For some people planning a new kitchen is an exciting prospect. For others (who know better) it can be a daunting process. Fraught with indecision and the fear of getting it wrong. Kitchens used to function solely as a place to sling dinner in the oven. Now they are the heart of the home for entertaining, lounging, baking, homework, gaming, partying, discussing, arguing and pretty much anything else you can think of. Our kitchens are for living in, so there is a lot of pressure to get it right. Which means there can be a lot of anxiety about getting it wrong. Kitchens are complex so there are plenty of opportunities to massively screw up. Particularly if you just excitedly rush in and start obsessing over wine fridges and boiling taps. But don’t worry, with a bit (or a lot) of planning and consideration you can absolutely nail it.
Image via the amazing ‘Kitchens In Style’ based in Cadnam Hampshire
So if you have a kitchen project on the horizon here are my 10 steps on how to design the perfect kitchen.
1. KNOW WHAT YOU WANT
You might think you already know what you want. But do you really? It’s often easy to focus on the look of a kitchen, but before you get carried away with Pinterest, think about what you need the space to offer. It’s a really good exercise to sit down and interrogate yourself or each other about how you live, so you can work out what you need.
Do you love to cook from scratch or, like me, do you just heat stuff up? Do you entertain? How many people do you need to seat? How much fridge and freezer space do you need? What times of day will you be using it most? Does one person just cook or do both of you get involved? Would you suit a Range or ovens? Do you like things on display or hidden away? Does it need to be child-friendly? Do you have pets? Is it a good idea to future-proof for when you are older? How committed are you to cleaning and maintenance? What appliances will you need to accommodate in the space? Do prefer drawers or cupboards? How do you like to organise your refuse and recycling?
If you are a couple or a family sit down and thrash out what’s important and make a few lists. A list of what you need. And then a list of what you want. Needs come first, then wants. And if you are a couple who often argue, both pick one thing now that is important to you and a non-negotiable, that way you will each get one thing you really want.
2. LAYOUT
Now you know what you need and want you can start to nail the perfect layout. It’s really best to work with a top-quality kitchen designer on this. They will have designed hundreds and hundreds of kitchens whereas we may only go through the process one or two times. Most kitchen companies will offer a free initial design service. And don’t just visit one, it’s work visiting two or three so you can compare. I would also suggest giving them creative freedom initially, just to see what new ideas they may come up. If you are very prescriptive about what layout you want then you may miss the opportunity to see things from another perspective. Just play around and experiment, yes it’s time-consuming but I assume you’re reading this blog because you don’t want to rush in and get it wrong.
3. STYLE
Now you can start to get excited and go lose yourself down the Pinterest rabbit hole. You’ll probably have a good idea about what style you are after but make sure you are choosing a style because you love it, not just because you’ve been brainwashed by Instagram. With kitchens, it’s always a good idea to future-proof and choose a classic style rather than something faddy. I loved gloss kitchens when I was in my twenties but now they make me want to vom. Black granite too, I had it in 2007 and now it must look so dated. You need to love the style but it should also fit in with your house too. You may not want to go too en trend in a period house nor too classic in a mid-century or modern house. Your gut will tell you what is a good style to work for you and your home.
4. LIGHTING
You may find lighting dull but I would say this is one of the most common areas to screw up on so pay attention. Our kitchens are now pretty much living rooms we cook and wash up in. So the lighting in your kitchen should be the same as the lighting in the rest of your home, warm friendly and inviting. It shouldn’t look like an operating theatre, so if your builder or installer is trying to convince you to install a grid of downlights tell him no. For good lighting you need layers of light, some on the ceiling, some on the walls and some on table tops, particularly if it’s a large open plan space.
Downlights have their place but they aren’t cosy and flattering. Pendants over an island or a dining table are a good idea but make sure there are pockets or soft lights around the rest of the room, wall lights are ideal for an evening ambience setting. And if you are lucky enough to have a large space with room for a desk or sideboard then table lamps and floor lamps are great for casting a soft glow. You can read my mammoth guide to lighting here.
5. WORKTOPS
These can be one of the biggest investments when it comes to kitchens. There is so much choice that it’s a bit baffling so a good place to start is with what you need. If like me you are lazy and can’t be arsed with maintenance then you need a manmade material that is really tough and robust. Options like quartz and corian are good if you want it to still look like a natural stone. Wood is beautiful and perfect if you want to add warmth and texture to your kitchen but it requires effort and doesn’t like heat or water so can be a bit useless in kitchens. Stainless steel is a complete winner for serious cooks who want a really practical space. I have never written a blog about worktops and nor do I intend to, it would just be too dull right? But do your research and of course, you will need to factor in cost, particularly in a large space with an island.
6. WALLS
A few things to plan here. So a paint colour for the walls is going to be a decision for you, it’s dependent on a lot of factors like how much natural light the space gets as well as your choices of unit colour and worktops. And then there are tiles or upstands to consider. Tiles are a great way to add colour, pattern and texture to the design but they are something that can often date a kitchen as well. When I’m asked to help ‘modernise’ an old kitchen it’s often the tiles that are the most offensive. Luckily they are pretty easy to change though. Upstands to match your worktops are an alternative but they may not be practical enough if it’s a very hard-working kitchen or a lot going on in a small area.
So once you have decided what practically works for you then you can focus on the aesthetics. Make sure when you are considering tiles and paint colours that you create a physical moodboard. This is grouping together samples of the kitchen units, worktops and flooring with the potential options for tiles and paint colours so you can see how they all work together. They should have a cohesive feel. If something feels off then you haven’t found the perfect combination yet. Keep experimenting and trying different things until your gut tells you they all work together well.
7. FLOORING
Again you need to think about practicality first and work out what type of flooring is right for you. Tiles are pretty robust and are a great option with kids and pets. But a decent underfloor heating is going to be a must unless it’s a very small space. Porcelain tiles mimic the look of natural materials like marble or wood but have none of the maintenance, so they are super practical. Luxury vinyl is also super practical, they have the look and texture of wood but really easy to clean and warm underfoot, so a great alternative to tiles. You’ll still need a decent budget though, just because it’s vinyl doesn’t mean it’s cheap. If you are a sucker for real wood (as I am) then Engineered wood can be used in kitchens. But the big but is if you ever have a flood or leak that isn’t dealt with immediately it will be totally trashed.
Once you know what type you are going for you can then look at all the aesthetic options and see what works with your physical moodboard. Play around with all your samples until you create a cohesive palette.
8. TOUCHPOINTS
These are all the things you touch like taps, light switches, door handles and drawer pulls. Because you touch them rather than just see them it’s worth allocating a bit of budget to this to get high-quality products that will give your room a more luxurious feel. Again get your physical moodboard together to see what colour and finishes work with your scheme. Brass finishes look amazing against dark-coloured units. Chrome finishes will always look classic and not date. Black finishes look really en trend and can add a more unique factor.
9. DRESSING & STYLING
As we’ve already talked about, kitchens are really more like living rooms now, so your kitchen shouldn’t look that different to the rest of your home. Your kitchen should still reflect the people who live there so don’t forget to plan some styling and dressing. If you have open shelves this is a great opportunity to show your flair. Or even just some plants and a few ceramic pots on the countertop will add some texture and interest. And if it’s a large open-plan space, definitely allocate some wall space to artwork or photos.
10. THINK HOLISTIC
What I mean by this is to plan the kitchen as a whole, right from the start. The big mistake people often make is that they order the kitchen units and worktops, then a few weeks later they choose the floor, then later they choose the tiles, and then they wonder what paint colour to choose. The trouble with this approach is that there is no clear plan and you can come unstuck when suddenly you can’t find the right tiles to go with the worktops. Then you wonder if you’ve chosen the wrong worktop but you can’t change it because it’s already ordered. Then you lose confidence and start to panic. And when you panic you make bad decisions.
That’s why you should create the whole palette, using your physical moodboard, right at the start. By the time you order your kitchen, you should know what taps, what tiles, what paint colour, what light fittings, what art is going on the walls, and what vase will sit on the worktop. Then you will know it all works together beautifully.
I appreciate this is a lot to work through, and it’s not one hundred perfect foolproof. But taking the time to follow these steps will honestly save you from a lot of stress and agro in the long run. So how do you feel now? Are you ready to start designing your own perfect kitchen? Let me know in the comments how you get on.
And if you are local to Southampton and ever fancy some real-life interior advice why not give me a call? I offer my services across Hampshire and would love to help you.
Sarah x
