Even though the majority of kitchen designs are made with the right-handed user in mind, left-handed users’ ergonomic needs should also be taken into consideration to make the kitchen much more pleasant and effective for southpaws. Compared to right-handed people, left-handed people have a different natural flow while they cook and work in the kitchen. This natural left-handed workflow can be maximized in the kitchen with some clever design decisions. We at Askin Cabinets are here to help you manage left-handed kitchen design because we recognize how important it is to have a kitchen that accommodates every cook.
Why Left-Handed Kitchen Design Matters
Being left-handed in a world where righties are the dominant hand always comes with little annoyances and adaptations that lefties hardly ever think about. This can involve reaching across one’s body to reach preparation surfaces and utensils in the kitchen. It could imply that lefties will have to perform difficult postures to open kitchen appliances. Alternatively, it could just seem awkward and clumsy to try to operate in an area where right-handedness is expected.
Given that around 10% of people are left-handed, it makes sense to create kitchen designs that accommodate the demands of this sizable minority. An effective left-handed kitchen design eliminates the need for the user to painfully adjust to a right-handed workspace, allowing for natural, comfortable, and productive work.
Workflow Optimization
Observe your usual method for preparing food. Visualize every step, from gathering materials to doing the dishes. Now think about how this flow can be improved with a left-handed configuration. How to do it is as follows:
- The “Lefty Triangle”: Consider your kitchen’s stove, sink, and refrigerator as its three pillars. They usually make a right-handed triangle. In a left-handed kitchen, flips this arrangement. Place the refrigerator, sink, and stove on the left, in that order. In this manner, when preparing, cutting, and cooking meals, your dominant hand takes center stage.
- Cabinet Configuration: The days of reaching uncomfortably across the counter are long gone. For easier access, choose lower cabinets with left-handed hinges. For deeper cabinets, think about lazy Susan organizers or pull-out drawers to avoid having to bend over.
- Appliance Location: Look for refrigerators that have doors that can be opened from the inside out, allowing you to reach them naturally on the left. Dishwashers are frequently more adaptable, so for a smooth transition after washing, place them to the left of the sink.
- Effective Sink: Choose a single or double sink with the largest part on the right when it comes to sinks. This gives you plenty of room to use your dominant left hand to wash dishes, while the smaller basin on the left can be used for preparation. A left-mounted faucet could be convenient to operate.
- Storage Idea: On the left side of the stovetop and in the drawers below, keep commonly used cookware, pots, and pans close at hand. This retains your dominant hand in its power zone and reduces awkward maneuvering.
- Counter Space Is Important: Set aside enough counter space to the left of the sink so that you can use it for extra prep space or to dry clean dishes. This guarantees a seamless workflow free from cabinetry and wall bumps.
- Light it Right: To offer the best visibility possible when chopping and preparing food, install under-cabinet lighting on the left side of your workspace.
Given that around 10% of clients are left-handed, kitchens should be strategically designed with them in mind to provide more comfortable, functional, and efficient workspaces that meet their needs. Because of these clever left-handed design choices, customers’ preferred dominant hands can be accommodated in the kitchen process.
The natural left-to-right motion of left-handed users can be handled in kitchen design, appliance placement, and cabinetry, making them feel ideally appropriate for both left- and right-handed users. Cooks and home cooks who are left-handed can greatly benefit from a small amount of consideration in left-handed ergonomic design.
Want a Fully Customized Kitchen? Get a Quote From Askin Cabinets!
It is important to make deliberate modifications to the layout, cabinetry, fixtures, and tools when designing a kitchen for left-handed users. You can design an environment that is not only practical but also pleasurable to use by taking into account the particular requirements of left-handed people. Having a kitchen that is left-hand-friendly improves comfort, safety, and efficiency, making meal preparation and cooking more enjoyable for all.
Askin Cabinets specializes in creating bespoke kitchen designs and cabinetry to meet your individual demands. Get in touch with us right now to find out more about how we can assist you in designing the ideal left-handed kitchen.