Designing a kitchen is one thing, but designing one that is actually practical, future-proof, and caters to your needs, is another task altogether – but that’s not to say it can’t be done! With careful planning and lots of time to prep, your dream kitchen that’s tailored to your needs, can be achieved with no headache at all. Here are 5 steps to help you design your ideal kitchen…
1. Assess your needs
You will have already thought about what you need from your kitchen but take some time to consider how feasible the dream is versus the space you have and your practical requirements.
As a starting point, you can refer to the ‘working triangle’, a general layout concept developed in the mid-twentieth century that creates a space that allows free movement between the cooker, fridge and sink. However, as kitchen diners and open plan living have become the norm, this has become less relevant. Modern appliances and an emphasis on social interactions means that contemporary kitchen design has become less fixed on former notions of working through chores in the most time effective manner. Kitchens are now a living space in which to enjoy life.
First and foremost, you should consider how you will use it; do you like to cook? Do you need a large area for plating food for multiple dinner guests on a regular basis? Where do you like to drink your morning coffee? It is also worth considering what you don’t like about your current kitchen layout; traversing the island to load the dishwasher or having to cross the space with hot pasta to drain in the sink. Good kitchen design should deliver ease of use as well as aesthetic merit.
Discover more about the 5 most productive layouts here...
2. Make it multi-functional
Over the decades, kitchen space has evolved from something that was primarily used to prepare food to a social, open and inviting space that’s used for entertaining as much as it is for making dinner. With this in mind, consider your seating area and make sure it’s somewhere your guests and family can feel relaxed in. A kitchen island creates a good space for socialising while allowing you to continue cooking or cleaning duties.
5151 Empira White
3. Factor in lighting
An important thing to consider when designing your kitchen is lighting and how you can optimise any natural light for a brighter, airy space. Then think about where you want to have lighting, will you need spotlights above cooking and prep areas? And softer lights around the seating area? The option to fine-tune the lighting scheme with greater control to suit the need for differing ambiences if something most people now look to include, too. Having this all planned out before you begin your project will save a lot of time and trouble, with the cost of adding in wiring at a later stage not worth thinking about.
4. Consider different worktop options
There are lots of options when it comes to kitchen worktops and each one has their own unique style. If you do plenty of cooking, you’ll probably want a worktop material that is stain, water and heat resistant, with a cool, smooth surface. Quartz is one of nature’s hardest minerals and is much more durable than most stone, marble and granite surfaces. Not to mention it’s impervious to stains, scratches and cracks, so this might be something you want to consider when designing your functional kitchen.
Take a look at our comparative infographic for more information about the pros and cons of different worktop materials.
5. Consult a kitchen designer
Once you’ve gathered all your ideas and have a rough plan, it’s always a good idea to consult a professional to see whether your designs are achievable. They might also offer you some ideas you hadn’t thought about or even considered. Kitchen designers will be able to help you source your fixtures and fittings, too, helping make sure your kitchen is fully functional. Once you’ve gone over all your plans, be sure to ask for a quotation so you can budget for your redesign. Find out what kind of budget you need to build your dream kitchen.
Before you get too far into the planning process - our kitchen style quiz can help you figure out the right type of design for your personal tastes. Simply choose the images that resonate with you most and we’ll help you narrow down your search...
Images Source: Caesarstone
