I'm also used to a corner. I like a corner better for one cook, but a straight run better for two cooks.

I use the corner section at the new house even though I have an entirely flat area and straight run separate from my corner. I had a straight run in the old house but always found myself down at the corner end of it. I don't know why, but I like prepping in the corner. I guess theres lots of room to spread out when you have both sides of counter at your disposal.

Prepping in the corner always feels like "time out" to me where you aren't interacting with family and don't even have a great view. Corner prep areas are often a primary reason that drives a kitchen remodel for some. A straight run promotes easier use for multiple persons, and it's less confining feeling even if it's just one. Consider installing a separate prep sink in an additional location in order to have a more versatile kitchen for multiple users. It can really make meal preparation itself a social experience for your family.

I think it depends on how long the "out of corner" counter space is. The Corner is basically a 2' x 2' of counter. How much space do you have out of the corner. I used to prep in the corner but then I only had another 2' of counter out of the corner. It was all I had and I couldn't wait to get out of the corner.

I don't know how to give an opinion without other considerations, like how much counter frontage you'd have on either side of the corner or between the sink and stove on a straight run. And is this your only sink, so you'll be sharing the space with collected dirty dishes and possibly with someone working at the sink for other reasons? If you're facing the wall in either case, instead of being able to relate to others or see a view, I don't think it'd make any difference to me. The advantage of a corner might be that during a busy time, or when two people are working, the turn might create a border between the two work areas. But again, only if both sides have enough counter to make 2 work areas possible.

My prep space is on a peninsula 90 degrees from our range, with a corner in between (but I don't stand "in" the corner.)

I hadn't planned this ahead of time, but it turns out I love prepping food at a right angle from the stove. It's really easy to add ingredients from chopping board to fry pan, or stir something in a pot or keep an eye on something in the stove while I'm prepping since it's all at my right hand instead of down the way.

Could not prep in a corner. I need a straight, open space on each side and in front.

A lot of this consideration depends on what type of cooking is done and how many people cook. If more than one cooks/preps I wouldn't go with a corner.

Although my main prep is the island, I have a very nice corner between the stove wing of our L counter and the sink on the...cleanup wing. It's a very nice place to work, about 3-1/2' front edge of counter to corner with windows on both walls and about 30" of counter edge on the other. I tend to work facing the longer stove counter, probably both because it's longer and because food flows that direction, but the luxuriance of additional space to my left is very nice. Very convenient, and I could be happy without the island if it came to it. Even though my back's to the room, I don't feel "in the corner" because of the windows. Also because we're empty-nesters and I'm typically not missing a party going on behind me.

Personal preference, though I agree that it varies with the number of cooks. Of course, that varies, too, because you ideally have some other completely different space where the second cook can use to prep.

This is one point on which I staunchly disagree with plllog. She hates corners. I like them.

No, you can't reach all the way back easily into a corner. But it's a good place to plop a standing mixer. My corners have given me a continuous run of workable space 24" deep that starts by the sink at a right angle to the range, continues right into the corner--although to a radius of only 24" deep at the angle--and turns the corner to continue on to the stove. It makes a little cockpit. I find this much easier than scootching way down the counter to pick up a misplaced oven mitt or grab the little plate of chopped onions or whatever.

One consideration, though: Depending on your layout, people sometimes like to perch and lean right in that corner, and are mystified that you don't want them there.

Although my main prep is the island, I have a very nice corner between the stove wing of our L counter and the sink on the...cleanup wing. It's a very nice place to work, about 3-1/2' front edge of counter to corner with windows on both walls and about 30" of counter edge on the other. I tend to work facing the longer stove counter, probably both because it's longer and because food flows that direction, but the luxuriance of additional space to my left is very nice. Very convenient, and I could be happy without the island if it came to it.

Even though my back's to the room, I don't feel "in the corner" because of the windows. Also because we're empty-nesters and I'm typically not missing a party going on behind me. Oh--a also real biggie for not feeling closed in: No uppers anywhere near this area.

I like a straight run with a nice big cutting board next to the sink followed by at least 24" of counter top, then the cook top. For me this is efficient (wash it, chop it, combine or toss if necessary, cook it)...all in a nice tight assembly line.

I don't have a corner, and come to think of it, most of my kitchens have not had corners. When I did have a corner, one held the sink and the other had a micro on the counter. Never had a prep space in a corner, but I do like having a liner space.

I HATED doing prep in a corner near my stove! I was always dropping stuff on the floor. I'm much happier with a straight run it's one of my favorite changes! Try it out if possible before you commit to a corner in my opinion.

I'm currently working on stretching the corner between stove and sink. For some darn reason the kids (adults) have to shimmy into this area together when cooking is going on. There is other counter space, but this corner seems to be a magnet.

My last kitchen had the same layout. I moved the sink from under the window to the other side of a 5' butcher block prep area I added where the sink was. It was great to have the view while cooking and so much more room. Hopefully a layout of same will come to me, 'tis a smaller kitchen here.

A corner is fine if it has enough working area on both sides. I'd take a long counter between sink and stove too.

Thanks, all, for your thoughts! I didn't expect the opinions to be so divided, but you've given me some useful info to think about.

I personally love and use an island, but if that's not possible, I prefer straight and long...as similiar to the island as possible but with a wall in front of you instead of open space.

A corner gets congested too quickly, not only with things you lay out for prep along with the items that tend to have their permanant home in the corner, but also with people. The one prepper blocks several lower cabinets so that another person in the kitchen may have to disrupt their prepping any number of times to get at the stuff they need. And if there are 2 preppers, it would get crowded fast.

Come to think about it, that's probably why nobody stands at our corner - just one person there blocks access to cups, oils, spices, silverware, plates, bowls, tea, towels, and washcloths.

So ultimately, if you place it in a corner, I would plan the storage there accordingly.

HAH! Marcolo, you don't actually disagree with me that much! My KA mixer is in a corner, and stands on the diagonal even when it's pushed back. Makes it look positively decorative! I pull it out to use it but have it right on the line of the point of the corner. Works great. Lots of landing space to either side, with the stove to one side and open counter to the other. There is a window on the counter leg, though. Uppers only on the other side.

A corner with corner uppers can be a dark cave, especially without open counters running out. I have one of those too, with only about a foot of counter past the corner square until the wall of the MW and coolers. It's as little of a dark hole as I could make it. RHome warned me! I pushed the sink down a ways to have more counter on the other leg. But it's still a dark corner, even with u/c and ceiling lights. It houses the ice cream freezer, food saver, paper towels and other such arcana. I would cry if I had to prep there. (Probably why Marcolo thinks I hate corners...)

What I hate are corners with no attached real estate, corners that are hemmed in by cabinetry, lazy susans and "corner solutions". My corner drawers are just fine.

What I hate more is facing a corner to do prep, though it might be better if it were a an all glass window wall with a great view.

Sometimes a corner is really the only space the structure will allow for prep, but if you have a chance to plan otherwise, do so! And if you can't help it, try to keep the uppers to a minimum.

I wholeheartedly agree with pllog's last paragraph.
I have prepped in both kinds of areas and prefer a straight run. I can reach the back and don't feel penned in. The only thing worse than a corner prep area was our corner sink. I'd put that even lower on the list....
One of the best features of our new kitchen is no corner cabs or corners for counters. Everything is a straight run. Our layout is a T shape with the majority of workspace in the galley part. The top of the T is for extra storage and occasional large projects like Xmas cookies. Most of the time, I prep on one side or other of the stove. Our stove is not hooked up yet, so the induction single burner sits on top of our counter. The 36" on each side of the stove are enough for me to feel like I have elbow room. The stove itself sits with its top down, and is 37.5" wide, so that gives us even more straight prep. The not having uppers also helps us feel like there is a lot of space and room to breathe.

I have a prep area that is a corner and one that is a straight run. Just beware that if it is next to the sink, if your kids/husband are anything like mine, they put all their dirty dishes NEXT TO THE SINK, not IN it, so I can rarely use that space for prep/cooking with my electric skillet unless I CLEAN first.
Also, will there be cabinets above the corner? I have cabinets above the corner and it houses all of our dishes. So if I prep there(which I sometimes do since the sink is right there) then my husband more often than not interrupts me to get in the cabinets to get the dishes.