering on the stove and bumped your forehead on the range hood, you’ll know how important it is to position wall-mounted appliances above your head height. The minimum clearance in Australia between stove and range hood is 600 millimetres for an electric stovetop or 650 millimetres for a gas stove, though most manufacturers recommend a distance between 700 and 750 millimetres, which can be increased.
Likewise, consider reducing the width of wall-mounted cupboard doors so they don’t open too far beyond the bench, or install retractable hinged systems as in this Sydney kitchen.
Find your dishwasher sweet spot
6. Swap cupboards for drawers
Instead of ferreting inside dark cupboards looking for a lost utensil, it makes sense to simply open a drawer and see its contents at a glance. Drawers are ideal for storing anything from pots and pans to plates and perishables, just opt for maximum weight bearing systems.
Instead of ferreting inside dark cupboards looking for a lost utensil, it makes sense to simply open a drawer and see its contents at a glance. Drawers are ideal for storing anything from pots and pans to plates and perishables, just opt for maximum weight bearing systems.
7. Clever solutions for tricky corner cabinets
Gone are the days of stretching into deep corner cupboards, thanks to carousels that spin internal shelves around like a lazy Susan (pictured) or systems such as the LeMans, which swing the contents of your corner cupboards into the kitchen.
Gone are the days of stretching into deep corner cupboards, thanks to carousels that spin internal shelves around like a lazy Susan (pictured) or systems such as the LeMans, which swing the contents of your corner cupboards into the kitchen.
8. The dimensions between your tap and sink matter
We’ve all had the infuriating experience of turning on the kitchen tap only to be sprayed with water. Splash back is a common issue, and one that results from a poor relationship between your water pressure and the dimensions of your mixer and sink.
While there is no single solution to fit every kitchen, if you don’t want to wear your water think twice before pairing a deep sink with a high arched spout, or choosing a short sink and a long tap. This spring-loaded swivel mixer stands tall at 700 millimetres, though the low spout ensures minimal splash back.
How to make awkward kitchen spaces functional
We’ve all had the infuriating experience of turning on the kitchen tap only to be sprayed with water. Splash back is a common issue, and one that results from a poor relationship between your water pressure and the dimensions of your mixer and sink.
While there is no single solution to fit every kitchen, if you don’t want to wear your water think twice before pairing a deep sink with a high arched spout, or choosing a short sink and a long tap. This spring-loaded swivel mixer stands tall at 700 millimetres, though the low spout ensures minimal splash back.
How to make awkward kitchen spaces functional
9. Design kitchen lighting with work zones in mind
Dimmable LED downlights coupled with a beautiful pendant provide a general ambient glow, though without task lighting you may find you’re slicing food in the shadows. To illuminate important bench space and work zones, install LED downlights or strip lighting under wall-mounted cabinetry.
These bird’s nest pendants add contrast and texture to this Queensland kitchen, while the downlights above the splashback illuminate the work space.
Dimmable LED downlights coupled with a beautiful pendant provide a general ambient glow, though without task lighting you may find you’re slicing food in the shadows. To illuminate important bench space and work zones, install LED downlights or strip lighting under wall-mounted cabinetry.
These bird’s nest pendants add contrast and texture to this Queensland kitchen, while the downlights above the splashback illuminate the work space.
10. Add a sprung floor… and some comfort
With the amount of time we spend standing up in the kitchen, the ergonomic benefits of a sprung floor cannot be ignored. Add some other creature comforts while you’re at it to make your kitchen a joy to cook in: music, some seating, plants and potted herbs… did someone say wine fridge?
Tell us
What do you love about your kitchen and which ergonomic blunders drive you bonkers? Share your experiences with us in the Comments section below.
More
10 Top Design Tips for an Ergonomic Bathroom
With the amount of time we spend standing up in the kitchen, the ergonomic benefits of a sprung floor cannot be ignored. Add some other creature comforts while you’re at it to make your kitchen a joy to cook in: music, some seating, plants and potted herbs… did someone say wine fridge?
Tell us
What do you love about your kitchen and which ergonomic blunders drive you bonkers? Share your experiences with us in the Comments section below.
More
10 Top Design Tips for an Ergonomic Bathroom
The ‘kitchen work triangle’ refers to the relationship between the stovetop, fridge and sink, which were traditionally arranged at points of an invisible triangle. This concept came about in the 1940s when kitchens were usually smaller, sequestered rooms.
Today, however, our kitchens come in countless configurations, from U-shape or large open-plan layouts to narrow single- or double-walled galley styles.
Browse U-shaped kitchens