If you’re having your kitchen remodeled or renovated, you may be a bit overwhelmed by all the design choices you’ll need to make. One of the most important decisions is where to place the sink and the stove. When you’re cooking, you have to wash vegetables and other ingredients and utensils while you work, so you might want to have your stove and sink next to each other, but is it a good idea? The pros from Forever Builders, premier kitchen remodeling contractors San Diego homeowners trust for exceptional service and outstanding expertise, offer the following advice to help you organize this area in the safest and most efficient way.
Place the Sink & Stove Next to Each Other, but Not Too Close
You can most definitely locate your stove next to your sink, but it’s critical that they aren’t too close to each other. You need to have plenty of room between the two so you can cook easily. You’ll need to rinse or wash your vegetables in the sink, cut them up, and transfer them into a pan on the stove, so it’s best to have counter space for ingredient prep between the stove and sink. If you don’t, you’ll have to chop veggies and prepare other ingredients further from the stove, which can be messy when you move them from the prep surface to the stove. On the other hand, if you place the sink too close to the stove, it can make the space too crowded for cooking with ease.
Never Let the Sink & Stove Face Each Other
Placing your stove near your sink will make cooking easier, but they should never be facing each other. This could cause a fire-water clash that could be dangerous both for the person who’s cooking as well as people in the immediate area. Water could accidentally be spilled into a pan with hot oil or food that’s cooking, potentially splashing scalding oil or water on you or even causing a fire.
Keep the Stove Away from Water Drainage Holes
It may seem like a good idea to have water drainage holes under or near the stove to help when you’re cleaning, but the threat posed by flowing water near an electrical appliance makes placing your stove over or beside a drainage hole a risk you don’t want to take.
Make Space for Trash Disposal
Plan for some space to put your trash while you cook. You’ll need to dispose of things like potato peels, eggshells, aluminum cans, and plastic packaging as you prepare meals. When you’re placing your stove and sink, dedicate some space for a trash can to make waste disposal more convenient, but make sure to locate it in a place that won’t create a tripping hazard.
Ensure Proper Lighting
Proper lighting is essential for both safety and convenience. As you figure out where to place your stove and sink, make sure to consider the lighting because you’ll be working with sharp utensils and hot burners. It’s also important because you’ll need to see well to read recipes correctly, measure ingredients accurately, and chop items to the right size.
Don’t Forget Ventilation
It’s essential to have room for fresh air to circulate because your kitchen can quickly get warm and stuffy while you cook, and the odor of the food you’re cooking could linger in your home for days. An overheated kitchen can also cause your refrigerator to use more energy, which will result in higher electricity costs.
Consider the Height of the Sink & the Cooking Surface
When you’re deciding where to place your sink and stove, don’t overlook the height of the cooking surface. It shouldn’t be too high or too low. The stovetop should be level with the counter so the heat emanating from the burners doesn’t damage your countertop over time.
Leave Counter Space on Both Sides of the Sink
Ideally, you should have counter space on each side of the sink. This way, you’ll have a place to put dirty pots and dishes while you’re cooking as well as a separate space for a dish rack after you’ve washed them.
Include Counter Space Near the Stove
You should carefully plan your kitchen layout to maximize efficiency and reduce effort, so try to include counter space on each side of your stove as well. This will give you plenty of room to have all your pots, pans, utensils, and ingredients within easy reach while you’re cooking.
Plan for Clearance Space
As you work on your design, make sure to plan for the recommended amount of clearance space between all the elements in your kitchen. For optimal efficiency and safety, you should have 18 to 30 inches of counter space between the sink and the wall on one side and 24 to 36 inches between the sink and the stove on the other. With the stove, leave 24 inches between the stove and the hood above it and 15 inches of counter space between the stove and the wall on the other side.
The Forever Builders team will assist you through every step of your kitchen renovation. San Diego homeowners trust us to provide the most affordable kitchen remodeling services and ensure their visions become reality. From design to completion, we’ll help you create the kitchen you’ve always wanted, meeting all your expectations while keeping your costs within budget. To find out more about our exceptional remodeling services, give one of our friendly team members a call today at (833) 243-5624.