3 Essential tips for kitchen design and planning success
Replacing a kitchen or redesigning it from scratch can seem like an impossible task, especially if you're juggling it with work and a busy family life. The main challenge is knowing where to start and getting to grips with all the essential elements. With so many choices and decisions to make, it’s not surprising that even the most experienced renovator can feel swamped and overwhelmed by the whole process. But if you break the key decisions down into manageable chunks, creating a kitchen that ticks all the boxes is so much easier to achieve. Which means you get to create what you want without the endless emotional stress and worry.
Here are our tips on the three key areas we focus on when designing kitchens for our clients, plus we’ll be talking about the importance of a good old fashioned moodboard.
Family kitchen - Hitchin project
1. LAYOUT
The kitchen layout is the foundation for a functional and practical kitchen. A kitchen that looks stunning is a great thing, but if it’s not enjoyable to cook or hang out in, then you may find yourself regretting your design decisions pretty quickly. That’s why it's so important to consider the function and use of your space. Features such as storage, the positioning of your appliances, worktop space and zoning, all have an impact on how easy and enjoyable it is to perform the essential tasks in your kitchen. Whether you’re investing in a top-notch chef-grade kitchen or focusing more on a comfortable family space, your needs will be different, so make sure your layout and choice of features and appliances reflect this.
The kitchen triangle
We like to consider the “work triangle” between the sink, oven, and fridge - these are the three essential elements of any kitchen, so it’s important that they’re within easy reach of each other.
Avoid putting them in a straight line if you can, as this can disrupt the flow of the kitchen. Instead, place them in a triangular formation for an optimal layout.
Another tip which is useful for family homes is to create designated zones for specific tasks such as food prep, cooking, and tea/coffee making, so that family members can move around the kitchen without getting in each other's way.
2. MATERIALS
Once you've settled on a layout that works for your family's lifestyle, it's time to pick your materials and finishes. You're going to want something that looks good but that is durable enough to withstand everyday wear and tear. For worktops, you could choose from materials like granite, marble or quartz; for cabinets, wood or a painted finish; and for floors, ceramic tiles or hardwood flooring are popular options.
Opting for low-quality materials might feel like a good idea when your budget is being stretched and you are haemorrhaging money but when the dust has settled, you could end up regretting some of your money-saving decisions. We’re not saying that you have to splurge on everything and there are always areas where you can save. But if you make hasty decisions and try to save money on the wrong materials, the whole project could be compromised.
Think about how the finishes will age over time and be sure to research any maintenance requirements before making your decision.
Don’t forget, that with young children in the home, it's essential to think about child-friendly features. Rounded worktop edges, non-slip flooring, and soft-close drawers and cabinets will help prevent accidents and mishaps.
3. Colour
Finally, it's time to add some colour. This is the fun part!
The colour palette you choose for your kitchen can set the tone for the entire space. Remember that when it comes to paint, you're not limited to the walls: think about which surfaces could be painted or wallpapered, or how a tiled backsplash can add visual interest. Neutral colours such as warm stone and beiges, are timeless options that can work well with any style (and are thankfully replacing the colder greys that have been hanging around for a long time. ) These warmer tones also give you the freedom to add stronger accent colours through accessories or fabrics. If you prefer something bolder, go for statement cabinets or an island in an eye-catching colour to create a stunning focal point.
We are particularly loving dusky pinks, terracottas and rust colours at the moment. These colours complement each other beautifully, with the lighter tones providing a stunning backdrop for the darker colours.
Touches of black and natural materials help to ground the scheme - from chairs and light fittings, to doors leading to the garden – these are all effective ways of drawing attention to an area, view, or feature
The power of a moodboard
Which brings us nicely on to the topic of moodboards!
When it comes to renovating your kitchen, with all the ideas floating around in your head it can be hard to know exactly what you’re striving towards. Trying to figure out how everything fits together can get a bit overwhelming. That’s why visuals and moodboards are so helpful. For us, they are an essential tool as they show all the pieces of the puzzle and how they fit into one cohesive design. When you can see how each colour, texture and material works together, it acts as a constant reminder of the overall look and feeling you're aiming for.
So, as we’ve seen, layout, colours, textures and materials play an integral role in helping you create a stunning kitchen but we know how hard it can be to pull all of these elements together yourself- which is why we created our Kitchen Design In A Box.
Our box simplifies the decision-making process by providing you with all the tools you need to renovate your kitchen with confidence, including outlines for your kitchen layout, material choices and your colour scheme —all without having to leave the comfort of your home.
Whether you’re updating your existing kitchen or starting from scratch, you’ll be able to save time, achieve the look you want and redesign your kitchen with ease so you can avoid stressing out over endless decisions.
This is what our client Jane had to say about it.
And we can do the same for you, so you can spend your summer doing all the other things you love doing instead!
So what are you waiting for?
