Designing for Flow

Understanding the Work Triangle and Modern Kitchen Workflow

Effective kitchen design begins with thoughtful planning. A beautiful kitchen that lacks functional flow will quickly become a daily frustration. That’s why we prioritise layout first—designing around how you move, prepare, cook, and clean.

One of the foundational concepts in kitchen planning is the work triangle—a spatial relationship between the sink, cooktop, and fridge. While it remains useful in many layouts, it’s only one of several principles we use when designing kitchens for modern Australian homes.

What Is the Work Triangle?

The work triangle connects the three main functional points in the kitchen:

• Sink (cleaning and prep)

• Cooktop or oven (cooking)

• Fridge (food storage)

The goal is to minimise unnecessary movement and allow for uninterrupted task flow. In traditional layouts, these three zones form a loose triangle—providing balance and accessibility during everyday use.

Moving Beyond the Triangle

While the work triangle offers a strong starting point, it doesn’t suit every kitchen. Many modern layouts benefit more from a zonal or linear approach.

For example:

• Left → Centre → Right flow (fridge to sink to cooktop)

• Pantry → Prep → Cooking → Cleaning zones

• Parallel galley kitchens that distribute movement evenly

Rather than designing around a shape, we focus on designing around behaviour.

What We Prioritise at EKD

When planning your layout, we consider:

• Your household's cooking habits

• Whether the kitchen supports one or multiple users

• Where appliances and services are placed

• How traffic moves between prep, cook, and clean zones

• How the kitchen integrates with adjacent rooms

The result is a kitchen that feels considered—both for how it looks and how it works.

Final Thoughts

The work triangle remains a useful tool, but it's not a rule. At Essential Kitchen Design, we balance time-tested design principles with practical insight—adapting every layout to your space, your needs, and the way you live.

To explore your own kitchen workflow with clarity, start with our design brief or prepare your space using one of our Essential Guides:
essentialkitchendesign.com.au/collections/all