Kitchen Stove Location, The stove is an essential part of kitchen design. It provides ambience, functionality and above all, it’s the workhorse for your kitchen.
The different types of stoves can be overwhelming to decide on. It is even harder to determine where to put your stove for convenience and safety reasons.
There are several places you might decide to locate your stove, depending on several factors.
Most people feel that putting it under a window is very convenient but wonder if it’s a safety hazard. In this article, we’ll see if these concerns are justified and decide the best spot to put a stove in your kitchen.
Table of Contents
Things to Consider When Deciding Where to put a Stove
Before deciding where to have your stove, you should think about the following factors:
l Safety: whether it would pose a fire hazard in your kitchen.
l Convenience: Will the placement make cooking easier?
l General usability: How practical the location is.
l Placement of other appliances: Will you have to walk halfway across the kitchen to get supplies?
Benefits of having a stove under the window
Many people are really intrigued by the idea of having their stove under a window and with good reasons. Here are some of them:
Great view
This is the first benefit that most people mention. Cooking might not be the most entertaining activity for many, and anything to make it more interesting is always welcomed enthusiastically.
It is significantly more appealing if your kitchen window opens to a beautiful landscape, making every cooking session a delight for your eyes. It also makes it easier to see the front of your house, depending on the placement of the kitchen. This allows you to see your family and friends come in as you prepare the food in the kitchen.
Easier ventilation
The stove is literally the hottest appliance in the house. If you live in a hot region already, the heat might become unbearable sometimes, even with the AC on.
Windows are the best natural way to ventilate a house, and what better way to do that than placing the stove under one? Even if you don’t live in a scorching region, you might enjoy the cool breeze from the window while cooking for extended periods.
However, it’s important to note that having the stove under a window does not mean you will have perfect ventilation. That is why many people still go for range hoods.
Safe
While many people are afraid that having a stove under a window is a fire hazard, nothing could be further from the truth.
Kitchen Stove Location installed properly, a gas or electric stove should be as safe under a window as any other kitchen part. In fact, the upside is that if there were to be a fire accident involving the stove, it would be easier to contain with the stove right below the window.
However, for a wood stove, ensure at least 36 inches of clearance between the stove and the ceiling. This is the minimum clearance to ensure the stove does not become a fire hazard.
More convenient
Most kitchen windows are right next to the sink and cabinet. This makes under the window the most strategic position to cook from.
It is easier to clean than a backsplash
Although you have to constantly keep the window clean when it’s directly above the stove, it’s easier to clean a glass window than a typical backsplash like you’d have if you placed it anywhere else.
With a backsplash, grease and dirt can build up, making it hard to clean. However, with a glass window, you’ll only need a competent glass cleaner.
Downsides to having a stove under the window
Here are a few reasons why some people prefer not to have the stove under a window:
Range hood may obstruct your view
Kitchen Stove Location have your stove under the window and decide to install a range hood, it might obstruct your view. Of course, this is heavily dependent on the sizes of both the range hood and the window.
However, if you install an enormous hood range in front of a small window, it will obstruct your view and beat the whole purpose of having your stove under the window.
Range hood might be challenging to install
Kitchen Stove Location decide to have a range hood for the stove, it might be more challenging to install there than at a different part of the kitchen.
You might have to keep cleaning the window
In the absence of a range hood, if you install a stove right under the window, you can expect the stove to smoke directly onto the windowpane. This will require you to keep cleaning the sooty window. If you cook regularly, you might even need to use a kitchen degreaser on the window.
Depending on your kitchen’s design, it might be challenging to reach the window
If you have a large kitchen, you might have difficulty reaching the window to clean it. This is because you have to install the hood range a few inches from the window. This will also not be good for outside visibility.
Putting the stove in a corner
Another popular spot to have the stove is at one corner of the kitchen. This is a ubiquitous setup to see in kitchens that are pressed for space.
Corner stoves are an excellent idea for several reasons:
l Effective kitchen work triangle: Having the stove in the corner is an easy way to implement the work triangle in your kitchen with the stove in the middle of the action.
l Allows for extra storage space: The design leaves a recessed niche below the ventilation unit that can act as additional storage space.
l The setup makes it easier to navigate the kitchen.
Disadvantages of a corner stove
l Unused space: While a corner stove is efficient and enjoyable to use, it leaves a lot of unused space if your kitchen is sizeable.
l Hard to reach the stovetop: depending on your kitchen layout, it might be tricky to reach the stovetop freely.
Can you put a stove under a window?
Electric stoves can be put under a window. But, if you’re going to be using a gas stove in your home, don’t put it under a window. You should also avoid placing the stove next to a doorway or other opening that allows air to flow freely into or out of the room.
Gas stoves can be dangerous, and if not properly installed, they can become fire hazards. This is why it’s important to know how far away the stove should be from any opening. The recommended distance is twelve inches—but more space will be even better.
It’s important to keep the windows closed when you’re cooking with gas, or else the flame will die out. But newer stoves have safety mechanisms that prevent this from happening.
Can you put a stove in front of a window?
A range can be placed in front of a window, but it’s not recommended. The stove can create a safety hazard if it’s placed in front of a window.
Also, food vapors and grease tend to collect on the windows of your kitchen. And it’s impossible to cook with a lid on for the entire time, so you need a plan for when that happens.
If you place a range in front of a window, the stove must be at least 12 inches away from the window. It would be better to place it on the opposite side of the room, if possible.
Can you put an electric stove under a window?
You can place an electric stove under a window, but it’s not recommended. The range shouldn’t be placed directly under the window unless you have special venting systems installed that remove smoke and odors from the room.
If you do plan to install an electric range in your home, make sure to check the manufacturer’s instructions for safe installation.
Also, this isn’t a good idea because electric stoves can get very hot, and the window may not be able to withstand the heat. It’s also important to make sure there is adequate ventilation in your home when you use an electric range.
Window over stove
If a window is above your stove, it can afford a nice view of the outside. Still, you’ll just need to be careful about the placement of the range and how much heat it generates.
Electric ranges produce less heat than gas or electric ovens, so they will not cause problems if placed near windows.
Pros and Cons of Stove Under Window: Final thoughts
A kitchen is the heart of every home. Having your stove under a window or in a corner are both great implementations depending on your kitchen layout.
If you have a large kitchen with a window that opens to a beautiful landscape, you might enjoy having the stove there. However, if your kitchen is pressed for space, a corner stove is more practical.