The sizes in the kitchen set create not only harmony of forms. First of all, this is maximum functionality. And it is in the kitchen that it is especially important.
Standard height
To buy a standard kitchen set is simple, fast and inexpensive. However, the standard height of the countertops in the kitchen is not always comfortable and not for everyone. Especially if the owner of this kitchen will not only make morning coffee on it, reheat ready-made food and make sandwiches, but also prepare daily full breakfasts, lunches and dinners for his family with all the necessities arising from this.
In addition, the standard height of the countertops has been preserved since the mid-20th century. At that time, the average woman's height was 165 cm. The height of the countertop in the kitchen from the floor for height 166 cm is 88-89 cm.
Physiological comfort
Most of the work in the kitchen is done while standing. In this case, the load falls on the spine, its vertebrae, intervertebral discs. When tilting, even slightly, the tension of the muscles of the back, neck, and lower back increases. For a healthy person, this leads to speedy fatigue, and for a patient with a back, this is generally a big problem. Therefore, the height of the countertop should minimize inclinations.
Ergonomic feasibility
It is proved that competently calculated all sizes, including the height of the countertop in the kitchen from the floor and the optimal arrangement of all elements of the kitchen set, can reduce the hostess's physical costs by 30%. It has been found out that if one and the same work is performed in the kitchen, standing upright, half the muscles are involved, than if the same work is done, leaning forward slightly toward a lower countertop.
If the height of the countertop from the floor in the kitchen is slightly higher, then the number of muscles in the person working for it still remains the same, but the amount of load on them increases. This leads to the fact that they will be tired faster. Therefore, the choice of the height of the countertops is an important matter, especially if the owner of the kitchen will need to perform a fairly large amount of work in the kitchen.
Optimum height
What is the ideal height of countertops in the kitchen from the floor?
To do this, you need to decide how functional the kitchen is. If this is a bachelor’s kitchen, which takes up little space in a large studio room, then you can stop at a single averaged countertop height, optimal for the owner. But completely different requirements for the kitchen, where various cooking operations will be constantly performed. Comfort when performing any of them directly depends on how high the countertop in the kitchen is from the floor, its area, and lighting.
It is estimated that a housewife with a small stature, less than 150 cm, will have a working kitchen table with a height of 76-82 cm from the countertop to the floor.
For medium height (160-180 cm), which are mostly designed for standard sizes, the height of the countertop from the floor in the kitchen varies between 88-91 cm. For people above average height (more than 180 cm and less than 200 cm) it will be comfortable table height 1 m.
Table height for different jobs
Ideally, the countertop height in the kitchen is calculated from the floor, depending on the growth of the hostess and on the purpose of this work surface. It is proved that during any operation in the cooking process there is an individual comfortable height of the desktop plate. Competently and comfortably will have several work surfaces with different heights from the floor.
The following work is carried out in the kitchen:
- cooking on the stove;
- washing dishes;
- cutting;
- kneading dough.
1. Washing products . The height of the cabinet under the sink is determined as follows. Need to know the distance from the elbow to the floor. Subtract the height of the fist from the obtained value. The result is the desired height for the countertop from the floor, which is one of the largest. The hostess’s back will be straight, and therefore will not feel stress, the arms will be bent at the elbows at right angles, the hands will slightly rest against the near edge of the sink. It is this situation that will allow the hostess to spend less effort and, accordingly, less tired. It should not be forgotten that from the edge of the sink to the hob should be at least 40 cm.
2. Cutting products . For this, as a rule, the working surface is needed with the largest area. This is where a significant amount of operations are carried out. Here, the height of the countertop from the floor in the kitchen should be slightly less than that for washing. Here, work is performed with slicing vegetables, fish, bread and others, for which a certain accuracy is required. It is also here that work is done with the application of some physical effort. This is kneading dough, and cutting meat. For this process, it will be more convenient to have a table slightly above the waist.
We can conclude that the most comfortable will be a table for the working area, consisting of two parts. This is the main worktop at a level of 83-85 cm from the floor and a smaller cutting worktop. If it is not possible to make two such surfaces, then one with an average value is sufficient.
In small kitchens, where the size of the work surface is limited, a flat surface of the sink takes on part of its function. In such cases, it is recommended to wash and the working part of the countertop at the same level, choosing an average value between the recommended sink height and the surface for cutting.
3. Cooker or hob . During the day, this surface is also very popular. In order to determine its height, you need to take your own high pot and choose a height so that you can look into this pan without unnecessary difficulties. For a person of average height, the height of the countertop from the floor in the kitchen on which the stove is located is 80-82 cm. At the same time, the distance from the hood to this surface should be approximately 70 cm. In addition to all these dimensions, it should be taken into account that the distance from the table surface to the lower edge of the wall cabinets should be at least 45 cm. The optimum depth of the countertop is 60 cm. With a larger size, as a rule, you will have to make extra movements to reach objects standing on its other end.
Countertop height for multiple hosts
Difficulties with which it is almost impossible to cope arise if several family members with significantly different growths cook in the kitchen. Then the height of the countertops in the kitchen from the floor is determined by height, taking into account the opinion of the one who works more in the kitchen, or the one who is more demanding on comfort.
Additional nuances and small tricks
For such cases, as well as in order to make the kitchen set as functional as possible in a small kitchen, the use of various technical tricks is recommended. For example, retractable work surfaces, thick cutting boards, etc.
Individual for each housewife is also whether she prefers to do all the work in the kitchen while standing or tries to do something while sitting. This is also worth considering, as well as the presence of chairs of optimal sizes, suitable for the height of the countertop.
What to choose, standard height or individual, depends only on the desire of the hostess of the kitchen and the thickness of the wallet. But financial and time spending will pay off with interest when working at a countertop with individually selected heights.