Modular Kitchen Design for Indian Cooking: A Layout Guide for Bangalore Homes

A modular kitchen for an Indian home has to handle tadka, pressure cookers, large vessels and a lot of daily cooking. A good layout makes that easy; a pretty but poorly planned one makes every meal harder. Here is how we plan kitchens for Bangalore apartments.

Choose the right layout

• L-shaped: the most common in Bangalore 2BHK and 3BHK flats – efficient, with room for a tall unit at one end.
• U-shaped: maximum counter and storage space for larger kitchens and families who cook a lot.
• Parallel (galley): ideal for narrow kitchens – keep a wet side (sink) and dry side (hob) facing each other.
• Island or peninsula: works in open kitchens connected to dining – great for breakfast and serving.

Plan the work triangle

Keep the sink, hob and refrigerator within easy reach of each other, with clear counter space between them for chopping and plating. Avoid placing the hob right next to a wall or the refrigerator.

Indian-cooking essentials

• A strong chimney with ducting to the outside, sized to your hob.
• Deep drawers under the hob for kadais, tawas and pressure cookers.
• Tall pull-out units for dry groceries and a separate spice arrangement near the hob.
• Heat- and stain-resistant countertops such as quartz or granite.
• Space for a water purifier, mixer-grinder and dish rack near power points.

Materials and finishes

Use BWP plywood or good-quality HDHMR for carcasses near the sink. Laminates are durable and budget-friendly; acrylic and PU finishes look premium but need more care. Handleless profiles give a clean look; use sturdy profiles for drawers that carry heavy vessels.

Built-in appliances

A tall unit with a built-in oven and microwave at eye level saves counter space and looks tidy. Plan power points and ventilation for them before the carpentry starts.

See kitchens in five different styles

From walnut-and-ivory to teak-and-terracotta, see complete kitchens in each of our 3BHK interior design styles.

Key dimensions

These are commonly followed figures; adjust them to the main cook and the room.

• Counter height: usually 32 to 36 inches, set from the cook’s elbow height. See kitchen platform height.
• Counter depth: about 24 inches.
• Gap between counter and wall units: about 22 to 24 inches.
• Aisle between two counters: at least 3.5 feet, more if two people cook together.
• Chimney height above the hob: as the manufacturer specifies.

Zones that suit Indian cooking

• Preparation: the longest clear stretch of counter, between the sink and the hob.
• Cooking: the hob with drawers for vessels below and spices, oils and ladles within arm’s reach.
• Washing: the sink with a dish rack or drainer above or beside it, and the bin below.
• Storage: a tall unit for dry groceries, with daily-use dabbas at eye level.
• Appliances: a fixed place with sockets for the mixer-grinder, so it is not moved every day.
• Utility: if there is a utility balcony, shift the washing machine and heavy cleaning there.

Layout guides

Each layout is covered in more depth elsewhere on our blog: the L-shaped modular kitchen, choosing a chimney and hob, useful kitchen accessories, colour combinations and, for families who follow it, kitchen vastu for apartments.

Common mistakes

• Finalising cabinets before choosing appliances.
• Too little counter between sink and hob.
• An undersized chimney or a long, bent duct.
• Shelves where drawers would work better below the counter.
• Too few sockets at counter level.
• A sink unit made in a board that cannot take water. ModScale uses BWP plywood for kitchen carcasses.

What will it cost?

Kitchen pricing depends on cabinet area, board, finish, hardware and accessories. We explain the method, with published market ranges, in modular kitchen price per square foot in Bangalore.

Frequently asked questions

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Layout guides: L-shaped, U-shaped and parallel kitchen design.