When it comes to designing a kitchen, there are many factors to consider. One that may not immediately come to mind, but can have a significant impact on the overall design, is whether you are right or left-handed. Good kitchen designs accommodate the user’s dominant hand, enabling ease of access and convenience.
10% of the population is left-handed and if your household has a ‘leftie’ who spends a lot of time in the kitchen, you should consider how best to assemble items to ensure left and right-handers can enjoy the amenities.
Layout
The layout of your kitchen can be influenced by your stronger hand. For example, if you are right-handed, work surfaces and appliances are better positioned to the right of your sink, so that you can easily move from one to the other without crossing over. This saves time and effort when navigating around the kitchen.
A left-to-right layout favours right-handers, while it is the opposite for left-handers.
On first appearance, mere seconds may not seem like much, but on a daily basis, accumulated over a period of years, that can climb to many lost hours. A little forward planning can be a significant time saver.
Storage
Storage items such as cutlery and utensils, should be located to the stronger side of your stove or work surface. This makes it easier to grab them quickly when needed. It should be noted that a kitchen is not just the domicile of the person cooking dinner and the needs of all residents of the household is considered.
Appliances
Right-handers may want to choose a refrigerator with the door hinge on the left side, offering easy access with your dominant hand. Similarly with ovens and press storage areas throughout the kitchen.
Sink Tap
Right-handers will likely want to position their tap to the right of your sink, so that it can be easily turned on and off with your dominant hand. Conversely, if you are using a boiling water tap, right handed people may want the tap over the left so that they can switch on/off the boiling water with the left hand whilst holding a cup or pot in the right hand.
Safety first, especially when it comes to hot taps and boiling water. Are accidents likely to happen because of the haphazard arrangement of appliances?
By taking your dominant hand into account when planning your layout, storage, appliances, and tap, you can optimise your kitchen to work with your natural tendencies, making it more comfortable and efficient to use.
Like most things in life, majority rules. A primarily right-handed household will favour items that predominantly feature on their preferred side. However, if the person cooking is left-handed, those same items should at least be in close proximity. Consideration must be given to who will spend most of their time in the kitchen to make the experience as pleasant as possible.
At Surreal Designs, we understand the importance of designing a kitchen that works for you, and we can help create the perfect kitchen to fit your unique needs.
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