They say that the kitchen is the heart of the home and, whether you use yours to entertain a plethora of guests at swanky dinner parties, jump in and out to whip up speedy meals between shifts, or spend hours creating wholesome family meals on cosy Sunday afternoons, it's a room we tend to spend a lot of time in when at home. Which is why it's imperative that the design and functionality of your kitchen works for you.
A kitchen renovation is a large investment: it's not something you'll re-do every few years, so it's important to consider every aspect to ensure you get it right the first time.
So, before you start your kitchen renovation journey, here are just a few things you'll definitely want to consider…
Clear the worktops
Worktops are made for working - cover them in electrical clutter, and you'll soon find that you have less space to prepare meals and that beautiful new worktop you spent hours choosing will be all but hidden from view.
One of the most functional sections of a kitchen has to be a 'breakfast cupboard', where coffee machines, kettles, bread bins and toasters can be hidden from view in an organised way. Consider including adequate shelving for cereals, bread bins, breakfast bowls, teas and coffees so you have everything to hand in the morning, too. Cabinetry with bi-fold and pocket sliding doors provide a great space to keep everything hidden away.
Spend, don't scrimp
When undertaking a kitchen renovation, or any home renovation for that matter, it can be tempting to try and cut corners, choose the cheapest options or put a line through much-wanted things on your 'dream kitchen wish list' in order to save a bit of money. Our advice? If budget can possibly allow, don't! By all means, shop around to ensure you're getting the best possible price for your worktop, cabinetry and appliances, but scrimping here may cost you more in the long run.
Opting for good quality materials, trusted brands and including the must-haves you've always wanted to include in your dream kitchen at this stage, will mean you won't have to splash out again in a few years or regret any of your money-saving decisions later down the line. A well-made kitchen will stand the test of time.
Saying that, it's important to be mindful of your budget from the very beginning and, unless you're working with an unlimited budget (let's be honest, very few of us are), you may need to make some compromises along the way. Just be sure that these are compromises you can live with in the long run.
How do you use your kitchen?
Before you start a kitchen renovation, take a step back and really think about how you use your kitchen. Really think about it.
Are you an avid baker so need a large pantry cupboard to store all of your dry goods and bakeware? Are you a messy chef who likes to spread out during food prep so could do with a large, clutter-free island to chop away to your heart's content? Are you a large family in need of lots of hidden-away storage hacks and accessibility for the smaller members of the family? Perhaps you plan on hosting dinner parties so need a dedicated space for guests to hang out while you prep dinner. It's important to think about what sort of kitchen user you are before getting any designs on paper.
It's all in the placement
Making sure your kitchen design is as practical as it is beautiful is essential for an efficient and enjoyable space.
Think about the placement of your dishwasher in relation to the bin and sink; the cupboard housing your mugs in relation to your kettle; your hobs in relation to your chopping space - you don't want to be doing laps of the kitchen every time you unload the dishwasher or cook a meal. Your kitchen should work like a well-oiled machine.
Storage hacks
Drawers don't have to be messy and cupboards don't have to be like a game of Tetris every time you try to retrieve an appliance from the very back. Including clever storage hacks, from integrated spice racks, cutlery trays, knife racks and plate spacers in drawers to integrated chopping boards housed in a neat little space in your island, will make meal prep a breeze.
Use every inch
When it comes to kitchen design, storage should be a top priority and maximising every inch can transform the usability - and look - of the space. And one way to do that is by choosing cabinets that stretch all the way up to the ceiling.
In a typical UK kitchen, cabinets will have a space of around one or two feet above. The reason? Because this is usually the height that most people can reach by standing on the floor. If budget, design preference and room size allow, it's worth considering cabinetry that runs up to the ceiling. This extra space provides a great place to store lesser-used kitchen items and gadgets and can really elevate your kitchen's design.
Put it on display
Though the current trend in kitchen design is to have everything hidden neatly away, there are times when open shelving can make a real difference to the overall aesthetic of a kitchen.
Whether you use them to display cookbooks, ornamental kitchenware or beautiful thrifted items, open shelving is a great way to inject a bit of personality into a kitchen. Another beautiful way to break up a run of cabinetry is to consider glass-fronted cabinets to display crockery or glassware - it'll bounce the light around the space, too.
Keep bins hidden
It might sound simple but one thing that makes a huge difference to a kitchen is a well-placed integrated bin solution. Hidden behind pull-out cabinetry, an integrated refuse and recycling bin - with a handy shelf above to store bags, is a must-have kitchen reno item and keeps unsightly rubbish out of view.
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