10 Top Tips on How to Plan Your Ideal Kitchen

Are you considering fitting a new kitchen but don’t know where to begin?

Here are ten top tips to help you create your dream kitchen – one that works for you and your lifestyle.

1) Plan for the way you live

Your first step is to think about who uses your kitchen and how frequently they’re there. Do you have to make safety a priority because of young children? Do you just prepare meals in your kitchen, or is it also your dining room? These are the fundamentals to build upon when thinking about layout.

2) Can you create any more space?

Do you have the option of creating new space by knocking down a wall or removing built-in cupboards? If you do, decide how you can practically use this additional space before you go ahead with any changes.

3) Is there room for a utility or dining room?

A utility room will give you somewhere to store noisy appliances such as washing machines and tumble dryers. Or a dining area makes a clear division between kitchen activities and enjoying relaxing meals.

If there’s space to create either a utility or dining area, decide which will have the biggest impact on the way you live.

4) Set a budget

Before you start flicking through glossy brochures or going online, decide what you can afford. It helps to know your budget before you start to plan.

5) Invest in the highest quality you can afford

Once you’ve set your budget, look for the best worktops and cabinets you can afford. These should be your priorities. In the long-term, it pays to go for high quality, durable craftsmanship and materials.

6) Look for where you can cut costs

Once you’ve chosen your cabinets and worktops, you may be able to cut costs in other areas. Open shelving costs less than closed cupboards and lacquered or laminate doors are not as expensive as solid wood or wood veneers.

7) Prioritise your appliances

If your passion is to cook, you’ll want the best oven and hob you can afford. This may mean choosing a cheaper model of washing machine or tumble dryer. Prioritise the appliances that matter to you to begin with; you can always change later on.

8) Is storage space a bug bear?

A lack of storage space is a common frustration in kitchens. If you’re fed up with having no room to store pots and pans or house your collection of crockery, then take this into account when choosing cabinets. Pick the right dimensions of cabinets for the articles you want to store in them.

9) Incorporate more worksurfaces

As well as insufficient storage space, another common frustration is cluttered worksurfaces. When you’re planning the layout of your new kitchen, see if you can be creative and extend beyond the dimensions of your current worktops to give yourself a more extensive working area.

10) Can you move sinks or appliances?

You may need to take advice on this point, but if you can move a sink or your oven, it could give you more possibilities over how to design your new kitchen. It may mean moving existing plumbing and pipework, but it could be worth it for what you’ll gain.

Need help planning your new German kitchen?

Check out our range of kitchen plans. If you have any questions or queries, our customer service team is on hand to help.

Alternatively, if you’re local to our kitchen showroom in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, you can pop in and take a look at the kitchen ranges we have on display.

Call us on 01525 851 642 or email hello@germankitchenstore.co.uk