Good kitchen design starts with a usable layout, accurate measurements and a realistic spending limit. For a new build, agree the layout before service positions are fixed. For a small existing kitchen, test how doors, drawers and appliances open before adding more units or an island. Finishes come after those decisions.
This guide gives you a practical planning order for a new kitchen or refit, with layout choices, a measurement checklist and ways to decide where your budget will make the most difference.
1. Write a brief before choosing cabinets
List who uses the room and what happens there on an ordinary day. Cooking for two, supervising homework and preparing meals with another person place different demands on the same floor area.
- Must have: the appliances, storage and access you genuinely need.
- Would like: extras such as seating, a pantry cupboard or a coffee station.
- Current frustrations: blocked routes, poor lighting, awkward cupboards or too little preparation space.
Give the brief to each designer or supplier so their proposals solve the same problems. A layout that looks attractive in a rendering should still work when someone is unloading the dishwasher.
2. Measure the room and its fixed features
Record wall lengths, ceiling height, door and window positions, openings, radiators, sockets and existing water, waste and ventilation points. Include projections and the direction doors open. IKEA’s kitchen planning guidance also asks for room and opening measurements before planning.
For a new build, work from the latest drawings but have final site measurements checked before manufacturing or ordering fitted components. Ask the project team which dimensions and service locations can still change, and when those decisions become fixed.
3. Choose a kitchen layout that fits the room
- Single wall: worth considering where the kitchen shares a compact open room. Check that tall units and appliances leave a useful preparation area.
- Galley: two facing runs can keep storage close to the work area. Test the space with opposing appliance doors open.
- L-shaped: can leave another part of the room available for dining. Decide how you will use the corner rather than treating it as free storage.
- U-shaped: offers work surfaces on three sides, but needs careful access and corner planning.
- Island or peninsula: add one only after checking circulation, seating and appliance access. A clear route through the room may be more useful than another cabinet.
Mark a proposed island’s footprint with removable tape, then walk around it and act out everyday tasks. Include handles, stools and open drawers in the test. Have a designer confirm the required clearances for your household, appliances and local requirements.
4. Plan work zones and routes together
Sketch where food arrives, where it is stored, where you wash and prepare it, and where it is cooked. Keep the items used for each task near that task where practical. Avoid making the main route to the garden or dining table pass through the busiest preparation area.
The National Kitchen & Bath Association’s planning guidelines cover workflow and circulation. They are a design reference, not a substitute for local requirements or the installation instructions for your appliances.
5. Make a small kitchen easier to use
Start by listing what must be stored, including the awkward items: baking trays, a vacuum, recycling bins and appliances used only occasionally. Choose storage around that list instead of buying organisers after the cabinets arrive.
- Compare accessible drawers with deep cupboards for everyday items.
- Keep a continuous preparation surface where possible.
- Check that a tall cupboard will not obstruct a window, doorway or work area.
- Use wall storage selectively; retain access to the things you need without overcrowding the room.
- Consider whether dining furniture can serve occasional tasks instead of fitting a permanent island.
6. Prioritise the full project budget
Ask for separate allowances for cabinets, worktops, appliances, fitting, service work, lighting, flooring, decoration, delivery and removal of the old kitchen. Keep a reserve for issues uncovered during the work rather than allocating every pound to the visible finishes.
If funds are limited, compare retaining a workable layout or sound cabinets with a complete replacement. New handles or doors may be options only where they fit the existing units and those units are in suitable condition. Do not assume a cosmetic change will fix poor access or damaged cabinetry.
7. Check finishes, lighting and installation details
View door, worktop and flooring samples together in the room’s own light. Ask about cleaning instructions, repair options and what the warranty actually covers. Choose a scheme you can maintain, rather than relying on claims that a colour is permanently fashionable.
Plan general lighting and lighting over work surfaces separately. Have ventilation, electrical, plumbing and any structural changes assessed by appropriately qualified professionals before committing to the final plan. Smart features are optional; prioritise everyday operation and repairability first.
For readers sourcing flooring in Western Australia, our Manag Distributors guide provides official supplier links and questions to ask before ordering.
Before you approve the kitchen order
- Confirm the final measured drawing, appliance models and door-opening directions.
- Check usable preparation space and access with doors, drawers and seating in use.
- Agree which supplier or installer handles each part of the work.
- Obtain an itemised quote, delivery plan and written record of exclusions.
- Have the installer review the plan before you order components that cannot easily be changed.
Frequently asked questions
What should be decided first in a new-build kitchen?
Agree the household’s needs, layout and appliance positions before fixing the associated services. Coordinate the sequence with the builder and kitchen installer.
Does a small kitchen need an island?
No. Add one only if the room still has sufficient circulation and usable access. A galley or L-shaped layout may meet your needs with fewer obstructions.
Can I design a kitchen myself?
You can prepare a brief and compare layouts yourself. Use a planner to explore ideas, then have measurements, clearances and installation requirements checked before ordering.
If you are considering repainting retained furniture, our Chalk Paint preparation and finish guide explains questions to check before choosing a coating. For the vacuum mentioned in the storage brief, use our vacuum model and maintenance checklist to account for the machine and its accessories.
