Kitchen Layout & Clearance Guide

SHOPKITCHENS PLANNING LIBRARY

Kitchen Layout & Clearance Guide

Choose a layout from the room geometry first, then test appliance doors, corner access and circulation before filling every wall with cabinets. Straight, L, U, Galley, Island and Peninsula arrangements can all work when their clearances suit the actual room.

QUICK ANSWER
  • Straight: one primary cabinet run
  • L: two connected runs with one inside corner
  • U: three connected runs with two corners
  • Galley: parallel runs; circulation is central
  • Island/peninsula: only after surrounding clearances are tested

Last reviewed: September 2026 · EVERGREEN

STRAIGHT LAYOUT — Top-view planning diagram for a straight kitchen. Cabinet runs, appliances and circulation must be checked against actual room dimensions.
L LAYOUT — Top-view planning diagram for a l kitchen. Cabinet runs, appliances and circulation must be checked against actual room dimensions.
U LAYOUT — Top-view planning diagram for a u kitchen. Cabinet runs, appliances and circulation must be checked against actual room dimensions.
GALLEY LAYOUT — Top-view planning diagram for a galley kitchen. Cabinet runs, appliances and circulation must be checked against actual room dimensions.
ISLAND LAYOUT — Top-view planning diagram for a island kitchen. Cabinet runs, appliances and circulation must be checked against actual room dimensions.
Layout Best for Storage Island potential Design complexity
Straight Compact/open rooms Moderate Usually low Low
L Open corners Good Often possible in larger rooms Medium
U High storage needs High Room-dependent High
Galley Narrow rooms High Usually low Medium
Island / Peninsula Larger circulation zones Adds storage Core feature High
Download Printable PDFTry an L-Shaped KitchenTry a U-Shaped Kitchen

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