Ensuring that your kitchen’s design layout works to address the household’s needs requires more than choosing the color of the walls or which appliance to purchase. Remodeling the kitchen is expensive, but it can also be very complicated, especially if you didn’t do enough planning before starting the project.
It would be best to do a complete renovation to create an ideal kitchen space for your home. However, you need to be extra mindful and critical of your choices since kitchen renovations are an expensive big-scale project.
Whether you’re constructing a new kitchen or reconditioning an old space, this comprehensive kitchen planning guide will allow you to come up with appropriate design decisions and ensure that your new kitchen will be as functional as possible.
Table of Contents
Plan Ahead
Before you meet with a designer to plan and discuss your kitchen remodeling ideas, think about your goals in terms of style and features.
Chances are you’ve already started browsing kitchen makeovers and style ideas which is usually the starting point of every renovation or building project. If your project involves construction work, meet with your designer early to gain their advice regarding positioning walls, doors, windows, pieces of furniture, and appliances.
Choose The Style Of Cabinets
A spacious storage area for your pots, pans, utensils, and condiments is essential in every functional kitchen space. Although you can choose the style of the cabinets later in the process, it would be better to have an idea of its design, at least since they’re a large part of your kitchen and can affect the overall design.
Consider The Layout
The kitchen is one of the busiest areas in your household since this is where you prepare and eat meals, entertain guests, do dishes, and converse with your family or housemates. With so many activities in one place, you must choose a kitchen layout that is functional, comfortable, in line with the overall style of your house.
Give considerable thought to how you currently use your kitchen to identify your priorities for the renovated space and determine which works best for the household. The kitchen’s configuration significantly impacts the room’s overall functionality — if you often find yourself with overloaded cabinets and cluttered countertops, it’s time to change the current layout.
For your reference, here are the top four tried-and-tested layouts that you can apply to your remodeled kitchen:
- L-Shaped Kitchen – The L-shaped layout is the most practical and popular design for large and small kitchens since it can provide several storage options and effectively use the given space. The open form of L-shaped kitchens offers flexibility and variety in installing appliances and counter areas.
Although the corner is often tricky to furnish, an experienced designer can effectively convert the space by installing appropriate cabinetry solutions or a walk-in cupboard. The layout also allows you to create a small breakfast nook on the opposite side of the area.
- U-Shaped Kitchen – The ideal layout for large kitchens is the U-shaped design. It provides plenty of storage space and consists of cabinets along three adjacent walls.
The only disadvantage of this kitchen setup is that the space may feel restrictive if bulky upper cabinets are on all walls. Try open shelving with only one or two upper cabinets on the adjacent walls to address this common issue.
The U-shaped build offers the best opportunity to establish an uninterrupted work triangle and simultaneously allow multiple users. Maximize the design by installing work areas on the opposite end of the entrance door.
- Island Kitchen – If you have an open plan home, the island design is the most suitable layout for your kitchen since it provides a large working and storage area in the middle.
You can include a cooking surface, bar or wine cooler, or a preparation area for everyone to use. Although it requires ample space, the island layout creates a natural traffic flow in your kitchen.
- Galley Kitchen – This design has the simplest layout out of the four, as it only has two rows of adjacent cabinets that create an inner passage between them. Since the form is generally straightforward, you don’t need expensive gadgets to make the kitchen efficient, making it a cost-effective solution.
It would also be better to install the preparation area along one side of the wall to allow a smooth traffic flow and eliminate the possibility of an injury due to its design,
The kitchen’s layout has a significant impact on its overall functionality. Therefore, it’s crucial to arrange it in the best way possible. An excellent way to redesign your kitchen is by understanding the space available and determining which of these design layouts perfectly suit your kitchen and budget.
Kitchen Appliances
When choosing which appliances to purchase for your remodeled kitchen, it’s always best to do comparison shopping, especially if you’re on a budget. Many items have the same features and functionality, but their price varies depending on the brand or if it’s a newer model. To make the most out of your budget, pay close attention to these buying considerations:
- Energy Efficiency – Choosing efficient appliances is environmentally responsible, but it can also help you reduce your monthly energy costs. Moreover, choose products that have Energy Star ratings.
- Ease of Operation – Paying close attention to minor details can help your kitchen become more functional—purchase stovetops with non-slip knobs, an accessible refrigerator interface, and practical dishwasher functions.
- Safety Features – Aside from functionality, ensuring everyone’s safety while using the kitchen is also an important feature to prioritize. For instance, a reliable exhaust system and smoke vents roof hatches can eliminate odors, smoke, and grease to reduce the risk of fire-related incidents in your kitchen.
Your choice of appliance is a crucial contributor to the overall success of your new kitchen design. Position appliances within a workable range to encourage flexibility. It will create separate zones for preparation, cooking, and dishwashing.
Reliable Storage
Before creating a new layout, list down the items you will store to determine the type of storage system that you will use for your kitchen space. Choose cabinets or drawers with an ergonomic design to ensure organization. In addition, consider the appliances you have or will purchase to properly contribute to the available space.
Focus On Flooring
Since kitchens usually have the most foot traffic, it’s best to choose a material that is durable and easy to clean or maintain. While wood flooring is the most popular choice for kitchens, you should consider installing porcelain tiles with a wood finish since they are non-porous and ideal for families with children.
Kitchen Color Ideas
Your kitchen’s color palette can dramatically affect your house’s overall design and mood. When selecting a color scheme, identify the light that reaches the room and imagine how the color would look under natural and artificial light.
If you have a small kitchen space, apply pale pastel hues to make the room look and feel bigger. Make sure that your flooring has a deeper and darker shade to create balance for bold colors.
Countertops
Kitchen counters are an excellent opportunity for showcasing your home’s design aesthetic, but it also needs to be durable and functional. Technical advancements paved the way for various materials, color, and finish for kitchen countertops, making it easier to find one that works for your budget and style.
Final Considerations
Invite your contractor and designer into your home to discuss your hopes and requirements for your kitchen renovation. The meeting will help guarantee convenience throughout the project and identify areas of improvement to ensure that your new kitchen is fully-operational and built in the most efficient way possible.