Although it is hard to believe, we spend a whole month in the kitchen every year! To save some time and energy, it is enough to arrange the kitchen properly, i.e. in accordance with the principles of ergonomics. For this purpose, it is worth planning in advance where to place the sink and where to place the refrigerator.
Every day we approach the table more than 30 times, we open and close the drawers and doors of the cabinets 80 times, and on the worktop and in thesinkwe perform over 50 activities. What to do so that all these works do not cause fatigue, pain in the legs, spine and eyes? The solution is simple:kitchenmust be arranged in accordance with the principles ofergonomics . It is a branch of science dealing with adapting the workplace to the possibilities and conditions of a person. It allows you to shorten the working time and reduce the associated loads. Ergonomics in the kitchen consists in arranging appliances and furniture in such a way that they are comfortable to use.
The order of appliances in the kitchen
Preparing meals involves repeating many activities: we unpack the purchases, hide them in the refrigerator and cabinets. When it's time, we take them out, clean them, cut them, cook them or bake them. This strictly defined sequence of activities results in the division of the kitchen into zones: storage of supplies and dishes (fridge and cupboards), washing (sink, dishwasher, garbage can), food preparation (worktop, dishes and household appliances) and cooking (kitchen, oven and pots). This is the order in which the equipment should be placed, and the worktops between them. And so, closest to the entrance to the kitchen, we locate a refrigerator and cabinets for storing products that do not require cooling. The top covering the cabinets is to be at least 40-60 cm long. This is a place to line your purchases and pre-clean them, as well as peel and cut products from the refrigerator. There should be a sink right next to it, and a waste bin underneath it. On the other side of the sink is the best place for a worktop for food preparation. It should be at least 80 cm long. It is a good idea to hide the products necessary to prepare meals in the cupboards above it. There is a place for a stove next to it. The working sequence ends with a small table for placing ready meals.
Practical advice
If individual zones are in the wrongsequence, we have limited maneuverability. When the sink is adjacent to the stove, try to use only one of its chambers. On the one closer to the burners, let's put a special cover and treat it as an emergency worktop. Let's also do an overview of the equipment placed on the countertops. It may turn out that it is enough to move the coffee machine or kettle to another place to get the necessary worktop.
The table should be 100 cm wide, then it will fit the place settings on both sides and the dishes with food in the middle. One person at the table needs a space of 60 cm along the table top and 40 cm deep. The distance between the table and, for example, the wall should be at least 80 cm, then you can move the chair freely. This distance should be increased:
- up to 110 cm, where a pass is needed for the person delivering food,
- up to 130 cm if there are cabinets behind the table,
- up to 150 cm if there is a stove and an oven.
Perfect height of the furniture in the kitchen
In order to be comfortable to work in a standing position, the table top should be 85-90 cm high (this applies to people who are 165 cm tall; when they are higher or lower by 5 cm - the table tops are raised or lowers by 1 cm). There is another way to determine the optimal height: the table top should be 10-15 cm below the level of the forearm bent at the elbow.
Note! The stove can be located on a slightly lower level than the worktops - it makes it easier to move the pots around and mix in them. The same is the case with the table top intended for activities requiring the use of force "from above" (eg for kneading dough) - it is easier to work when it is slightly lower, even at a height of 75 cm.
Practical advice
If the table top is too high, you can use a small but thick foot rug or wear thicker sole shoes at home. It is also worth getting a high bar stool and performing some activities while sitting. If the table top is too low, you can raise it by placing a thick wooden cutting board on it. It is worth trying to make a slight modification - on the countertop, attach a second countertop on the brackets, and use the resulting space as a place for a drawer.
When you have more space
Although the order of the zones is strictly defined, we place them in one row only in a small and narrow kitchen. When it is a little wider (about 240 cm), you can make two parallel lines - the sink and the kitchen on one side, the refrigerator on the other, or L-shaped. Then place two appliances on the longer arm of the letter, the third (e.g. stove) on the shorter . A larger kitchen can be arranged in a U-shape -each of the appliances can be placed on a different wall (sink in the middle table top).
Keep a distance between the worktop and the drawers hanging in the kitchen
The distance between the worktop and the hanging cabinets should be at least 50 cm. The top shelf is to be not higher than 180 cm - then everything is within easy reach without the need to climb.
Practical advice
If the top shelf is out of reach, place products and equipment on it and dishes that we rarely reach for (stoner, Christmas service, stocks of pasta and cans). When the distance between the worktop and the cabinet allows it, let's install additional worktop lighting under it. A large free space is also worth using for additional shelves, e.g. for spices, or hangers for handy equipment (mixer, sieves, spoons).
Wide aisle in the kitchen
A minimum width of 120 cm should be left between parallel kitchen lines. It allows not only comfortable movement, but also hassle-free opening of cabinets and the simultaneous use of several kitchen appliances.
Practical advice
In a narrow kitchen, do not place the dishwasher in front of the stove, because bending down to load dirty dishes, you could burn yourself on a hot stove. Traditional shelves in standing cabinets should be replaced with baskets (available in DIY stores and IKEA stores) with drawers, because they are easier to keep in order. With the help of a carpenter, it can be done even in the carcasses of existing cabinets.