7 Ways To Design Your New Kitchen

When it comes to making changes to your home, your kitchen can be one of the most important things to consider.

The design you choose for your kitchen will not only impact on the way you use it and how you feel about the room that is usually the heart of the home, but it can also make a difference to the value of your property. In this article, Tara Neil take a look at some of the key ways that you could design your new kitchen.

1. Layout

It is important to think about the layout of your kitchen. Many dream kitchens that we see in magazines incorporate all sorts of things that are simply not practical in most homes. Consider whether you have an open plan space or a closed one and where your appliances are.

Then create an imaginary triangle between the fridge, sink and cooker as this will make the preparation of meals much easier. If you keep this at the centre of your design, everything else becomes more straightforward.

2. Wish list

Draw up everything you wish that you could have in your kitchen to make it easier to see what is achievable. Whether you have always dreamed of a kitchen island or simply want more cupboard space, this is the ideal way to find out what elements you are prepared to compromise on.

3. Floor plans

To get you kitchen design to work properly, you need to put together a detailed floor plan. Make sure that you have thoroughly measured all of the dimensions of your space and think about where your doors and windows are

You can then start to think about where you will be able to put things and what is likely to fit.

One of the best ways to do this is to cut out scale representations of each item that you can lay on the paper and shuffle around until you find the right configuration.

4. Budget

We all have a dream kitchen in mind, but we rarely have the budget to accommodate it. It is important for you to define the budget you have available before you start so that you know how far you are realistically able to go with your design. Whatever budget you settle on, it is always wise to set 10% aside for those unforeseen extra expenses that have a habit of cropping up during a project.

5. Kitchen lifestyle

It is also necessary to think about the ways you plan to use your kitchen. Do you want to spend hours whipping up culinary masterpieces or is it a social space for friends and family to come together in? When you understand this, it is much easier to find a layout that works, and you can incorporate the things that matter most to you.

6. Materials

The materials that you choose will make a big difference to the way your kitchen looks and how much you spend. Look through magazines for inspiration to help you choose between rustic timber, opulent marble or modern quartz, and also consider how easy each one is to care for.

7. Cabinets

Your cabinets will go a long way to dictating the style of your kitchen, so choose your colours and styles carefully to get the right balance as well as the space and practicality that you need.

Designing a kitchen takes a lot of time and imagination but it can also be a fun process. Working with a kitchen designer can make it much easier and can guide you to find the right style for you and your home.