5 Things You Need to Know Before Planning Your Kitchen

Designing your kitchen is an exciting task. It’s a chance to run wild with your imagination and bring your dream kitchen to life. But it can also be quite a hefty task and one that comes with a lot of decision-making and planning.

1 Set a budget

Designing your kitchen doesn’t have to break the bank. Set a budget to ensure you keep on track with spends. This will help you work out how much you have to spend on the designs and determine where you want to cut back on costs. Knowing your budget before you begin planning will also help you choose the designs you can afford, leaving no costly surprises later down the line.

2 What’s missing from your current kitchen?

Think about your current kitchen: is there anything you wish you had? Are your cupboards in a logical order? Are your appliances located conveniently? Do you need more space or less? Make a checklist so that nothing is missed when it comes to mapping out your new kitchen.

3 Map out the layout

Think about what you’ll be using your kitchen for. Knowing this will help you design the perfect layout.

• Galley – for those who have less space to work with, a galley layout utilizes both sides of the room, maximizing storage and worktop space.

• U-shape – a U-shaped kitchen works well for those with young children who want to keep the area separate to the rest of the room.

• L-shape – perfect for those who want to use the central space for a large dining table, the L-shaped kitchen design slots neatly in the corner.

• Island – provides extra storage space and is ideal for those who require more space when prepping food.

When thinking about the layout and locations of appliances, use the kitchen-worktop triangle theory. This is the idea that the fridge, stove, and sink should be placed at each point of a triangle so that day-to-day kitchen tasks can be done at ease.

4 Do your research

Shop around for inspiration and ideas on how you want your kitchen to look. Examine all the possibilities in design and discover what will work best for your needs. Consider what types of kitchen worktops you want. If you have children that are likely to get sticky handprints everywhere, you’re probably best opting for a matte finish rather than glossy. Making these small decisions beforehand will help smoothen out the design process.

5 Review all options

The average family tends to redesign their kitchen every 20 years, so think about what you need and explore all of the options. Don’t rush into anything – you’re likely to have this kitchen for a long time!

If you’re feeling stuck on the choice of themes, styles, and designs, it’s worth checking out some interior design bloggers or heading to Pinterest for inspiration and top tips. You could also call in an expert to help you – a new kitchen is an investment; so, you want to make sure you get it absolutely right.