Whatever your renovation goals are, we’re here to assist you in learning how to design a kitchen like an expert. Our ten stages will make the procedure as simple as possible, regardless of your budget or taste.
In this feature, we take you through all the stages, from kitchen planning and finding your ideal kitchen design style, to choosing the best cabinetry, kitchen flooring, and more. So, if your current kitchen is outdated and needs a drastic makeover, or if you have a blank canvas to design your new kitchen from scratch, read on for all the kitchen planning advice, design ideas, and more that you need.
HOW TO PLAN A KITCHEN IN 10 STEPS
Kitchens used to be hidden-away workspaces, but today they’re rooms in which we spend huge amounts of time. Not only do they need to offer the preparation and cooking facilities that suit all the home’s occupants, but they must also be stylish space we want to enjoy being in.
Often, they’re a zone in an open-plan kitchen diner and living space, so the kitchen’s decor must work harmoniously with dining and relaxing areas as well.
Proper kitchen planning is key if you want a successful kitchen design that fulfills all your expectations, and these ten steps will get you there, whether you’re doing it alone or have called in the help of an expert.
1. LIST THE ELEMENTS YOU WANT IN YOUR KITCHEN DESIGN
Analyzing what you currently have in your existing kitchen versus what you need and want from your new kitchen design is key. Often, it’s best to do this yourself before you go to a kitchen planner or kitchen designer, using what works in your kitchen now – and changing what really doesn’t. This process will also allow you to get creative, to realize if anything can be reused or recycled.
2. CONSIDER THE BEST LAYOUT FOR YOUR KITCHEN DESIGN
When considering different kitchen design and layout ideas, think about the following to gain a clearer picture:
- How do you use a kitchen? The kitchen layout should be designed to perfectly fit your lifestyle.
Is it an open-plan space? Focus on the layout of the working part of the kitchen first, but also on its relationship with a dining table, if there is one, or – in an open plan kitchen-living-diner – the other zones. - Don’t forget the working triangle. To plan the preparation and cooking space, use the design concept of the working triangle of the kitchen. The three points are the fridge, sink and hob with imaginary lines between these forming the triangle shape. The three points should be near enough to each other to make meal preparation efficient but each workstation shouldn’t feel restrictive.
- What will work best with your kitchen’s shape? Think of the triangle imposed on the possible layouts a kitchen can take. These are galley kitchens, U-shaped kitchens, L-shaped kitchens, curved kitchens, and open plan kitchens.
3. DRAW UP A DETAILED KITCHEN FLOORPLAN
With your list done, you can begin to work up a floorplan. When you design a kitchen, it’s important to understand the space you’re working with. Ask a kitchen company, an architect or architectural technologist – or use graph paper and do it yourself – to carefully make scale drawings of your kitchen’s floorplan.
Marking up a floorplan. Mark the exact location (to scale) of internal and external doors and windows, so you have the best flow possible between your kitchen, outside space and the rest of your house. You’ll need to factor zones into your plan if you’re designing an open plan kitchen too for example.
Plotting in the cabinetry and appliances. Best way to do this? With little paper cut-outs of to-scale appliances and cabinets. Failing that, use a pencil and have an eraser to hand. Once you see exactly how much room you have to work with, you can start planning how to make the most of it. It will also give you a clear idea of how much you want to spend before beginning the design process proper, ensuring you end up with a scheme you can afford – and helping you reduce excess costs early in the process if your plans don’t match your budget.
4. GATHER KITCHEN DESIGN IDEAS
Once you’ve considered the starting points above, you can really start to gather your kitchen inspiration to have the end result in sight.
Finding a style to suit the practicalities of your kitchen design is vital, think about the following:
Do you want it to compliment the style or period of your home or contrast it? To match the decor of your other rooms, or to stand out? What style of units do you want to go for? How will you use color or bring texture into the room with materials?
All of these elements should be considered before any work takes place. Once you have a look in mind, you can start to put your kitchen planning into practice.
5. CHOOSE THE BEST MATERIALS FOR YOUR KITCHEN DESIGN
Once you know the look you want, you can start selecting kitchen units, finishes and the likes. This will mostly come down to your budget, but we will say investing in the best quality kitchen you can afford will add value to your home. And, it goes without saying that the better quality materials you choose, the longer your kitchen may last.
These materials lend themselves more to a traditional kitchen design:
Hardwood is the best and most hard-wearing material you can choose for your kitchen cabinets.
Plywood is also a good choice and often slightly cheaper than a solid wood kitchen.
If you want a sleek modern kitchen design:
Fibreboard cabinets: they are usually inexpensive but are long-lasting and give you that totally smooth surface for a chic, minimalist look.
Which materials to avoid?
Cabinets and cabinet doors that have a wood veneer tend not to last very long as the veneer layer can peel and chip. The same goes for particleboard. However, both these materials are budget-friendly so if you are trying to keep your cost at a minimum they might work for you.
6. CHOOSE THE BEST COLOUR SCHEME FOR KITCHEN CABINETS
Colour is perhaps as important as the style of cupboards you choose as it will be the first thing anyone notices about your kitchen.
The most popular color choice for a kitchen is white, closely followed by cream, off-white and pale grey, and this is a good option if you want your kitchen to be a backdrop for you to add your own color and personality in decor while retaining a classic kitchen design that won’t date, is easy to redecorate around in future, and which won’t put off future house-buyers.
A white or pale-colored kitchen design also allows you more options when it comes to choosing decor – from kitchen tiles to kitchen flooring – as you can be bolder in your choices there.
Grey kitchens are also very on-trend and work with both traditional and contemporary kitchens.
7. SELECT THE BEST KITCHEN WORKTOPS
Kitchen worktops need to work with your budget as well as tastes. Laminate, at the budget end of the market, can take on the appearance of other materials and is easy to look after. Opt for the best quality you can. Wood looks warm and is pleasing to touch, but does need regular care. Natural stone can look spectacular and each piece has a unique appearance. It should be sealed. Man-made composites are hard-wearing and easy to look after.
Don’t rule out more unusual materials, though. Stainless steel will create a professional look; concrete and concrete-look quartz can look beautiful and colored as well as the expected shade, and glass is eye-catching as a work surface.
8. CHOOSE THE BEST KITCHEN WALL TILES AND FLOORING
What you put on the kitchen walls is vital in a busy working space. And, it’s a wise move to choose tiles around working areas.
9. DESIGN A KITCHEN LIGHTING SCHEME TO SUIT YOUR SPACE
Factor kitchen lighting in early if you’re determined to successfully design a kitchen. Ambient, task and accent lighting should all have their place in a kitchen lighting scheme whether it’s in a separate room or part of an open-plan area.
Ambient light for a kitchen needs to be good enough for working with sharp knives and hot dishes. Ceiling spotlights can be supplemented with wall lights. Task lighting should illuminate work surfaces, cooker, and sink area. It includes under-unit lights and directional ceiling spotlights. Accent lighting can include pendants for islands or a dining table, and LEDs beneath units that make them appear to float. Consider, too, lighting cabinet interiors to show off beautiful tableware placed on glass shelves. Make sure you plan in separate lighting circuits to operate the different types of light individually.
10. SETTLE ON KITCHEN WINDOW DRESSINGS
All kitchen window treatments stand up to the room’s moisture, be unaffected by splashes if they’re near the sink, and should be easy to clean.
