The UK certainly is a nation of home improvers, with the home improvement market reaching a total value of £29.7 billion in 2024. One of the most popular home upgrades? A kitchen remodel. Independent letting specialist Harringtons found in their own study that 39% of the nation’s homeowners have opted for this type of home improvement in recent years.
But when designing your dream kitchen, would you know where to perfectly place your gas or electric oven? From safety considerations to accessibility and practical workflow, there are several factors to keep in mind.
Consider space when choosing an oven
Before determining the ideal oven placement, it’s important to assess the space available in your kitchen.
In a smaller kitchen, consider an under-counter or a wall-mounted integrated oven. These options save valuable space and create a sleek, uncluttered look. In a larger kitchen, you have more flexibility. A range cooker can be an excellence choice, serving both as a functional appliance and a dramatic centrepiece for cooking for larger groups.
For a unique touch in a spacious kitchen, you might opt to place your oven within the kitchen island. This setup offers several benefits, including making the oven a striking focal point, providing multiple access points, and enhancing social interaction with guests while you prepare meals.
Always bear safety in mind
Have you decided which oven will be best for your kitchen? Next, let’s ensure you safely position it within your home by confirming the answers to the following questions are all yes:
- Will your oven be placed away from flammable materials, such as curtains?
- Can you easily reach, operate and clean all parts of your oven?
- Will you be able to clearly see through your oven door and view the appliance’s controls from across your kitchen?
- Does your oven door avoid creating a tripping hazard when open?
- Is there suitable ventilation near the installation site, such as a window that can open or a venting system for efficient dispersal of cooking fumes and heat?
Achieving the perfect kitchen layout
Positioning your oven perfectly in your kitchen can significantly reduce the legwork involved in meal preparation.
For instance, placing an oven adjacent to a kitchen countertop provides a convenient space to set down dishes and trays as soon as you remove them from the oven.
Additionally, ensure that storage cabinets or drawers are located close the oven. This way, you’ll have easy access to essential items like baking sheets, oven mitts, and cooking utensils while you cook.
Have you also heard of the kitchen work triangle principle? This useful concept, employed by kitchen designers since the 1940s, suggests positioning the oven, sink and refrigerator at close-to-equal distances to form a triangle layout. This design allows for seamless movement between these three essential areas without obstruction.
It’s important to avoid placing the fridge near the oven. The heat generated by the oven can affect the fridge’s efficiency, causing it to work harder to maintain a cool temperature. This can lead to higher energy costs and potentially shorten the lifespan of your refrigerator.
By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to creating your dream kitchen, ready for you to serve up culinary delights time and time again.
