Kitchen Planning Guide

Whether you’re dreaming of a sleek modern design or a cosy, functional space, the foundation of your project begins with careful planning. One of the first and most important steps is accurately measuring your space. Getting these measurements right will set you up for success, ensuring that your new kitchen fits perfectly.

Step 1: Measure and draw your space

Before you start picking out cabinets or choosing worktops, you need a clear understanding of your kitchen’s dimensions. Accurate measurements are really important when it comes to creating a new kitchen, so grab your tape measure and let’s get started.

Remember, most manufacturers use millimetres, so stick to this unit for accuracy.

Floor to ceiling: start by measuring the height of your room from the floor to the ceiling. This will help you understand the vertical space you have to work with.

Wall to wall: measure the width of each wall, taking note of any features like alcoves or recesses that could affect your layout.

Doors and windows: for walls with doors or windows, measure the distance from each corner of the wall to the edges of the door or window frame. Also, note the height of the windows and doors from the floor and their distance from the ceiling.

If you’re dealing with an older house, all the rooms might not be perfect rectangles or squares. If you do have angled walls or irregular shapes, take multiple measurements at different points along each surface so you get a full picture of its size and position. Be sure to jot down the locations of any features that stick out in the room such as switches, pipes and shelves, as these will impact where you can place cabinets or appliances.

Finally, take a note of what can and can’t be moved in the room, such as radiators or structural elements, and decide if there’s anything that you’d like to move or leave where it is.

Floorplan checklist

As you measure your space, make sure to record locations of:

Radiators
Pipes
Vents
Switches
Plug sockets
Power outlets
Drains
Water and gas supplies

Step 2: Plan what goes where

Now that you’ve got your measurements, it’s time for the fun part – planning your new kitchen. Start visualising where everything will go, keeping both functionality and aesthetics in mind.

Top tip: begin from the corners

Always start planning from the corners and work your way out.

For example, a closed corner base unit needs to be stepped out 125mm, while a closed corner wall unit should be stepped out 25mm. This helps you make the most of every millimetre of space.

As you begin planning, it’s essential to think about how you’ll use your kitchen on a daily basis. The best kitchens aren’t just beautiful – they’re designed to make cooking, cleaning and storage as easy as possible. This is where the concept of “working zones” comes into play. By dividing your kitchen into specific zones you can create a space that flows naturally and works efficiently.

Let’s break down these zones and see how they can inform your layout, ensuring that everything you need is right where you want it to be.

The working zones

To create a kitchen that works seamlessly, design it around three key zones: food storage, cooking and washing. This is often referred to as the “working triangle”, and it’s all about efficiency. You can also learn more about the benefits of a kitchen work triangle in our blog.

Food storage zone

This includes your fridge, freezer and dry storage. Make sure there’s enough space for all your storage needs, and place a worktop nearby for easy unloading of groceries.

Cooking zone

Includes your oven, hob and microwave. Keep the cooking zone close to the sink for easy cleanup and include enough worktop space for prep work.

Washing zone

This includes your sink and dishwasher. Plan everything that needs plumbing close together to simplify installation and improve functionality. It’s also handy to have the fridge close to the sink for washing produce.

Kitchen layout

After organising your zones, it’s time to decide on the best kitchen layout for your space.

Galley kitchen

Perfect for smaller spaces, a galley kitchen maximises storage and makes it easy to create an efficient working triangle. It’s easy to create the perfect equilateral working triangle with this setup, so all three zones can be of an equal distance from each other.

U-shaped kitchen

This layout creates a clear central focal point, making it easy to move between zones. This layout is perfect for keeping your kitchen organised, separating the different zones while keeping everything you need within arm’s reach.

L-shaped kitchen

Ideal for open spaces, especially if you want an island. An L-shaped layout really opens up a room, just be mindful of the triangle’s spread – you don’t want your zones too far apart. An island can help keep everything within reach.

Open-plan kitchen

In an open-plan kitchen, position the fridge and other key appliances to create an effective triangle, rather than just a straight line. Placing your appliances along different walls or using an island anchors the triangle, making your workspace functional yet connected.

Organising your worktops

When planning your kitchen, think about where you’ll place power outlets based on where you’ll use appliances like the kettle, toaster, air fryer or food processor. Also, consider storage solutions – like wide drawers for pots and pans or having a drying rack next to the sink. Accessibility is key to improving the functionality of your kitchen, so think about adding pull-out cabinets, carousels or even larder cupboards that extend from floor to ceiling.

Step 3: Get started

Planning a kitchen is no small task, but with the right measurements and thoughtful planning, you’re well on your way to creating a space that’s both beautiful and functional.

If you’re unsure about any step of the process or just want some expert advice, our friendly Design Consultants are happy to work with you on drawing up a perfect plan. Feel free to visit us in-store for a FREE design appointment and start your journey to the kitchen of your dreams.