For an efficient kitchen, it is important that your appliances be properly positioned. In order to determine the ideal location for your oven, your refrigerator and your dishwasher, several things must be taken into account.

Here are a few practical suggestions for positioning your appliances.

Organize your appliances according to your type of kitchen

The three busiest areas in a kitchen are the "washing" zone (sink and dishwasher), the "hot" zone (oven and stove and the "cool" zone (refrigerator and freezer). These three areas form what is called the "activity triangle", the configuration of which will vary depending on your type of kitchen.

Kitchens can be categorized based on their fundamental shape:

• "I"- shaped kitchen (long and narrow, is the only kitchen that has no activity triangle)
• "L" –shaped kitchen (the most common and easy to arrange)
• "U"-shaped kitchen (the most practical and spacious)
• Kitchen-island model (offers significant additional storage space)

As you can see, the shape of the triangle depends directly on the type of kitchen you have. Now, to create a functional space, the idea is to minimize the size of the activity triangle. This allows you to have everything close at hand.

How much space should you leave between appliances?

As seen above, the distance between your appliances depends on the layout of your kitchen. However, regardless of the type of kitchen you have, you should take note of the following distances:

• Leave 75 cm of free space on one side of your sink to be able to wash dishes at your convenience
• Leave 80 cm of free space in front of your refrigerator
• Calculate at least 1 m of free space in front of your stove
• Leave 90 cm of free space in front of your dishwasher

As for the amount of space to leave between appliances, there should be at least 120 cm between appliances facing each other. Remember: following these guidelines will help make your kitchen safer and more efficient.

What appliances should be placed together?

To answer this question, you can refer to the concept of the activity triangle. Think of the 3 points mentioned earlier (washing zone, hot zone and cold zone) and organize your appliances in order to comply with this concept. Once again, we recommend that you position your appliances in a way that places the things you need and the things you do within easy reach.

In ending, keep in mind that the ideal arrangement for you should reflect first and foremost your lifestyle. If you want a kitchen with customized efficiency and ergonomics, you must first make an inventory of your needs. What kind of cook are you? Are there several people living at home? The answer to these questions will help you determine what kitchen arrangement suits you and your lifestyle. This, in turn, will help you to position your appliances in the most optimal manner!