How to Design your Own Kitchen

Planning a kitchen renovation and choosing the best design and layout can be an exciting venture.

Choosing a new look for your home, new appliances to play with and a result to be proud of is definite inspiration.

So, if you have decided your kitchen needs a total makeover, get your pencil, paper and a tape measure ready and prepare to create your dream kitchen.

Get Ideas

If you need a little inspiration, start to get a feel for what kind of kitchen styles you like by browsing magazines and websites and visiting kitchen showrooms. There are a lot of options out there and it pays to have some ideas before you start with your kitchen designer so you’re not overwhelmed by choice.

Prepare a Budget

Determining the necessities for you in your kitchen is a great way to start to put a budget together. What you are willing to compromise on and what is essential will save you overspending unnecessarily. You will need to consider your choice of materials, finishes and appliances – it is also a good idea to add in a little extra for anything unforeseen that arises.

Find a professional kitchen designer

Seek an authorised kitchen designer before starting the project on your own. Here’s how to choose a kitchen designer:

• Internet
• Visiting kitchen showrooms
• TV advertisements
• Recommendations from family or friends
• Yellow Pages

Get Permits

Check with your builder or kitchen designer in how to obtain any required permits for building, electrical, and plumbing needs.

Choosing Appliances

Choose energy efficient appliances to help reduce costs in the long run. Most new models from fridges to microwaves all offer energy rating indicators to help in making the right choice for you. A number of websites and manufacturers provide information for each product in this area.

Choosing Materials

You will need to select materials for a number of items including bench tops, cabinetry colour and finish, splashback and flooring. Making sure all are complimentary to each other as well as colours currently in your home, your kitchen designer can assist you with this.

Flooring Options

Kitchen flooring is also an important aspect in kitchen design; it can assist in bringing the kitchen into the living areas of the house by a continuous material or can separate it by contrast. There are various kitchen flooring options available on the market and a number of things to consider. Kitchens are generally areas prone to slip ups, high moisture and food scraps, consider using tile flooring, laminate flooring, wood flooring, and rubber flooring.

Lifestyle

Consider your current lifestyle and into the future, the size of your household, cooking habits, shopping habits and the purpose of your kitchen. This can influence the approach you take.

Be realistic, plan your kitchen with a smart and efficient layout.

Make sure you provide enough space for storage and work space for preparation. A simple kitchen plan will help to reduce costs whilst still looking great. There are many excellent finishes and materials on the market that can help create your dream kitchen.