Plan the ideal kitchen layout

KITCHEN EXPERTS ANSWER EVERY QUESTION YOU HAVE ABOUT CHOOSING, PLANNING OR DESIGNING A KITCHEN LAYOUT

- THEA BABINGTON-STITT

One of the most, if not the most, important things to do when planning your kitchen, is to figure out the kitchen layout. Since it’s the heart of the home, a space you may be spending a lot of time in, this room is one of the most important to get right, and the layout can make it – or break it.

It can be fairly daunting working out where to start, so we’ve done the first hard step for you and mined the expert kitchen designers for their knowledge.

From breaking down the main kitchen layouts and how to plan a small kitchen, to the pitfalls to avoid, this feature will explain everything you need to know.

WHERE DO I START WHEN PLANNING THE LAYOUT?

This is truly the lynchpin of good kitchen design. Every aspect of the kitchen, how it works, and how it is used is based around the layout.

When starting, the first thing you must do is to assess how you’re going to be using the space, as this will dictate what you need to include in it. Is it purely for cooking, or will you be entertaining, too? Is it working from the home spot, and will kids be doing homework in there?

It’s also important to look at the features of the room as it stands. ‘In many cases, doors, thoroughfares, and windows exclude certain possibilities but also help narrow down potentially suitable options,’ says Sally Hinks, kitchen designer at Harvey Jones. ‘Many people like to design their kitchen to make the most of a lovely view outside, or to take centre stage in an open-plan space, which can be a useful starting point.’