How to get your kitchen cooking

SAM WYLIE-HARRIS shares some kitchen know-how for upgrading your space to make it stylish and functional

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IT’S the hub of the home and with so much heavy traffic - from breakfast-ing to brunch, to dinnertime and everything in between - it’s one of the most commonly renovated rooms.

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 function-ality and flow are key to creating a practical, inviting space - and it’s a big undertaking, whatever the budget.

Here, experts share pro tips to put you on the front foot...

WHERE TO START

“As you start to plan your kitchen lay-out, it’s essential to know key kitchen dimensions, such as standard work-top heights and appliance widths,” emphasises Victoria Harrison, editor at home and design platform, Houzz.

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

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