L-shape modern shaker style blue kitchen idea with handleless cabinets. Includes half-height wall units and open shelving

Kitchen Layout Ideas

L-Shaped Kitchen Ideas

Whether it is adding drawer storage or using sultry shades, these L-shaped kitchen ideas will help you maximise space while creating a stylish look using two runs of cabinetry on adjacent walls. L-shaped kitchen designs are a go-to choice because of its ability to save on floor space and create an open feel in any area. Explore our L-shaped kitchen inspiration to learn how to get the best from this layout in your home.

Traditional white shaker kitchen idea with marble worktops, built-under oven, and a four-burner gas hob in an L-shape layout.

1. Enhance light with white

Having cabinetry meet at a perpendicular angle opens the room up and provides more floor space, making it a great small L-shaped kitchen idea. Enhance the open feel by opting for white cabinetry, which will make the most of light for an airier atmosphere. This tip is also suitable for rooms with little natural light, as it creates a bright ambience with minimum effort.

Explore white L-shaped kitchens

Slate grey l shaped handleless kitchen with half height and full height wall units and contrasting white kitchen worktop.

2. Graduate your tones

L-shaped designs come in all shapes and sizes and tend to have one wall that features most of the cabinetry. This can make an area feel crowded. Go for a tonal palette to break up banks of cupboards and keep the space feeling open. A colour, like grey, looks contemporary and thanks to its popularity, there are plenty of shades to choose from to create a custom look.

Discover grey l-shaped kitchens

Handleless black kitchen idea using charcoal slab doors and black trims. Includes larders and drawers in a L-shaped layout.

3. Select sultry shades

To create a large L-shaped kitchen idea full of dramatic style, go for a darker tone, like charcoal, for your cupboard doors. As the cabinets run on adjacent walls, the layout will still feel spacious and look striking at the same time. The deep-hued units are on-trend and will also draw the room in to create a cosy and intimate atmosphere that guests can sink into after dinner.

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An L-shaped kitchen diner with dark-grey shaker cupboard doors. Includes a black range cooker and an oak dining table.

4. Bring everyone together

Capitalise on the extra floor space available in this type of layout by creating an L-shaped kitchen diner, like @the.avos.reno. This multi-functional set-up works particularly well in a shaker design, as framed cabinetry was traditionally used in large farmhouses where families would dine together. Choose a modern tone, such as grey, to create a contemporary update on this heritage scheme.

View Shaker L Shaped Fitted Kitchens

Dove grey kitchen with chrome bar pull handles and vertical wall panels and dark wood flooring leading to back garden.

5. Dial back on door design

For a budget L-shaped kitchen idea, switch to slab cupboards, which are often more affordable than other door styles. This trick will allow you to invest in other features, like internal accessories, which will make items easier to access and offer added functionality often found in high-end designs. Without trend-led features that could date, this cabinet type is classic and will look chic for years to come.

Look for Slab L Shaped Fitted Kitchens

Navy shaker L-shaped kitchen idea with an island. Includes a silver extractor, white worktops, and a brass tap.

6. Work in a triangle

Follow @perioddrama_’s lead, by adding an extra surface and creating an L-shaped kitchen with island. An island counter can provide additional space to prep meals or clear away dirty dishes to make dinner routines easier. It will also create a working triangle by reducing the distance between the cleaning, cooking, and cooling areas to create an ultra-efficient and ergonomic layout.

Explore Kitchen Island worktops

A luxurious dark-grey L-shaped kitchen idea that has white quartz worktops, chevron flooring, and an undermount sink.

7. Customise with quartz

Upgrade your L-shaped scheme by opting for quartz counters, which have a high-end look and a solid surface that can be routered to create a bespoke feature. Try adding curved corners at the end of your layout, like @renovating_thegrainstore, to create a soft, flowing look. This design is also safer, as there are no sharp corners, making it a practical idea for those with little ones.

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Grey L-shaped kitchen idea using slab cupboard doors, marble-effect backboards, and brass knob handles for a luxe look.

8. Create a luxe border

Keep your walls looking stylish and stain-free by adding wallboards to your design. These are available in a variety of colours and patterns, including on-trend marble, which @adconstruction_ has used to create a high-end and timeless look. A border will also draw the eye to the furthest points of the wall, making a room appear larger - great if you have a compact space.

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Handleless gloss grey kitchen featuring full height kitchen units set recessed into the wall with built in double oven.

9. Mirror modern

Thanks to their brightening and hygienic qualities, glossy finishes are a staple in contemporary interiors, making them great for a modern L-shaped kitchen idea. The mirrored surface will enhance the spacious feel by bouncing light around the room. For added style points, mount base cabinetry to the wall to achieve a floating effect, which also makes your home easier to clean.

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Chilcomb Paintable in Mustard and Porcelain

10. Pick paintable

The roomier feel of an L-shaped scheme means you can get creative and experiment with bright colours, like yellow, with paintable cupboards. As well as making it easy to create a custom look, this clever idea is also sustainable. Simply sand down and repaint the doors in the latest shade, instead of replacing all your units.

Look for paintable l-shaped fitted kitchens

L-shape white gloss kitchen idea using slab kitchen doors. Contains a stainless-steel cooker hood and a black double oven.

11. Cook in columns

As an L-shaped layout spans two sides of a room, it offers plenty of space to create a dedicated culinary zone using tower units. Try placing cooking machines at eye level, which makes it easier to check on dinner or rotate heavy roasting trays. You can also stack your equipment vertically to make transferring dishes from one device to another quick and simple.

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Handleless graphite grey apartment matt kitchen with wood worktop, built under oven and blue diagonal wall tiles.

12. Free up walls

With plenty of wall space on offer in an L-shaped design, it is tempting to cover every inch available with cabinetry to make the most of the layout. Doing so can make an area look cramped and cluttered very quickly. Forgo wall units in favour of drawer cupboards, which will create an open and airy feel, while utilising every inch of storage room available.

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Lmaona ceramic1.5 bowl undermount sink with Lamona Chrome Adra swan neck monobloc tap

13. Go beneath the surface

One reason that L-shaped design ideas are so popular is that they offer bigger surface areas to carry out daily tasks. Maximise the space available by adding an undermount sink-bowl, which can be fitted beneath a counter to create a continuous effect. This style is also rimless, which leaves little room for dirt and dust to get trapped, so cleaning is kept to a minimum.

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A large L-shaped kitchen idea that has shaker cupboards and white worktops. It also has a black wine cooler and a gas hob.

14. Add a drinks area

If your L-shaped layout has a long wall on one side, take advantage of the extra space, like @treheath_farm, and add a wine chiller at the end to create a custom drinks station. By positioning this device away from cooking equipment, guests can help themselves to cold beverages without interrupting the chef – great for when entertaining friends and family.

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Balham Gloss Dove Grey - Shelving (WK29)

15. Light up lines

Accentuate the long, leading lines in your L-shaped scheme by adding LED tape lights. You can attach these beneath counters, or even under shelving to illuminate food prep areas. These flexible lights can be joined together to form long lengths or cut to size to achieve a custom fit. They can also be retrofitted, offering a quick update that will transform a space.

Look for LED tape lights