No matter what shape your kitchen’s in--whether your floor plan is straight, U-shaped, L-shaped, or otherwise—its fundamental efficiency revolves around the triangle.

The work triangle, an area comprised of the distance between your refrigerator, stove and sink, traces the kitchen’s most-traveled areas.

Designers from the National Kitchen and Bath Association recommend the following work triangle dimensions and suggestions:

• each leg of the work triangle should measure between 4 and 9 feet in length
• the total length of all 3 legs should be between 12 and 26 feet
• cabinets shouldn't intersect any leg of the triangle by more than 12 inches
• major traffic flow shouldn't move through the triangle