Kitchen remodel: How to plan your layout like a pro

Kitchen know-how for upgrading your space to make it more sassy and functional.

- By Sam Wylie-Harris

It's the hub of the home and with so much heavy traffic-from breakfasting to brunch, to dinnertime and everything in between - it's one of the most commonly renovated rooms.

And with celebrity chefs firing our imagination, not to mention endless cooking shows and the ongoing trend for home entertaining, investment in kitchen renovations continues to grow.

Indeed, according to findings from the 2025 UK Houzz Kitchen Trends Study, the median kitchen renovation spend increased by 34% in 2024.

However, the right kitchen layout requires careful planning, as functionality and flow are key to creating a practical, inviting space-and is a big undertaking, whatever the budget.

Where to start

"As you start to plan your kitchen layout, it's essential to know key kitchen dimensions, such as standard worktop heights and appliance widths," emphasises Victoria Harrison, editor at home and design platform, Houzz.

Once you have a basic understanding of these general dimensions, you can start to evaluate which type of layout and features might be possible in your space, says Harrison.

Additionally, she says it's important to consider the requirements of everyone who'll be using the space-so you create a functional layout that meets their needs, and yours.