L-shaped kitchen
Two adjoining walls, one open corner.
Modular Kitchens
U-shaped kitchen design
A U-shaped kitchen wraps counters and storage around three walls, with the cook standing in the middle. It gives the most worktop and cabinet space of any standard layout, and it keeps the sink, hob and refrigerator close together.It works best in a kitchen that is wide enough to keep the centre clear. We check the width, the door and the window first, then plan the three runs and make every cabinet to your room's measurements.
01Fit
Is it right for your home?
Works best when
- Kitchens that are about 2.4 metres wide or more, with three usable walls
- Households that cook often and need plenty of counter and storage
- Homes where one main cook works at a time
- Kitchens with a window on the middle wall, which suits a sink under the light
- Families that want a breakfast counter or a pass-through on the fourth side
Worth considering
- In a narrow room, three runs close in on the cook and the middle feels tight.
- Two inside corners need planning, or part of the cabinet space becomes unreachable.
- Only one side is open, so the entrance must be placed clear of the work area.
- Two people cooking together can get in each other's way in a small U.
- Moving the sink or the gas point to suit the layout adds plumbing and tiling work.
02Design ideas
Ideas to start from
Hob on one arm, sink on the other
Splitting the two on opposite arms leaves a counter between each and keeps the cooking triangle short.
Sink under the window
On the middle wall, the sink gets daylight and a view while you wash, and the wall cabinets stay clear of the glass.
Corner carousels or magic corners
Both inside corners get a pull-out or rotating unit, so the deepest storage is easy to reach.
Tall unit on one arm
Oven, microwave and grain storage in one floor-to-ceiling run keeps the main counter free.
Open end as a breakfast counter
A short counter or half-wall on the open side adds seating and separates the kitchen from the dining area.
Open shelf on the middle wall
One open shelf between closed cabinets gives easy reach for daily items and lightens the three-wall run.
Under-cabinet lighting
Strip lights below the wall cabinets light the counter evenly on all three sides.
Appliance garage
A shuttered recess on the counter hides the mixer and toaster and keeps the worktop clear.
03Materials
Materials and finishes
- Carcass
- Moisture-resistant boards such as BWR plywood or HDHMR, with edges sealed well around the sink and dishwasher space.
- Shutters
- Laminate, acrylic, PU paint or glass, chosen for look and upkeep. With three walls of shutters, a calm colour scheme keeps the kitchen from feeling boxed in.
- Countertop
- Granite or engineered quartz in long runs with tight joins. Corner joints are placed where they are least visible.
- Hardware
- Soft-close hinges, full-extension drawers and corner mechanisms, since the two corners are used constantly.
- Backsplash
- Tiles or glass behind the hob and sink, continuing around the corners for a single wipe-clean surface.
04Planning
Sizing and planning notes
- Minimum width
- Two base cabinets are commonly about 600 mm deep each. Leaving roughly a metre to 1.2 metres between them, the room should be about 2.2 to 2.4 metres wide at least. Tighter, and doors and drawers collide.
- The clear centre
- Keep the middle free of tables and carts. A U-shaped kitchen is a working corridor, and a cook should be able to turn without bumping into the units.
- The corners
- Both corners need a mechanism or a planned filler. Drawers on adjacent arms can collide, so we leave clearance where they meet.
- Entrance and traffic
- Place the door so that family members can reach the refrigerator or collect water without crossing the cook's path.
- Chimney and gas point
- The hob sits on one arm, usually the one nearest an outside wall. Fix the chimney outlet early so the duct is short and straight.
- Counter height
- 850 to 900 mm is standard. Adjust it to the person who cooks most, and plan the sink height with the basin and tap in mind.
05Inspiration
Ideas in pictures
Illustrative photos to show styles and ideas. They are not our completed projects.
06FAQ
U-shaped kitchen: your questions
How big does a kitchen need to be for a U-shape?
Roughly 2.4 metres wide or more, so that two 600 mm deep runs leave a comfortable working gap in the middle. Narrower rooms usually suit an L-shaped or parallel layout better.
Is a U-shaped kitchen good for a small flat?
Only if the room is wide enough. In a compact kitchen it can feel enclosed, and an L-shaped or straight layout keeps more space. We check the dimensions at the site visit before recommending it.
How do I use the corners in a U-shaped kitchen?
With corner units that have carousels, pull-outs or magic-corner shelves, so the space can be reached. Blind corners with fixed shelves are hard to use, which is why we plan them with the layout.
Can two people cook in a U-shaped kitchen?
Two people can work in a spacious U, provided the centre is wide enough and the sink and hob are on different arms. In a smaller U, only one cook is comfortable at a time.
Where should the refrigerator go?
Near the entrance, at the end of an arm, so it can be reached without walking through the work area. A tall unit next to it helps keep groceries together.
Can I convert my existing kitchen to a U-shape?
Often, depending on where the plumbing, gas and chimney outlet sit. We check at the site visit and tell you what the change involves, including any civil or electrical work.
Free consultation
Get a free estimate for your u-shaped kitchen
Share a few details and we will call you to plan a site visit. The consultation is free.
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