Kitchen Zones – Cabinet Glossary
What are Kitchen Zones?
Kitchen Zones are a modern design approach that divides the kitchen into dedicated areas, such as prep, cooking, cleaning, and storage. This concept adapts the work triangle to fit larger kitchens and multi-cook households.
Quick Facts About Kitchen Zones
- Main zones: prep, cooking, cleaning, food storage, and serving.
- Flexible: accommodates more than one cook.
- Popular: in open-concept and modern kitchen layouts.
Use Cases
- Creating multiple prep areas for families or entertainers.
- Separating clean-up from cooking to reduce congestion.
- Organizing storage near where items are used most.
Designer Tip
Plan zones around appliances—dishwashers in the cleaning zone, microwaves in the prep zone, and so on.
Alternative Names
- Kitchen Work Zones
- Task-Oriented Kitchen Design
FAQ About Kitchen Zones
Q: Are kitchen zones better than the work triangle?
A: They’re more flexible and suit modern homes, but many kitchens use a blend of both concepts.
Q: Do small kitchens need zones?
A: Not necessarily, though organizing by function can still help efficiency.
Related Terms
- Work Triangle – The original kitchen workflow concept.
- Open Concept Kitchen – A layout where zones are especially useful.
Keep Learning & Start Planning
- Return to our full Cabinetry Glossary to explore more terms.
- Shop cabinet lines designed for functional kitchen zones.
- Work with a Designer to create a zone-based kitchen plan.