The do’s and don’ts of a new kitchen
Redesigning your kitchen is exciting; it can completely transform your home, and when done right, you’ll only have to do it once.
It’s crucial to get your kitchen design right
from the start to avoid costly mistakes. Below, we’ve put together some of the key elements to consider when designing your dream kitchen, along with some tips to avoid common oversights and errors.
Do seek advice from a professional
You may know exactly what you want your new kitchen to look like, or you may just be thinking that your kitchen needs a revamp.
Either way, seeking advice from a professional kitchen designer allows you to explore what’s possible and achievable, whilst avoiding costly mistakes, ensuring accurate measurements and making the complicated not-so complicated after all.
It’s important to seek advice as designing your new kitchen means taking multiple components into consideration:
- Where are the incoming water and gas mains?
- Where's the nearest drain for water?
- Are the current electricity sockets optimal?
- How much worktop space do you need?
- What are the best storage solutions to suit your household?
- Is there enough cooking capacity to suit your household?
... and much more.
We promise it will make all the difference when asking a professional. Overlooking any one of these elements would be a costly and time-consuming mistake, and it could mean that your new kitchen is not as functional as you would have hoped.
Do think about your entire home
A new kitchen can add value to your home, if designed properly.
Perhaps there is an opportunity to review the layout of your current space as a whole – could you go open plan? Do you have a dining room you barely use? What about knocking that wall down?
Even if the size of your kitchen can’t be changed, you should consider the style and character of your house and decor; a new kitchen should create harmony in your home and complement your style.
Do prioritise accessibility and longevity
It’s definitely possible to achieve both style and practicality in your new kitchen.
We absolutely love it when a customer has a good idea of what they want from their dream kitchen, but we always encourage our customers to look beyond the initial ‘look’ and really think about every-day use.
Kitchens are full of awkwardly shaped things like pots, pans, utensils and cleaning products. You've got to really think about the depth and height of drawers and cupboards and consider how much surface space you really need. Picturing every day scenarios like how far will you be walking that hot dish straight from the oven to the nearest surface? Will opening one cupboard impact opening a drawer you'll need at the same time?
Most people will only ever refurbish their kitchen once so you’ve got to ensure that your kitchen design works for you, every single day, so always prioritise longevity and accessibility.
Don't waste space
It seems obvious doesn't it? but there are so many clever solutions to maximise space in your kitchen.
Consider this:
- A boiling water tap means no kettle on the work surface
- A built-in microwave means no microwave on the surface
- A double sink means one basin for washing up and one for food prep
- Corner cupboards can maximise every inch available in a kitchen, and often times these corners would otherwise go unused
- A pantry or larder (even slimline) will give you shallow shelving space and is a great way to make use of an alcove
- A kitchen island adds additional work surface space and storage, and can double up as a space to host and dine
Of course, having all or none of these elements in your kitchen is a choice and you can only work with what’s available to you.
Having said this, the size of a kitchen has little baring on whether you can incorporate space saving solutions – there’s always a way to save space and avoid the clutter – so don’t waste space unnecessarily.
Don't forget about lighting
Lighting in a kitchen shouldn’t be overlooked; it serves a function and should be considered during the first design phase.
You don’t want to be preparing and cooking food in a dimly lit area, but you don’t want your lights to be too overpowering when hosting or dining. Equally, lighting should accompany the overall style in your kitchen, and you may wish to consider the efficiency of the options on offer, and definitely don’t forget about maximising on natural light (there really is a lot to consider).
Bright and more direct light such as spotlights could be used over your work surface to increase visibility - you’ll certainly thank yourself when finely chopping those veggies. Yet you may also want to consider aspects like dimmer switches or hanging pendant lights over your kitchen island or dining area for when you don’t need such intense light.
LED strip lighting is also extremely popular; usually placed under kitchen cabinets, it can be another great way to create a more relaxing atmosphere in your kitchen.
The point is, it's a bright idea to consider your lighting options early on in the process.
Don't rush into it
Transforming your kitchen is a process, it takes time and you want to be sure you are choosing the right company. It’s always good to get options to see what can be done with your kitchen.
At Inspired Kitchen Designs, we offer a completely no obligation, free design and quotation service, always. We may be the first company providing a design, or you may wish to use this as a chance to compare to other designs you’ve received. Either way, we promise that you can make changes to your kitchen design as many times as you wish until you’re happy, completely free of charge.
We’ll visit you a date and time that suits you, and design your dream kitchen with you in your home. This makes it easy for you to get another perspective.
What’s more, you'll be able to get in touch with your dedicated contact on their mobile phone. Whether you prefer to text or call, you can reach out any time you need with all those kitchen questions. No waiting in long call queues here, and you'll speak to the same person every time.
Remember, there are options out there and you must always consider the service you'll receive alongside your kitchen.
Inspired Kitchen Designs Ltd are your local kitchen designers and suppliers. We cover Berkshire, Surrey and surrounding areas and go directly to the manufacturer. All kitchens are made to measure and built to order.