What if your stove is right next to the sink?
With the stove right beside the sink, two things go wrong: washed vegetables go into hot oil still wet and spatter, and there's no space between them for chopping. A large cutting board between the two as a prep area, and draining vegetables before they hit the pan, makes a big difference.
Common senseWhy it feels uncomfortable
This is listed as common sense. Cooking usually goes wash → chop → cook, so it helps to have a stretch of counter between the sink and the stove for chopping and plates. With no gap, you chop somewhere else and carry things back and forth, and vegetables that haven't drained can make hot oil spit at your hands.
What tradition says
Feng shui says water and fire shouldn't sit side by side, so the sink and stove shouldn't touch. Set the saying aside and it's about leaving room between washing and cooking.
Three ways to fix it
- Do it nowPut a large cutting board between the sink and stove for chopping and plating, and let washed vegetables drain in a colander before they go in the pan.
- Move some furnitureWhen you redo the kitchen, leave 60–80 cm of counter between the sink and stove, and line things up as fridge → sink → counter → stove.
- If you can't change itIf the kitchen is too small, add a splash guard between them and use an over-the-sink cutting board to create a prep area.
FAQ
What if the stove and sink face each other across an aisle?
That's normal in a galley kitchen. As long as the aisle is wide enough (about 90 cm or more) to turn and set things down, it's fine.
Do I have to separate them?
Not with building work. Making a prep area and draining vegetables solves most of it; think about more space when you next renovate.
Related questions
This page draws on traditional ideas about the home and on environmental psychology research. It is for everyday reference, makes no predictions, and is not medical advice. If you sleep badly for a long time, please talk to a doctor.