Kitchen Planning Basics

The most important part of buying a new kitchen is the planning. What shape will the kitchen have, how big is the family that will use the kitchen and how often will the kitchen be used? In this part of the site we will take you through all the steps of planning your kitchen so that you can make the best decisions in buying your new kitchen.

First it is important to choose whether you want a fitted kitchen or a freestanding kitchen. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. If you choose for a fitted kitchen, you will make the most of your space, as all the difficult corners can be hidden and used for storage. You can choose for flat pack, rigid or custom built to suit your needs and budget. A fitted kitchen will also add value to your home, but you can't take it with you when you move.

A freestanding or non-fitted kitchen however, gives that individual and informal look you maybe want to give to your kitchen. You can use all kinds of furniture to create the ambiance you prefer. When you move, you can take your furniture with you without a problem and use it again. You have to choose your furniture well though to create as much storage space as in a fitted kitchen.

On this website, we will mostly take the fitted kitchen as a starting point, but a lot of our storage and design tips will be equally as useful for a freestanding kitchen. And the planning of your new kitchen is of course important whichever style you prefer!

Who will use your kitchen?

Different people have different lifestyles and since the kitchen is the centre in the house in which the food to live will be prepared, lifestyle is the key to planning a kitchen that works for you. It is obvious that a single person or a couple will have different expectations from their kitchen than families with growing up children. For example, if you're a single person that eats out a lot, your kitchen will look completely different from a family that takes their evening meals together. Assess your kitchen area accordingly. Plan how much storage space you need for your groceries, cutlery and crockery, which equipment you will use (oven, grill, hob and time saving electrical appliances) and how much seating area you need.

In a small kitchen it is obvious that a large seating area is out of the question, but a small breakfast table might just fit in. In a big kitchen, the seating area will take a big part of the space. Decide which part of the kitchen area you want to commit to seating and work your kitchen around it. There are a lot of handy storage solutions to maximize your space in the Storage Section.