Kitchen costs soar by 22% in 4 years
28 Mar 2024
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There’s more choice than ever when it comes to kitchen design, which makes it difficult to know where to start.
Once you have an idea of the colours and materials you like, consider how you use your kitchen, what you’ll need easy access to and where the busy spots are most likely to be. This will help you decide where your appliances should go and how much storage you’ll need.
It’s also helpful to be familiar with typical kitchen layouts. Check out our kitchen planning and layout ideas.
Before you even think about buying a kitchen, take a look at our best kitchen brands guide to find out which companies earned our Best Buy recommendation.
Small kitchens are particularly tricky to design as you need enough space for appliances, food storage, and room to move around with ease.
Storage is particularly important when you have limited worktop space as you’ll want to keep work surfaces as clutter-free as possible.
Consider:
Small kitchen design is all about creating the illusion of more space. Make the most of any natural light and keep your colour palette light, as this will make the space feel bright and airy.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t experiment with colourful accessories. Add pops of colour via a dramatic splashback, or even via your kettle, toaster, microwave or fridge-freezer.
Glossy, reflective or mirrored surfaces will also help to bounce the light around the room. Consider high-gloss cupboards and a glass or reflective splashback.
Integrated appliances will also make your kitchen seem more sleek and spacious.
Check out our guide to the best kettle and toaster sets.
Light colours make spaces look larger because they bounce light around the room. Beige, cream or even pale pink work just as well as white. Using the same colour across the cupboards and walls will give you a seamless look.
Blue kitchens and green kitchens have proved very popular over the last few years. Navy blue cabinets look great with gold metallic handles and hardware, while forest green cabinetry works surprisingly well with pale pink tiles or splashbacks.
Darker colour schemes add drama and warmth, but remember that if you opt for dark blue or even black cabinetry, they’re likely to show scratches and marks, so made need regular maintenance to keep them looking new.
If you want dark cupboards without the upkeep, try stained wood.
Remember to consider texture as well as colour when adding colour to your kitchen. For example, introducing tiles on some walls and paint on others can create a more visually interesting scheme.
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Kitchen splashbacks come in many shapes and sizes. Traditionally, it was a glass, stainless steel or tiled panel placed behind sinks or hobs to protect the wall from any splashes or grease.
Splashbacks now come in a wide variety of materials, patterns and colours, making it easier to find one to suit your style and budget. Common materials include:
When choosing a splashback, consider:
Check out our kitchen costs guide to learn more about how much you can expect to spend on a new kitchen.
Kitchen islands have become a must-have in modern kitchens. There are many advantages to having one installed, including:
There are many different types of kitchen island.
Possibly the most common type is a fitted kitchen island with base cabinets and a countertop that matches the rest of the kitchen.
An appliance island, where you can have a sink and/or oven fitted, cost a lot more as they need to be plumbed or wired in.
Freestanding kitchen islands are not built into your kitchen. The advantage of these is that they can be moved or replaced quite easily if your needs change.
Kitchen trolleys are a kind of kitchen island on wheels, which is a great option for a small kitchen because they can be wheeled out when needed, and tucked away when not. The disadvantage of these is that they may not actually provide a lot of space, or be difficult to manoeuvre if they are heavy.
A kitchen peninsula is similar to an island but attached to one wall. This works well in smaller spaces, or long-narrow kitchens, and usually lends itself to creating a breakfast bar.
When planning your kitchen lighting, there are three key types to consider:
Check out our guide to buying the best lightbulbs.
Tiles are a great way to give style and character to your kitchen. Coloured tiles can add personality to your kitchen, whereas patterned tiles are better to jazz up what could be a more traditional kitchen, without it becoming overwhelming.
Kitchen tiles are popular as part of a splashback. Geometric tiles have become a popular trend in recent years.
Tiles can also be a cost-effective way to renovate your kitchen. Ceramic tiles are generally cheaper to buy and have fitted than porcelain or stone. You can buy cheap tiles for less than £10 per square metre.
When tiling a high-traffic area you'll need easy-to-clean and durable tiles.
For a unique design choice opt for patterned tiles (think geometric or ever-popular chevron style) or checkerboard.
If you're less keen on experimenting, large monochrome tiles are also fashionable.
Whether you have lots to spend on your kitchen or are on a shoestring budget, paint is a great way to transform the space and inject your personality.
However, you need to make sure you choose paint that is moisture resistant, durable and wipe-clean (especially if you have children!). Kitchen-specific paints should do these jobs.
If you struggle with damp in your kitchen, you could opt for a mildew and mould resistant paint. However, specialist paints like this often have limited colour options.
Another option is to use a semi-gloss or high-gloss paint. These will still repel moisture and you can wipe away any mould that appears.
Painting your kitchen cabinets is a great way to update your kitchen design and refresh old fittings.
However, you need to follow a process to ensure you achieve the best results:
If you are looking to renovate your whole kitchen, find out more about the best washable paints.
The sink is a key part of your kitchen, so you want to choose a material that will prove durable, especially if you cook regularly.
You should also think about type, size and style.
For example, a double sink is handy if you don't have a dishwasher. When you wash dishes, you can fill one with hot water and use the other for rinsing dishes off.
You'll also need to choose between an inset and an undermount sink:
When you chose the material of your sink, remember that they typically take a hammering. It's wise to go for a durable option.
Ready to get started? See our guide to kitchen installation to learn about the best ways to fit your kitchen.