Revamping your kitchen? How exciting! It’s a mammoth task, but the end result can be incredibly rewarding for you and your household. Kitchens are the heart and soul of a home. They’re places for cooking, eating, hosting and making cherished memories with loved ones.
Designing your dream kitchen can be daunting, particularly with all the options out there. However, by visualising what you want, you can guide your project from design to refitting and achieve the finish you want.
If you’re in need of some support, here’s how to design your dream kitchen.
Story Stages
Nail the layout
You may want to start immediately with the look, but the layout is arguably far more important, to begin with. Your floor plan will dictate your kitchen’s utility and how you’ll operate in your new space.
Open-plan layouts are increasingly popular, maximising usable space and creating a light and airy feel. Islands and peninsulas can look great in larger rooms and do wonders for maximising worktop capacity. For smaller kitchens, making the most of vertical space is key to protecting limited room and enhancing storage.
Seek kitchen design inspiration
Those with a little less creative genius may want to seek inspiration from other sources. Look at kitchen designs online, in showrooms or in other people’s homes to get a better sense of what you’re looking for. A quality design needs direction from the start, so take on all the inspiration you need.
Consider different themes and styles. For example, contemporary designs are coming back into fashion with elegant features and clean colours. Alternatively, you may want a luxury feel in your kitchen, which can be achieved with bespoke designs and premium finishes. See which theme attracts you most and use it to influence your subsequent design choices.
Choose the right cabinetry
Kitchen units are fundamental to your space and your design should revolve around them. Choose cabinets that emphasise certain features of your kitchen, whether that be a spectacular view out of the window or a grand range cooker.
The finish of your cabinetry plays a large part in setting the tone. Modern designs tend to favour smooth surfaces and clean lines, but more quirky designs often introduce a little more character with detailing and decorative features.
Select your colour scheme
Colour can be the hardest of all to pick. Ensuring that your units complement your worktop and appliances is most of the battle. Stay consistent with your chosen colour palette so you don’t end up with any elements that feel out of place.
Contrasting neutral greys with bold yellows or other vibrant colours is a great choice. You should aim to have no more than 2 or three dominant colours throughout your kitchen, but you can add little touches of difference here and there.
Perfect the lighting
Installing multiple sources of light works wonders in illuminating your kitchen and creating the right atmosphere. Hanging pendant lighting adds personality, whereas simple ceiling and cabinet lighting looks cleaner and more modern.
For cooking, you’ll want bright under-cabinet or ceiling lighting to give you full visibility. For hosting and entertaining, softer lighting can help to provide a more relaxing ambience without being too dark.
You’re only a few steps away from your dream kitchen. Take your time to find the right theme, colour and style for you and you’ll have a kitchen you can be proud of for many years to come. And remember to have fun!
