What’s Replacing the Kitchen Triangle? Zoning Is the Designer-Approved Way to Bring a More Personalized Function to Your Kitchen
The working triangle still has its place, but this approach takes your kitchen layout to the next level
The kitchen triangle (also known as the work triangle) has long been the go-to in kitchen design to ensure a well-considered layout that maximizes functionality and flow. But in 2026, designers say that zoning is actually the more effective way to configure your space.
A successful kitchen layout functions for the way you use it, and in many ways, a kitchen triangle limits this. Instead, zoning gives you the flexibility to personalize your scheme and create a kitchen with dedicated spaces that make everyday life easier.
What is Kitchen Zoning?
Kitchen zoning is all about creating dedicated areas for every use of the space. In many ways, it incorporates the kitchen triangle, but takes it further by factoring in dining, storage, and dedicated stations that make sense for your lifestyle, whether it's a coffee nook or a breakfast station.
And this shift towards more personalized layouts is clearly influenced by kitchen trends and the way our cooking spaces are evolving to be more social, lived-in rooms. 'A zoned kitchen usually needs more space, and that’s something we’re seeing more of,' says Heather French, of French & French Interiors.
'Kitchens are getting larger, and we’re not doing open kitchens as much anymore. Instead, they’re becoming more like a full room with four walls. That extra space allows for different zones to happen, like a banquette with a breakfast table, or a coffee area that you can actually close off and put away,' she explains.
The greatest appeal of this approach is how personalized you can make it. 'You can have really specific areas: pantry and fridge storage, prep, clean-up, cooking, even a beverage or entertaining zone with a bar. All of that creates a lot more flow and flexibility, and it means multiple people can use the kitchen at the same time, which is great for big families,' she adds.
'We treat each kitchen design the same way we treat each client – everyone is different and has unique ways of living, and thus even more unique ways of organizing their lives. Zoning is about honoring the individual who's actually using the space,' agrees interior designer Allison Lind.
What's the Difference Between Zoning and the Kitchen Triangle?
The kitchen triangle will always have its place in design – think of it as the fundamentals or basics of your kitchen layout. But zoning takes this a few steps further, considering more unique features that make your cooking space work much harder.
'The work triangle was developed for a time when kitchens were largely functional, often used by one person, and designed purely around efficiency. It focuses on the relationship between the sink, stove, and fridge, keeping distances tight and movement economical,' says interior designer Lauren Gilberthorpe.
'Zoning, by contrast, reflects how kitchens are used today. Rather than a single workflow, it considers multiple activities happening at once, from cooking and preparing to hosting, working, and family life. Zoning allows the kitchen to function as a layered, sociable space rather than a purely practical one,' she explains.
And that really is the key difference. Kitchens today are far more than just a cooking space, so planning a layout that focuses solely on the key appliance of the room limits the design. Zoning factors the uses of a kitchen beyond just utility.
'Rather than focusing purely on movement between appliances, zoning considers the kitchen as a lived-in space, breaking it into functional areas such as cooking, preparation, cleaning, storage, dining, working, and socialising. It’s less rigid and more reflective of modern living patterns,' explains Tom Wicksteed, co-owner and director at 202 Design.
How to Zone a Kitchen
How you zone your kitchen will depend entirely on how you use your space. However, there are a few steps and focuses to help guide your decisions and ensure that your kitchen has optimum flow, functionality, and style.
'Successful zoning begins with understanding how our clients live and how they want the kitchen to feel. We often separate preparation, cooking, cleaning, and storage into distinct but visually connected areas, using islands, changes in materials, rugs, lighting, or ceiling detail to subtly define each zone,' says Lauren.
'Incorporating softer elements, such as seating, open shelving or furniture-style pieces, helps the kitchen feel layered and lived-in rather than overtly utilitarian. When done well, zoning creates a kitchen that works beautifully while still feeling like an integral part of the home.'
1. Start With Storage
Kitchen storage is an important element of any design, so ensuring you have enough of it and the right types is key. It's an element of zoning that can really dictate the overall layout, so taking the time to really think it through will make a huge difference to the functionality of your space. Will you rely solely on your kitchen cabinetry, or will you make space for an additional space like a pantry or back kitchen?
'Zoning offers flexibility and a sense of ease. It allows for quieter, more contained working areas alongside spaces that feel open and welcoming. It also supports secondary spaces such as sculleries, pantries, or utility zones, which take the harder-working elements out of sight,' says Lauren.
This is the step to really personalize your storage to your needs, too. Pull our spice racks beside a cooker, drawers dedicated to home-grown produce, and dividers and inserts for cutlery, pots, and pans all come into play here.
2. Incorporate Cooking Zones
Zoning your cooking space is where the kitchen triangle still comes into play, but in a more flexible way. 'I do still think the kitchen triangle is valid. Having the fridge, sink, and stove close together is important and efficient. But you can also spread things out a bit, as we’ve done in our own kitchen, and that’s what allows zoning to work,' says Heather.
You still want to make sure these three main appliances are within reasonable reach of one another to make cooking easier, but you don't have to stick to the rigid measurements of past kitchen design rules. Consider how you use your kitchen, and the appliances and features you need within reach.
'Space plan your kitchen in a way that enables daily activity, but ensure you don't trail too far from the triangle rule, as walking to the refrigerator while cooking dinner should not feel like a 400m,' says Amber Guyton, of Blessed Little Bungalow.
3. Think About Cleaning Spaces
This stage of kitchen zoning is just as important as the cooking appliances. It's all about the clean-up after a meal, so the dishwasher, the size of your sink, and also where you store cleaning supplies.
The most functional layouts factor in a kitchen sink large enough to facilitate cleaning produce before food prep begins, and washing and rinsing large pots and pans. Locating your dishwasher next to your sink is also a recommended layout choice, as it means you can rinse dirty dishes and place them straight into the dishwasher.
When it comes to cleaning storage, the most common choice is to utilise that awkward space beneath your sink. Not only does it make sense to have cleaning supplies that usually require water near the sink, but it also prevents any chemicals from being next to food storage.
4. Consider Countertop Space and Food Prep
Kitchen countertops deserve more thought when it comes to zoning and planning your kitchen layout. They are a real workhorse of the room, serving as prep space, dining space, and storage.
'Simplicity is key. Good zoning starts with strong fundamentals: clear layout, intuitive flow, and well-considered cabinetry detailing. Zones should feel natural rather than forced, for example, keeping preparation areas close to storage, cooking zones separate from social spaces, and practical zones like utility and cleaning subtly integrated,' says Tom.
Consider the way you prep food and cook. Create a prep zone that is adjacent to or next to the cooktop so you can easily move between the two. It's also a great time to consider where your bins will go – installing them beneath the prep space makes disposing of scraps much easier, and integrating them below your counters ensures a visually seamless flow around your kitchen.
'The aim is visual calm and functional clarity, rather than overly defined or gimmicky divisions. When done well, zoning creates a kitchen that feels balanced, timeless, and genuinely easy to live in,' says Tom.
5. Factor in Dining and Socializing
This is where zoning becomes more appealing than the work triangle – it takes into consideration the evolved need for cozy dining spaces and zones needed for socializing.
'Zoning can provide more required space for various occupants in the kitchen. Also, many families are dining in the kitchen as much as the dining room, so zoning offers more room to do so without overcrowding counter space,' explains Amber.
The obvious way to create a zone for dining is to add a classic dining table and chairs, but especially in smaller kitchens, nooks created using banquettes are a more charming design choice and create more of a connection between zones.
'I really love a banquette or a breakfast area in the kitchen,' says Heather. 'It creates space for connection. Someone can be sitting and chopping onions while someone else is cooking at the stove, and you’re talking and spending time together. That kind of connection with family is something zoning really supports, in a way, the simple triangle doesn’t.'
6. And Ensure You Leave Space for Personalized Stations
One of the most exciting parts of zoning your kitchen is introducing those personalized features and stations that cater to your needs. It could be a coffee station, home bar, or even a baking corner.
'It all depends on how your family lives day to day. If you’ve got kids and mornings are busy, you need to think about that. Perhaps you need a breakfast zone with a toaster oven and everything set up so mornings are quick and easy,' says Heather.
'It’s about thinking through the efficiency of the experience as well as the functionality. The triangle is great for cooking dinner in the evening, but zoning lets you design the kitchen around how it’s actually used all day long.'
Where you position these dedicated stations will impact your layout, so consider the flow of your kitchen before introducing them. If you're adding a coffee station, consider adding it near a dining nook or island seating so you can sit and enjoy it. Same for a breakfast bar – think about how the zone needs to work with others in the kitchen. They will be more impactful on day-to-day life than the distance between appliances.
'Consider the daily activities of your family and which should be prioritized,' agrees Amber. 'For example, having a coffee station is imperative to me, as it's not just a habit, but a ritual and lifestyle. Therefore, clearing space for that activity each morning is more important to me than ensuring the stove is right across from the kitchen sink.'
Kitchen zoning is all about creating a layout that is personalized, not just functional. It prioritizes flow in a way that reflects the way you use your kitchen, whether it's blending cooking and dining or implementing zones that cater to your favorite rituals. It doesn't mean that the working triangle no longer has a place, it simply encourages you to think beyond the placement of appliances when designing your layout.
