The kitchen work triangle is considered to be a golden rule that designers and kitchen users swear by. Implementation of the rule can boost kitchen efficiency enabling the user to access three vital sections in the kitchen with ease.  This rule has been around for years, and it has been known to boost the kitchen workflow. Since the kitchen is a utilitarian space, it needs to be efficiently built.

If you have decided to build a modular kitchen, and are wondering how to make the design for modular kitchen more efficient, then you should implement the work triangle rule. Especially, if yours is a small modular kitchen design, you have to optimize the available space to create a functional design.

 But how do you implement the work triangle rule in your modular kitchen?  Here’s a guide that may help.

Design for modular kitchen: Implement the work triangle rule

The concept of kitchen triangle dates back to the1950’s era, but this design concept has proven its worth time and again. This rule gets implemented in the latest designs for modular kitchen. But before we talk about how to implement this rule in your modular kitchen, we should clarify the concept.

What is the work triangle rule?

In a kitchen there are three important zones, the refrigerator, the stove or the cooktop, and the sink; namely the storage zone, the cooking zone, and the cleaning zone. In your kitchen you need to access these three points simultaneously every day, and most of your kitchen tasks would take place in these zones. Therefore, these zones should be positioned in a way that you can access them and switch between the zones efficiently and quickly.

 If they are at a distance from each other and you have to tour your entire kitchen to get from one zone to the other, it will affect your kitchen workflow.

By implementing the work triangle rule in a modular kitchen design, you can connect these primary areas in a way that they form an imaginary triangle. You can take out the ingredients, vegetables from the refrigerator, wash them in the sink and would eventually move towards the cooking zone. You can perform all of these tasks quickly as each zone is connected to the other to facilitate the process.

 The work triangle especially is important for a small modular kitchen design.

 
Now that we have clarity regarding the work triangle, let’s learn how to implement this rule.

How to implement the work triangle rule in a modular kitchen design?

We are listing some factors that you must pay attention to while planning the triangle.

Customization is the key:

It is true that the work triangle rule boosts kitchen efficiency and is an integral part of modular kitchen ideas, but each kitchen has a different layout which is why you should customize your modular kitchen design. While implementing the rule, pay attention to the space you have in the kitchen. The placement of the work triangle would differ as well; the way it is placed in an open kitchen design would differ from its placement in a small modular kitchen design.

The layout should not be ignored:

The work-triangle must align with the kitchen layout. If you explore the latest design ideas for small modular kitchens, you will come across -L-shaped layout, Parallel kitchen design, U-shaped layout, the Peninsula layout, the Island kitchen layout, and the Single-wall layout. Each layout is different; hence the positioning of the sink, refrigerator, and the cooktop would vary.

If you are interested in parallel modular kitchen ideas then you can place any two elements on one side, and the third element on the opposite side. 

In a single -wall unit is linear; therefore, these three elements should be placed on the same side.

Select a layout that fits your modular kitchen design best, and figure out how best to place the work triangle.

Ideal measurement:

Learn about the ideal measurement of the triangle before including this in your design for modular kitchen. The rule specifies that the ideal distance between any two elements forming the triangle 4 feet and 9 feet and the entire work triangle measurement should not extend beyond 26 feet. However, keep your available kitchen space in mind before you implement the kitchen triangle. In a small kitchen, you have to position the triangle carefully.

The idea here is to streamline the workflow; wrong measurement or positioning can harm the workflow and also make your movements constricted.

Create a harmonious design:

If you are implementing a work triangle it should beautifully align with the rest of the elements. Depending on your kitchen usage pattern you must ensure that the triangle is not creating any obstacle when you reach out to other sections of the kitchen. If more than one cook operates in the kitchen, then you should make sure that both can move around these points without any obstacle.

Similarly, if your latest design for a modular kitchen includes a serving and an entertaining zone, then you have to pay attention to how the traffic moves around the kitchen and make sure that movement does not get blocked by the triangle placement.

The work triangle rule will help you create an efficient modular kitchen design. However, you should pay attention to the above mentioned factors before implementing it. Customize your modular kitchen to enhance its efficiency.