How to Design a Kitchen Layout
A good kitchen layout starts with accurate measurements and the work triangle — the path between sink, stove, and fridge. Get those right and the cabinets fall into place.
Measure the room first
Record exact wall lengths, ceiling height, and the position of windows, doors, and existing plumbing and gas. Enter these into your planner before placing anything, so every cabinet snaps to real inches.
Place the work triangle
Position the sink, stove, and refrigerator so the three legs between them total roughly 12 to 26 feet, with no single leg under 4 feet or over 9. This keeps cooking efficient and is the single biggest driver of a layout that “feels right.”
Keep the clearances
Leave at least 36 to 42 inches of walkway, more in a two-cook kitchen. Don’t let appliance doors block each other or the path. Most planners warn you when a fridge door swings into a walkway.
Add cabinets and check in 3D
Fill the walls with base and wall cabinets, then switch to a 3D view to sanity-check sightlines and proportions. Confirm your tool’s export is free before you spend an hour — many watermark or lock the PDF.
Tools that help
- Kitchen Design Software Lay out cabinets, appliances, and countertops in 3D — with the real free-tier limits spelled out before you sign up.
- Floor Plan & Room Layout Software Draw your room to scale, arrange furniture, and switch between 2D and 3D — with the real free-tier limits spelled out before you sign up.
Part of the WebHomeTools guides. See all guides.