What is Kitchen Ergonomics, and What Does it Look Like?

You may have heard the term "kitchen ergonomics" and wondered what the term meant. Generally speaking, ergonomics refers to how humans interact with their environment. This covers every aspect of interaction from movement, to sight, to sound, and beyond.

A kitchen or other environment that is designed ergonomically means that a lot of thought has been put into the user of that space, and that efforts have been made to ensure maximum comfort and usability.

In other words, an ergonomic space is not designed around your house, but rather it is designed around you. Think of it this way: are there areas of your kitchen that seem unusable? Perhaps they are hard to reach, or awkwardly laid out? An ergonomic redesign would address all of these concerns and maximize the amount of use you get out of your space.

So what could you expect to see in an ergonomic kitchen? Take a look... 

The Work Triangle

The ideal kitchen layout will create what is known as the "work triangle." What this means is that the three main appliances that come into play during food preparation – namely the refrigerator, the oven, and the sink – will form points of a triangle with only a few steps between them.

You may not have noticed how important this work triangle is, unless of course you have ever tried to work in a kitchen without one. If you've struggled to carry a 25 pound turkey in a roasting pan clear across your kitchen, then you do not have an ergonomic set up. Likewise, if you count more than three steps between the place where you fill the teakettle and the place where you heat it up, then that you might want to talk to a remodeling contractor.

Varied Counter Heights

This is especially important if there is more than one "cook" using the kitchen. Unless the two of you stand at exactly the same height, and have the exact same physical capabilities and limitations, chances are good that one of you feels less comfortable in that kitchen than the other.

One of the easiest ways to address this is by installing varied counter heights. A lower counter is more comfortable for a shorter person, whereas a taller person would need to stoop uncomfortably to work in that same space.

Of course, varied counter heights can be helpful even in kitchens with a single cook. It can help create a discernible difference between prep space and workspace, or provide an elevated area on which to place utensils or small appliances easily within reach. 

Smart Cabinet Design

Kitchen cabinets have progressed a long way beyond rectangular boxes with rectangular shelves. Ergonomic cabinets often feature slide out storage, making it far less likely that you will find yourself on your hands and knees digging for a skillet way at the back.

Heavier kitchen appliances such as stand mixers or food processors can be placed on lifts that are installed into ergonomic cabinets. A button or lever gently lifts the appliance and the surface it is on out of the cabinet, not only saving you from dragging it out yourself, but also providing you with a little extra workspace.

Storage in ergonomic cabinets has also been maximized. Ideally, you should be able to look into your pantry and take inventory of everything you have at a glance. If that is not the case, then you are probably using standard cabinet shelves that did not take the user into account when they were designed.

For upper-level cabinets, they can be designed so that the doors fold up, rather than swing out. This keeps them high and out of your way while you are working at the counter. 

Varied Lighting Options

For a long time, kitchens were outfitted with overhead lighting, and that was that. Of course, there are many times where you could benefit from a little extra light in your workspace.

An ergonomic kitchen will feature many different lighting options. There will still be overhead lighting of course, but there will also be extra bright lighting concentrated specifically on the countertop.

Ergonomics has helped us better understand how we use our spaces. A kitchen that has been redesigned ergonomically will be extremely user-friendly, and altogether a more pleasant place to spend your time.

Niv Orlian is an online marketer and the Co-Founder of DO Online Marketing, a Chicago based company that helps local businesses such as Planet Cabinets, acquire, manage, and retain local customers online.