Kitchen Layouts for Trade Professionals: Great Designs for U-Shape, L-Shape and Small Kitchens

Good layouts make kitchens work well and look great, and for trade professionals, choosing the right kitchen design layouts means balancing space, style and function.  

This article covers U-shape, L-shape, and small kitchen layouts – and shows how Life Trade full fitted kitchens make those layouts shine. 

What Makes a Great Kitchen Layout 

Great kitchen layouts stem from purpose. There should always be an emphasis on functionality, such as cooking, cleaning and storage zones. It can be beneficial to consider the work triangle - the sink, hob and fridge should all be near each other making for easier flow. 

A fitted kitchen that complies with a uniform layout works better than a kitchen made up of random parts. Kitchen layouts need to account for traffic flow, sightlines and exposure to natural light. All these things will impact comfort and user satisfaction over time. 

U-Shape Kitchen Layouts: Efficiency & Surface Space 

A U-shape kitchen layout allows for cabinetry and work surfaces along three walls with one open-ended side. This allows for excellent countertop space as well as a lot of storage and a nicely outfitted space. 

Trade installers using U-shape layouts from the Life Trade fitted kitchens range get: 

For smaller kitchens using U-shape layouts, caution should be applied. Walls should be placed more closely together and shallow cabinets and open shelving should be used where appropriate. Lighting should be strategic to avoid dark corners. 

L-Shape Kitchen Layouts: Open & Flexible 

L-shape kitchen layouts use two adjacent walls and are an ideal option for open plan living. This layout creates natural zones and frees up floor space, while often allowing for a kitchen island or breakfast bar if room allows. 

Life Trade complete fitted kitchens that are an L-shape include: 

For smaller L-shape kitchens, trade specifiers avoid overcrowding by keeping one leg of the L shorter or using lighter finishes to reflect light. Balancing style and function remain key. 

Small Kitchen Layouts & Design Layout Ideas 

Small kitchen layouts need extra attention, and when space is limited, every decision counts. You should aim to utilise layouts that maximise reach and storage, minimise wasted space, such as: 

Our complete kitchens designed for small spaces provide solutions that maintain design consistency and functionality, while the layouts still deliver storage, worktop, and a professional finish. 

Avoiding Layout Mistakes 

A trade professional will be able to provide valuable advice on the no-go options with regards to kitchen layouts. Generally, the best kitchen layouts avoid: 

Why Layouts & Complete Kitchens Go Hand in Hand 

When you specify a complete Life Trade kitchen, the layout is built into the design. You provide a solution that: 

Trade professionals gain credibility when clients see full kitchen layouts that feel cohesive, not patchwork. 

Bringing It All Together 

Great kitchen layouts for the trade professional include the U-shape layout, L-shape layout and small layouts that make sense. Each has key attributes that work with a complete fitted kitchen. Life Trade kitchens let you deliver on both beauty and practicality. 

For U-shaped layouts, maximise work surfaces; for L-shapes, provide balance between open nature and finished nature; for small, use illusions of space, finish contrasts and strategic lighting.  

With the right complete package, these layouts will look good and work even better for longevity.