Are you curious about kitchen design? Whether you’re renovating an existing space or designing a brand-new kitchen, certain rules are essential for combining aesthetics and functionality. From the layout of the elements to the lighting, every detail counts in creating a space that’s pleasant to live in every day. Nicolas Sallavuard, architect and founder of the Studio d’archi agency , shares his expertise to optimize your kitchen according to the rules of the art.

Kitchen design cannot be improvised. A good layout is based on key principles that guarantee comfort and practicality on a daily basis. Direction of movement , optimal distances , smart storage , choice of furniture … Everything must be thought out to streamline movements and avoid unnecessary back and forth. The famous activity triangle – connecting the sink, the hob and the refrigerator – constitutes the basis of an ergonomic and efficient kitchen . But that’s not all. Lighting plays a central role in creating a pleasant atmosphere and a well-presented work surface. Optimizing storage allows you to have everything within reach without cluttering the space. Nicolas Sallavuard, DPLG architect, reveals these 5 essential rules that will transform your kitchen into a place that is as functional as it is pleasant to live in.

Arrange your kitchen according to the activity triangle

The hob, sink and refrigerator are the three pillars of your kitchen layout: they are the main areas where day-to-day work takes place and the kitchen’s activity triangle . Much of the movement you make in your kitchen takes place from one of these points to the other. To facilitate movement, it is important that the distance between these three areas is as equal as possible, and not too great.

Remember: Stovetop, sink, and refrigerator: It is important that the distance between these three areas is equal or almost equal.

The path of clean and dirty

Upon returning from the dining room , dirty plates and dishes are placed on the worktop . Before being placed in the dishwasher, they pass through the trash can and possibly the sink. The cupboards, cabinets and drawers that allow you to store clean dishes must also be close to the dishwasher so that in a single movement you can empty one to fill the other.

Remember: Think about the flow of dirty plates and dishes : placing them on the work surface, going to the trash can to throw away leftovers, sink to possibly rinse, then dishwasher. The same applies to the flow of clean dishes between the dishwasher (or draining board) and the storage areas for clean dishes.

Respect the ideal height of kitchen furniture

The height of the worktop and appliances depends primarily on your height. However, keep in mind that if you rent or resell, your successors may not be the same height as you. The worktop should be at waist height (between 85 and 95 cm) so that you can reach the bottom of the sink without bending over. To avoid hitting your head on the extractor hood , it should be approximately 60 cm from the hob. In the highest storage cupboards, the last accessible shelf should be approximately 220 cm away.

Remember: The height of your worktop and appliances depends primarily on your height. However, keep in mind that if you rent or resell, your successors may not be the same height as you…

Large appliances, such as ovens and dishwashers, fit into a 60 cm square : this is the minimum size for a worktop. But nowadays, kitchen designers are increasingly opting for deeper worktops (65 cm) for greater comfort 90 cm will allow you to easily get around a cupboard or an open dishwasher. 120 cm allows you to work in pairs in the kitchen and pass each other without getting in each other’s way.

Remember: 70 centimeters are necessary for movement in front of furniture and household appliances, but this figure rises to 90 centimeters if it is a cupboard or a dishwasher, and 120 centimeters when there are several of you moving around…

A well-lit kitchen

Even if the sink is often placed in front of the window, natural light is not enough . The arrangement and equipment of other light sources must be studied very carefully. Do you need general lighting? A ceiling light can do the trick to provide average brightness to the entire room. Also install powerful lighting aimed at the different areas of the worktop. Directional spotlights , placed under the wall units , are ideal. Don’t neglect ambient lighting either , especially if the kitchen is open to the dining room : backlit splashbacks or dresser, colored LEDs embedded in the floor, colored neon lights placed on the wall units, etc.