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How do i design my kitchen


How to plan a kitchen – 10 steps to creating your dream space

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Perfecting your kitchen design is a big and exciting job. You get to make all mood boards, order all the paint samples, subscribe to all the magazines, all in the name of research, but there's no denying that it can get a little stressful if you aren't really sure what you are doing. 

Whatever your remodeling plans may be, we are here to help you when it comes to how to design a kitchen like a professional. Whatever your budget, and whatever your style, our ten steps will have the process as easy as possible.  

In this feature, we take you through all the stages, from kitchen planning and finding your ideal kitchen design style, to choosing the best cabinetry, kitchen flooring and more. So, if your current kitchen is outdated and needs a drastic makeover, or if you have a blank canvas to design your new kitchen from scratch, read on for all the kitchen planning advice, design ideas and more that you need.

Looking for more kitchen decor rather than practical advice? Go to our kitchen ideas page next for heaps of inspiration. 

Choosing a kitchen designer, architect or builder is a big part of the process, which is why we've put together specialist guides aiming to help you find the best professional for your project. Do take a look, and if you want budgeting advice and information on how much a new kitchen costs we can help too.

How to plan a kitchen in 10 steps

(Image credit: Chris Snook)

Kitchens used to be hidden-away workspaces, but today they’re rooms in which we spend huge amounts of time. Not only do they need to offer the preparation and cooking facilities that suit all the home’s occupants, but they must also be stylish space we want to enjoy being in.

Often, they’re a zone in an open-plan kitchen diner and living space, so the kitchen’s decor must work harmoniously with dining and relaxing areas as well.

Proper kitchen planning is key if you want a successful kitchen design that fulfills all your expectations, and these ten steps will get you there, whether you’re doing it alone or have called in the help of an expert.

(Image credit: Malcolm Menzies)

Analyzing what you currently have in your existing kitchen versus what you need and want from your new kitchen design is key. Often, it's best to do this yourself before you go to a kitchen planner or kitchen designer, using what works in your kitchen now – and changing what really doesn't. This process will also allow you to get creative, to realize if anything can be reused or recycled. 

Think about your kitchen cabinets, do you want a kitchen island? Does a living area need to be incorporated? Even go into what style of sink you might want and how many appliances you need to fit in.  

(Image credit: Farrow and Ball )

When considering different kitchen design and layout ideas, think about the following to gain a clearer picture:

3. Draw up a detailed kitchen floorplan

(Image credit: CRL Stone)

With your list done, you can begin to work up a floorplan. When you design a kitchen, it’s important to understand the space you’re working with. Ask a kitchen company, an architect or architectural technologist – or use graph paper and do it yourself – to carefully make scale drawings of your kitchen's floorplan. 

Marking up a floorplan. Mark the exact location (to scale) of internal and external doors and windows, so you have the best flow possible between your kitchen, outside space and the rest of your house. You'll need to factor zones into your plan if you're designing an open plan kitchen too for example.

Plotting in the cabinetry and appliances. Best way to do this? With little paper cut-outs of to-scale appliances and cabinets. Failing that, use a pencil and have an eraser to hand. Once you see exactly how much room you have to work with, you can start planning how to make the most of it. It will also give you a clear idea of how much you want to spend before beginning the design process proper, ensuring you end up with a scheme you can afford – and helping you reduce excess costs early in the process if your plans don't match your budget.

We have plenty of guidance for planning a small kitchen design or creating a family kitchen too, if you want tips on creating a successfully cohesive, well-laid out room.

(Image credit: Remedy Design)

Once you've considered the starting points above, you can really start to gather your kitchen inspiration to have the end result in sight. 

Finding a style to suit the practicalities of your kitchen design is vital, think about the following:

Do you want it to compliment the style or period of your home or contrast it? To match the decor of your other rooms, or to stand out? What style of units do you want to go for? How will you use color or bring texture into the room with materials? 

All of these elements should be considered before any work takes place. Once you have a look in mind, you can start to put your kitchen planning into practice.

Below, are some kitchen design ideas – modern, traditional and freestanding (use these links to jump straight down to them) – to inspire you and to help you envisage how your new kitchen could look.

(Image credit: James French)

Contemporary kitchens can work in modern or period homes, but they do look most at home in light-filled, simple spaces. Think elegant, minimalist cabinetry, carefully selected color simple schemes and perhaps a few feature pieces in there too. 

You'll see that modern kitchens often have fitted storage and built-in appliances to keep that minimalist look. If you want to design a kitchen that is clutter-free, a modern kitchen is the best kitchen design for you. 

See modern kitchens in our design gallery for tons of inspiration. 

See luxury kitchens with a contemporary edge in our kitchen design gallery – you needn't have a big budget to mimic these looks.

Traditional kitchens: choose formal, rustic or country for a period feel

(Image credit: Kasia Fiszer)

Traditional kitchens fit perfectly if you live in a period home with traditional features and lovely quirks – but can also really suit modern homes in need of a touch of character. There are plenty of kitchen styles that come underneath the umbrella of 'traditional' so you can find a style to suit your tastes. 

See Shaker kitchens in our kitchen design ideas gallery if you want a classic, traditional kitchen that never dates. This kitchen design suits all styles of settings, from modern kitchen extensions to rustic country cottages. Unlike some traditional kitchens, the Shaker style is simple and uncomplicated, with no elaborate moldings or fussy decorations – a perfect blank canvas to add your own personality.

If you are designing a kitchen and want a more traditional look, see more country kitchens and farmhouse kitchens in our design ideas galleries for rustic inspiration. Country kitchens include painted designs, while farmhouse kitchens are more ruggedly rustic. 

See vintage kitchens for inspiration for creating a kitchen design that's more about homespun charm. These highlight the original features of your home, like beams or original tiles, and are the perfect kitchen design if you want a space with loads of personality and coziness. 

Freestanding kitchens: flexible furniture for all types of home

(Image credit: Polly Eltes)

Freestanding kitchens will work in modern or period homes, and are less about that new, built-in kitchen look and more about mixing and matching one-off pieces to create a one-off kitchen design. 

This kind of kitchen design takes more thought because it's not as straightforward as just choosing a fitted kitchen. Instead, you will need to design your own kitchen completely and decide on various routes:

Either way, when designing your kitchen, we recommend making a list of your freestanding essentials (cabinets, dressers, kitchen islands, etc), take measurements, keep them to hand and then talk to both kitchen designers and joiners, but also to keep your eye out for suitable pieces on online markets, vintage stores and even charity shops. 

See freestanding kitchens in our design gallery to get inspiration and more advice for your scheme. 

(Image credit: Meir Australia )

Once you know the look you want, you can start selecting kitchen units, finishes and the likes. This will mostly come down to your budget, but we will say investing in the best quality kitchen you can afford will add value to your home. And, it goes without saying that the better quality materials you choose, the longer your kitchen may last. 

These materials lend themselves more to a traditional kitchen design:

Hardwood is the best and most hard-wearing material you can choose for your kitchen cabinets. 

Plywood is also a good choice and often slightly cheaper than a solid wood kitchen. 

If you want a sleek modern kitchen design: 

Fibreboard cabinets: they are usually inexpensive but are long-lasting and give you that totally smooth surface for a chic, minimalist look.

Which materials to avoid? 

Cabinets and cabinet doors that have a wood veneer tend not to last very long as the veneer layer can peel and chip. The same goes for particleboard. However, both these materials are budget-friendly so if you are trying to keep your cost at a minimum they might work for you.  

For more tips on how to choose kitchen cabinets head to our guide for loads of practical advice and inspiring ideas. 

6. Choose the best colour scheme for kitchen cabinets

(Image credit: Floors of Stone)

Colour is perhaps as important as the style of cupboards you choose as it will be the first thing anyone notices about your kitchen. 

The most popular color choice for a kitchen is white, closely followed by cream, off-white and pale grey, and this is a good option if you want your kitchen to be a backdrop for you to add your own color and personality in decor while retaining a classic kitchen design that won't date, is easy to redecorate around in future, and which won't put off future house-buyers. 

A white or pale-colored kitchen design also allows you more options when it comes to choosing decor – from kitchen tiles to kitchen flooring – as you can be bolder in your choices there.  See white kitchen design ideas in our design gallery. 

Grey kitchens are also very on-trend and work with both traditional and contemporary kitchens. See grey kitchens in our design gallery. 

See dark kitchens – another massive trend at the moment – in our design ideas gallery, too. 

If you're feeling brave or just love color, just check out our kitchen color scheme feature to get inspired. 

7. Select the best kitchen worktops

(Image credit: B&Q)

Kitchen worktops need to work with your budget as well as tastes. Laminate, at the budget end of the market, can take on the appearance of other materials and is easy to look after. Opt for the best quality you can. Wood looks warm and is pleasing to touch, but does need regular care. Natural stone can look spectacular and each piece has a unique appearance. It should be sealed. Man-made composites are hard-wearing and easy to look after. 

Don’t rule out more unusual materials, though. Stainless steel will create a professional look; concrete and concrete-look quartz can look beautiful and colored as well as the expected shade; and glass is eye-catching as a work-surface.

If you're not sure which kitchen worktop will work best with your new space, our guide to the best kitchen worktops talks you through the options in-depth, providing practical advice and design inspiration. 

8. Choose the best kitchen wall tiles and flooring

(Image credit: Kitchen Makers)

What you put on the kitchen walls is vital in a busy working space. And, it's a wise move to choose tiles around working areas. For all the know-how on choosing the best kitchen tiles, head over to our dedicated feature.

While kitchen flooring equally, has to be hard wearing to deal with splashes and high condensation. Find out more information on how to choose the best flooring for kitchens in our specialist feature; options include the following:

Tiles

Ceramic, porcelain or real stone are all possible for a kitchen. Take care requirements into consideration as well as costs. Explore your options in our guide to choosing floor tiles.

(Image credit: Nest)

Wood

Solid wood is not generally recommended for kitchens because of the moisture in the room. Instead, we'd recommend opting for engineered wood, which has the appearance of real wood, but is designed to be stable in the conditions.

Find out how to choose the best engineered wood in our specialist guide.

(Image credit: Quickstep)

Laminate

If you love the look of wood – or tiles – laminate is a budget-friendly option that convincingly mimics the look of real materials. It's always recommended to buy the best quality laminate you can for your budget, as the cheaper options can look a little shiny.

You'll find plenty of inspiration, as well as more information on how to choose the best laminate flooring, in our guide.

(Image credit: Carpetright)

Vinyl

A budget-friendly option, vinyl not only mimics natural materials, but is also renowned for its durability, scratch resistance and easiness to clean. 

Find out more in our guide to choosing vinyl flooring. 

(Image credit: Amtico)

Rubber

You might also consider rubber if you're on the look out for flexible and contemporary flooring. Durable, hygienic and comfortable to walk on, it's becoming an increasingly popular option for kitchens.

As you might have guessed, we've got all the information you need when choosing rubber flooring, too. 

(Image credit: Carpetright)

Concrete

Stylish, with a distinctly contemporary feel, resin and concrete flooring are fast becoming the flooring of choice for contemporary homes.  

Perfect for kitchen floors and well-prepped bathroom floors, concrete and resin are durable and resistant to spills, dirt and stains, making them a practical material, too.

Find more tips on how to choose the best resin and concrete flooring in our specialist guide.

(Image credit: Fiona Walker Arnott)

(Image credit: Shutterly Fabulous)

Factor kitchen lighting in early if you're determined to successfully design a kitchen. Ambient, task and accent lighting should all have their place in a kitchen lighting scheme whether it’s in a separate room or part of an open-plan area.

Ambient light for a kitchen needs to be good enough for working with sharp knives and hot dishes. Ceiling spotlights can be supplemented with wall lights. Task lighting should illuminate work surfaces, cooker and sink area. It includes under-unit lights and directional ceiling spotlights. Accent lighting can include pendants for islands or a dining table, and LEDs beneath units that make them appear to float. Consider, too, lighting cabinet interiors to show off beautiful tableware placed on glass shelves. Make sure you plan in separate lighting circuits to operate the different types of light individually.

For more on how to plan kitchen lighting, check out our kitchen lighting ideas page.

10. Settle on kitchen window dressings

(Image credit: The Shutter Store)

All kitchen window treatments stand up to the room’s moisture, be unaffected by splashes if they’re near the sink, and should be easy to clean. Explore our kitchen window treatment ideas to find the solution that works best for your kitchen design. Remember to consider the following:

Does your new kitchen need planning permission?

If you’re planning to make internal structural changes to your kitchen, you won’t usually need planning permission, as this is covered by permitted development.

The majority of single-story extensions are also covered by permitted development; however, certain exclusions and criteria apply, so always check with your local authority’s planning department before starting work.

Even if you don’t need planning permission, it may be worth applying to your local planning authority for a lawful development certificate, which proves that the work is lawful, and can be useful when you come to sell. If you are planning structural changes, make sure you use the services of an approved structural engineer – The Institute of Structural Engineers is a great place to source reputable people. 

Read more about planning permission and permitted development in our specialist guides.  

Who can fit a kitchen?

Many kitchen companies offer an installation service, although you can fit a kitchen yourself (our guide offers step-by-step instructions) if you’re looking to cut the cost of your new kitchen.

If you do choose this option, your extractor and cooker will need to be installed by an accredited electrician, and you may need a plumber to fit your sink and water-based appliances. Due to the cost of most worktops, it’s always best to ask a professional to fit these for you – mistakes can prove expensive.

Alternatively, if you’re working with a kitchen designer, they may take charge of the entire project. 

If you're planning on carrying out any structural work, you might need to find a reliable builder, joiner, plumber, electrician and decorator.

For each of the different trades, you should get at least three detailed written quotes – use our guide to find out how to compare quotes from tradespeople if you're looking for more information.  

That said, recommendations are always the best way to find people to work with, so ask friends and family before searching online.

Bear in mind that the cheapest quote may not be the best if it does not meet all your requirements, and you need to feel comfortable with the people you choose to work with.

How much does a new kitchen cost?

It's easy to get carried away in the design process and think about budget last, but it should be on your mind at all times will planning. Set a budget and stick to it. 

The cost of a new kitchen will of course depending on the size of your kitchen and the quality of everything you choose but according to Homeadvisor, homeowners spent an average of $25,440 or $150 per square foot. However, prices can increase quickly from there if you choose to add high-end features like custom cabinetry, natural stone countertops, or luxury appliances so be sure to include all of those expenses in your planning.

For more advice on how much does a kitchen cost check out our full feature. 

Kitchen planning apps are a new and very handy addition to the world of kitchen design, we have tested out a few and really rate them. They make the idea of planning a kitchen way less daunting and frankly more exciting. 

The Ikea kitchen planner is an oldie but goldie, it's more of a software for your computer than an app but if you are planning on buying an Ikea kitchen (or an Ikea carcass you are going to get new doors made for) it's the first place you need to start. 

Space Designer 3D is online, so no need to download anything and is great for planning a layout and seeing how different configurations will work in your home. You do have to pay for it, but you can play around with it for free and it can help you come up with the perfect floorplan. 

Planner 5D is a free app that again is great for floorplans. Create your kitchen in miniature and play about with the design and configuration. You can flip between 2D and 3D too plus you can use the snapshot feature to 'take pictures' of your creation which we found ideal for adding to mood boards.

Hebe joined the Real Homes team in early 2018 as Staff Writer before moving to the Livingetc team in 2021 where she took on a role as Digital Editor. She loves boho and 70's style and is a big fan of Instagram as a source of interiors inspiration. When she isn't writing about interiors, she is renovating her own spaces – be it wallpapering a hallway, painting kitchen cupboards or converting a van.

Kitchen Planner Software - Plan Your Kitchen Online

The RoomSketcher App is an easy-to-use kitchen planner. Design a layout of your dream kitchen and visualize in stunning 3D.

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“RoomSketcher is a great, easy-to-use tool for interior design.”

Antonella Nuredini

Interior Designer, USA

Kitchen Planning Made Easy

Create your kitchen design using the RoomSketcher App on your computer or tablet. Get started on your kitchen today with our easy-to-use kitchen planner. Draw your floor plan, choose your furnishings, and see your kitchen design in 3D – it’s that easy!

Step 1 - Draw Your Floor Plan

Draw a floor plan of your kitchen in minutes, using simple drag and drop drawing tools. Simply click and drag your cursor to draw or move walls. Select windows and doors from the product library and just drag them into place. Built-in measurement tools make it easy to create an accurate floor plan.

Step 2 - Furnish Your Kitchen

Select kitchen cabinets, appliances, fixtures, and more, and simply drag them into place. Resize items easily, experiment with different finishes, and save your favorite design options to review and compare.

Step 3 - See Your Kitchen in 3D

Use the camera to take instant Snapshots of your kitchen design in 3D. Experience a 3D walkthrough of your kitchen design with our Live 3D feature. When your design is ready, create high-quality 3D Floor Plans, 3D Photos, and 360 Views to show your ideas.

Why RoomSketcher is the Best Kitchen Planner Software:

RoomSketcher makes it easy to create kitchen layouts and 3D images of your kitchen remodel or new design – like a pro! Here are just a few examples of the types of floor plans and images you can create:

2D Kitchen Floor Plans

2D Floor Plans are essential for kitchen planning. They help you layout your kitchen correctly, to know what will fit, and get more accurate estimates. Show measurements, the room size in square meters and feet, the locations of kitchen fixtures, and more.

3D Kitchen Floor Plans

With RoomSketcher, you can create a 3D Floor Plan of your kitchen at the click of a button! 3D Floor Plans are ideal for kitchen planning because they help you to visualize your whole room including cabinets, appliances, materials and more.

3D Photos

Create high-quality 3D Photos of your kitchen design from your camera Snapshots. See how your kitchen design will look including colors, textures, and materials. They are the perfect way to see and share your design ideas!

360 Views

Create stunning 360 Views of your kitchen design instantly. View the entire room as if you are standing right there!

Kitchen Plans and Ideas From RoomSketcher

Turn your kitchen dreams into reality. Start with a kitchen layout template that you find in our Floor Plan Gallery.

Kitchen Plans

Island Kitchens

L-Shaped Kitchens

U-Shaped Kitchens

Peninsula Kitchens

Single Wall Kitchens

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

Recommended Reads

7 Kitchen Layout Ideas That Work

Planning a kitchen? These 7 essential kitchen layout ideas will make your new kitchen design a success.

Plan Your Kitchen With RoomSketcher

Need help planning a kitchen design? RoomSketcher shows you how to plan your kitchen with an online kitchen planner.

4 Expert Kitchen Design Tips

Think like a kitchen designer with these 4 expert kitchen design tips.

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How to design a kitchen yourself: INMYROOM

Tips

To rationally use every centimeter, you should seriously consider the issue of planning a kitchen set and the location of household appliances

In a joint project with Leroy Merlin , we will tell you how to design a kitchen correctly and inexpensive. Designer and head of her own studio, Natalya Preobrazhenskaya, shares a few ideas.

Natalia Preobrazhenskaya

Designer

Head of Uyutnaya Kvartira studio.

Design and dimensions

A small kitchen can be enlarged with visual effects : cool and light tones will expand the room, a mirror will add depth, and light curtains will let in maximum natural light.

The required minimum from the sink to the refrigerator should be 40-60 cm. This is enough to put food out of the refrigerator, and also so that splashes do not fly from the sink to the refrigerator.

Frame kitchen corner configuration, Leroy Merlin

Do not place the stove in a corner close to the wall or next to the refrigerator: it is better to leave a gap of 30 cm between them. The minimum available from the stove to the sink is 40 cm.

are of particular importance finishing and facades of kitchen set . For a compact kitchen, laconic plain glossy or matte facades are suitable.

Cappuccino straight kitchen, Leroy Merlin

Carefully measure the available space with a tape measure. Based on the measurements, draw a schematic plan of the room or use the convenient online kitchen designer.

Arrangement of furniture

There are three most common kitchen configurations:

Direct configuration of the Heather kitchen, Leroy Merlin

U-shaped configuration of the kitchen Graphite, Leroy Merlin

Corner configuration, Leroy Merlin Ice set

Working triangle

Working triangle is the route of movement of a person in the process of cooking - sink-stove-refrigerator . When planning a kitchen, it should be equipped as comfortably and safely as possible.

And for convenience, the total sum of the lengths of all sides of the working triangle should not be less than 3.5 meters and not more than 6.5 meters.

Furniture selection

For a small and functional kitchen, choose compact furniture with convenient storage systems. Transformable furniture and narrow cabinets will not be superfluous. And to diversify the interior, choose products with glass and chrome elements.

Design: Natalia Preobrazhenskaya

INMYROOM tip: use the online designer to model a Leroy Merlin kitchen. In it, you can set the dimensions of the room and assemble a headset that fully meets your everyday needs.

The most important thing is that you don't have to pay extra for high-quality kitchens. Leroy Merlin presents a variety of models at an affordable price range.

Leroy Merlin U Frame Kitchen

Appliance Installation

Dishwasher & Sink should be located side by side in a line, otherwise it will be inconvenient to load dishes. In exceptional cases, the dishwasher is installed at an angle to the sink.

I always recommend leaving a small worktop space between the sink and stove. If this is not possible, purchase a sink with a special metal wing.

Direct configuration headset "Chocolate", Leroy Merlin

If you have long curtains in the kitchen, install gas stove no closer than thirty centimeters from the window - this must be taken into account when planning the location of kitchen equipment.

And in general, the place of the hob is at least 10 cm from the adjacent cabinet, and at least 5 cm from the back wall and edge of the worktop.

Fens Direct Kitchen Configuration, Leroy Merlin

For optimal operation of the hood , its width must be no less than the width of the stove, but the depth is not critical. But the minimum distance to the stove is at least 65 cm for electric, and 75 cm for gas burners.

Do not forget that the hood should "cover" the volume of the kitchen 10-12 times. This value can be calculated by the formula: hood performance (cubic meters / hour) \u003d (kitchen area x ceiling height) x 12.

For example, if you have a kitchen of 10 square meters and a ceiling height of 2.7 meters, you will need a hood with a capacity of just over 420 cubic meters. m/h: (10×2.7) x 12 = 324×1.3 = 421 .

Any kitchen can be designed by yourself in online designer Leroy Merlin . After saving the project, it will be assigned an individual number, by which you can purchase everything you need in the store.

How to design your own kitchen: 5 useful tips

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10/23/2020

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We tell you how to create a functional kitchen project yourself: from planning to interior design.

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For many, the kitchen is the heart of the house, and you want this room to be cozy and beautiful. But not only this is important. The layout, arrangement of furniture and household appliances must be correct and rational. We will figure out how to design a kitchen yourself and get a good result.

No time to read? Watch the video!

All about self-designing a kitchen

Where to start
Five steps to the result
Mistakes of novice designers

You need to start with building an accurate plan of the room. For this, measurements are taken. The height from ceiling to floor, width and length of the room are measured. If there are any protrusions or niches, they must also be measured. Uneven walls are measured at several points, significant irregularities must be reflected on the plan, otherwise it may interfere with the arrangement of furniture. Based on these measurements, a drawing is drawn on a sheet of paper on a scale. It is better to take graph paper. This will make it easier to draw.

You can design a kitchen yourself on a computer, in a special design program like PRO100, Stolline. You can use the designers of well-known furniture stores, for example, there is one on the IKEA website. But any program also needs accurate measurements.

When the plan is ready, make a detailed list of household appliances. It includes everything that is available and what is only planned to be installed. Exact dimensions are needed, so it will be possible to place the item on the layout. The list includes not only built-in appliances. For example, a microwave oven, a multicooker or a thermopot also need to be placed somewhere. It's best to think this through ahead of time.

ShutterStock

Self-design is easy to do if you know exactly what you need to get in the end. We offer five steps consistently leading to the result.

1. Start with the layout

Start with the arrangement of furniture and equipment. There can be many options, but there are several popular layout types.

  • Linear, it's straight. With this layout, the storage area and the work surface are placed along one wall. Opposite or next to it is a dining area. The advantages of this layout are that all items are accessible, it is possible to fix hanging elements in several tiers. Narrow rooms can be too crowded. This is a clear minus.
  • U-shaped arrangement of furniture. Ideal for square or large rooms. The kitchen space is distributed very economically and functionally. In a U-shaped kitchen, corners are used, there are no empty spaces. Minus - not suitable for small kitchens.
  • Angular, it is L-shaped. This option for arranging furniture is chosen for narrow small-sized and square rooms. Practical and multifunctional solution. Allows you to divide the area into zones and use the space near the window.

These options are common, but there are others. For example, a G-shaped layout, similar to the U-shaped, but with a bar. There is also a parallel arrangement, where the headset is placed on two sides. In this case, be sure to observe the size of the passage, it must be at least 120 cm. In country houses and spacious rooms, an island layout is often chosen, where the working area or storage place in the form of a kitchen island is moved to the center of the space.

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2. Think over the work triangle

The work triangle involves the location of the key points of the kitchen (refrigerator, stove and sink), thinking through the route along which the hostess moves when she cooks. Paying attention to this is very important. Experts have long calculated the optimal sum of the lengths of all sides of this conditional triangle. So that the hostess does not get tired and does not “care” extra meters, this value should be no more than 650 cm and not less than 350 cm.

There must also be a distance between the equipment. So, a minimum of 30 cm is left between the stove of any type and the refrigerator. At least 40 cm should separate the sink and the “hot” cooking zone. At least 45-60 cm should be left from the refrigerator to the sink. This will be enough so that the spray from the tap does not reach to the surfaces of refrigeration equipment.

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3. Select furniture

At this stage, we determine the completeness of the set. The main household appliances are arranged in a triangle. Now you need to place the work area and storage areas. Determine the places where the dishwasher and washing machine will stand. Choose floor and wall cabinets. This can be done in advance on a paper plan using layouts or in an online planner.

In the project, you need to use cabinets of different contents, so that they can fit all the kitchen utensils. This is especially true for small kitchens. You can make several projects with different arrangements of equipment and furniture, and then choose the best one from them.

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4. Consider lighting and electrical

Central lighting can be scarce, especially if the room is large. It is better to design additional lighting. Small light sources are placed above the working and dining area, above the sink. In the recommendations on how to design a kitchen yourself, attention is paid to the number and placement of outlets. They should be sufficient for all stationary equipment, as well as for those that are not used constantly. The number of outlets should not exceed the wiring capacity. Place them in accordance with safety requirements. Non-standard options are good: retractable or rotary sockets.

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5. Choose your design

Having determined the types, sizes and placement of furniture, you need to decide what color it will be. When choosing a color, it is important to consider some points. So, for a small room, dark or too bright colors are not suitable. It is better to choose light pastel shades. Glass on the doors and glossy facades will look good. This visually enlarges the space. At the same time, we should not forget about functionality. The gloss is beautiful, but quickly gets dirty. It will need to be cleaned frequently. Whereas matte facades are easy to care for. The color of the countertop is chosen to match the headset or, conversely, in contrast with it.

Pexels

If you do the project yourself, it's easy to make mistakes. We have collected the most common ones.

  • Buy household appliances after choosing a headset. It is better to choose a different sequence of actions. To select a headset, you need the exact dimensions of the built-in equipment. Otherwise, the devices simply will not fit.
  • Forget about small household appliances. It also takes up space and requires connection to outlets. It is important to plan in advance where it will be located and which outlet it will be connected to.
  • Incorrect placement of a free-standing cooker. The fact is that if it is not built-in, the walls of the stove will get very hot. Therefore, there are restrictions on placement. For example, it is forbidden to put it near the refrigerator.
  • Do not think about opening cabinet doors. They should open freely without hitting walls or other objects. This is especially checked for corner models.
  • Select open shelves only. They are easily cluttered, the room may look untidy. However, for the sake of economy, such a choice is quite justified.

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We figured out how to design the kitchen ourselves. Of course, this is not easy, but if you wish, everything will work out. Experienced designers advise not to clutter up the room with furniture.

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