Introduction
Kitchen renovations are a great way to inject new energy into your home. The colour, lighting, materials, fixtures and fittings can all make a big difference to the feel of your house, and crucially, to how you feel in it.
But, before you even begin thinking about appliances, styles or colour schemes, you should consider your ideal outcome. There are as many kinds of kitchen as there are people on earth, so it’s important that your kitchen is right for you.
Picture yourself in the finished space, what does it look like and what are you doing? Is it geared towards hosting? Are you desperate to develop your cordon bleu cookery?
Whatever end-result you’re aspiring to, the desired outcomes should be front-and-centre in all your practical and aesthetic decisions. Below, we’ve put together some helpful kitchen renovation ideas, and some seemingly minor decisions that could have more of an impact than you think.
Starting with the layout, then looking at styles, details, planning and costs, this guide should provide you with everything you need to get started.
7 Common kitchen plans
Aside from design and aesthetics, any kitchen is defined by the size and shape of the space, so you need to think about how to make the best use of what’s available.
Where do your priorities lie? Are your mornings spent perched atop a high stool with laptop and espresso in hand? Are you a microwave technician with little patience for cooking and even less need for storage? Or are you a gastronomic guru, with an unquenchable need for preparation surfaces, and a range of specialist appliances to accommodate?
Whichever of the above applies to you, the floor plan should be the first thing you get to grips with.
1. The galley kitchen
Galley kitchens are inspired by the ingenious use of space in kitchens aboard boats and ships. Due to its dimensions, every inch of a galley kitchen needs to be doing a job, if not two.
If your kitchen is low on floorspace, a galley kitchen plan could be the way to go. Using creative storage solutions, hooks, narrow shelving and corner unit pull-outs, a lack of room is no reason to sacrifice your culinary aspirations.
There’s no limit to the standard of finish you can opt for. Obviously, the galley kitchen has its limitations, so think carefully about every feature to ensure you’re making the most of what you’ve got. Check out narrowboats, campers and caravans for inspiration.
2. The open plan kitchen
Open plan kitchens can serve a multitude of purposes. They’re often the largest room in the house, and because you’ll be cooking, eating and socialising in there, it’s likely to be the room where you spend the most time too. The space works brilliantly for families, keen hosts and anyone who thrives on atmosphere and energy.
With an open plan kitchen, you need to consider colours and atmosphere carefully. Your fridge, the lighting and even small appliances all become part of the furniture.
Noise, clutter and cooking smells travel easily, so good extraction and smart zoning can help delineate space and keep it feeling relaxed and well structured (think rugs, lighting and feature walls).
Top tip: Keep the entertainment flowing in the warmer months by opening up your kitchen into the garden. Stable doors are versatile, allow fresh air to flow and help children and animals safe.
3. The L-shaped kitchen
L-shaped kitchens are one of the most flexible formats and go well in all kinds of home. Worktops and storage on two adjoining walls give you an efficient work triangle, leaving space for dining or a free-standing unit.
L-shaped kitchen layouts are a great choice for medium-to-large kitchens and tend to feel open while still offering clear zones. Perfect for busy family homes or couples who cook together.
Watch out for wasted corners: smart cabinetry and carousel units can help make the most of deep, tricky spaces. And if you’re adding a table, remember to leave enough room to get past or sit round it.
4. The U-shaped kitchen
A U-shaped kitchen plan provides uninterrupted access to everything, three walls of counters and cabinets means masses of storage and workspace. It’s a favourite of serious cooks and anyone who values efficiency in their meal prep.
This layout suits medium-to-large rooms. It works particularly well in kitchens that are separate from the rest of the house. You could also add a small breakfast bar or window seat at one end, if there’s space, or you appreciate a bit of company while you cook.
U-shaped kitchens can feel enclosed if they’re not balanced with open shelving or lighter cabinetry. Too many upper cabinets can make it feel top-heavy and even restrict practical access to countertops, so plan your vertical space with care.
5. The one-wall kitchen
One-wall kitchen plans are a neat solution when space is tight. Everything from the sink to the hob, and all the appliances in-between, are arranged in a single run. They’re especially good in a multi-use room, where you want/need the kitchen to sit quietly at the back.
It’s a great set-up for flats, holiday lets, studios or tiny-houses, and for minimalists who want to keep clutter down. It’s compact, often affordable and surprisingly stylish.
The downside? Storage and prep space are limited, so, like the galley kitchen, every cabinet and surface needs to earn its keep. Go tall with your cupboards, use vertical racks and consider a slimline island or trolley to buy yourself a little bit more surface.
6. The island kitchen
The island kitchen plan is a modern classic. Whether fixed or mobile, plumbed-in or free standing, an island gives you additional worktop space, more storage and in some cases even a seating area. It’s an ideal centrepiece for family life and hosting dinner parties.
Islands work best in kitchens where there’s room to circulate. At least a metre clearance all the way round is advisable, so they’re a natural fit for larger kitchens.
An island can interrupt flow if the space is too tight, so don’t try to squeeze one in if it’ll make movement awkward. And don’t forget: any kitchen plumbing or electrics will require extra planning, and mean additional cost.
Top tip: Maximise light into your kitchen with a half or full glazed kitchen door. Flood your kitchen with natural light to enhance openness, creating a bright and welcoming atmosphere.
7. The peninsula kitchen
A peninsula kitchen plan offers many of the same benefits as an island, more surface, more storage, casual seating, but it’s attached to the rest of the kitchen at one end, like a little stretch of land reaching out into the sea.
It’s a fantastic choice when an island won’t quite fit, or when you want a subtle divide between kitchen and living space. It adds flexibility and is great for anyone who likes to chat while they cook.
The trade-off is access: unlike an island, you can’t walk all the way around a peninsula. So make sure it doesn’t block well-used routes or create bottlenecks in the cooking zone.
Styles of kitchen
As with the layout, choosing a kitchen style to suit you is about more than looks alone, it’s about how you live and how you plan to use the space.
The type of property you’re in, your daily routine and your personal taste will all help you to pick the kitchen that feels most like home.
Popular kitchen styles
Country & farmhouse
Country and farmhouse style kitchens are an enduring favourite. Combining a light and airy, spacious feeling with good, solid worktops, doors and cabinetry, it’s a style that’s literally been around for centuries. Think quarry tiles, warm neutral colours and natural materials, like wood and stone.
A well-designed country kitchen is a truly versatile space that can just as easily accommodate an informal dinner, a mammoth bake-off or a rainy afternoon spent over a jigsaw and a steaming mug of cocoa.
Whether you’re going for a full kitchen remodel, or a light-touch makeover, creating a country kitchen is all in the details. The key features are things like shaker style pull handles on the cupboards and drawers, a Belfast sink with period taps, and a large, sturdy table (although size is not a deal-breaker).
A traditional cottage-style door completes the look, with sturdy vertical panelling and a utilitarian sturdiness.
Sleek & modern
Standing at the opposite end of the spectrum from the country kitchen, the sleek and modern style is all about cool sophistication, understated elegance and design-led details.
This kind of kitchen is built for modern city living. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a stylish evening with low lights, high-end cuisine and a glass of something equally refined.
The colour schemes can really set the tone for this style: classy greys, deep blacks and subtle neutrals complementing sharp, clean lines and architectural touches. With silent-closing drawers, discreet handles, uplighting and integrated appliances, it all adds up to minimalist class and maximum functionality.
A contemporary door style can add to the modern look and feel, continuing the theme of simple geometry and low-key chic.
How much does a new kitchen cost?
The cost of a new kitchen can vary massively. It all depends on the size of the space, the quality of the finish, your choice of appliances and the complexity of the job. Every decision, big or small, can tip the balance either way. Rerouting your kitchen electrics or plumbing? Expect the price to rise. Doing the painting or installing new cupboards yourself? That’ll bring it down.
Labour is one of the biggest factors, especially if you’re bringing in specialists like plasterers, tilers or electricians. But there are creative ways to keep costs under control. Discount kitchen outlets often carry ex-display or discontinued ranges that are brand new, so if you’re less bothered about trends, it can be a smart way to save.
Sourcing things yourself is another great way to bring down the cost. Shopping around for the appliances, work tops, units and finishing touches not only gives you more control over the final look, it can also unlock big savings.
Typical kitchen costs
Small/Budget kitchens: Typically the starting price for a small kitchen is around £5,000.
Mid-range kitchens: A typical mid-range kitchen price would start around £10,000.
High-end/Luxury kitchens: High-end, luxury and smart kitchens where every detail is defined by you, prices can start upwards of £20,000.
Remodelling your kitchen
in the right order
A big part of your kitchen renovation or remodel is going to be the work itself. How quickly, easily and efficiently it can be completed will affect how much you can get done, and how much it costs.
Whether you’re doing parts, or all of it, yourself or prefer to hand it all over to the professionals, working out the order to renovate your kitchen in advance and making sure everything is done in at the right time is key to a successful project and ultimately, to making your home just that little bit happier.
Start with planning
Good planning saves time, stress and money. By working out your goals, budget and timeline before anything gets started, you’ll avoid costly mistakes or last-minute changes. It’s the foundation of a smooth renovation and helps everyone involved stay on the same page from day one.
Of course, there’s no guarantee that your kitchen renovation will stick exactly to it, but having an idea at the outset will definitely help things to go more smoothly.
It’s all in the preparation
Once plans are in place, it’s time to prep the space. This means clearing and cleaning the area, protecting adjoining rooms and scheduling skips or storage if needed.
Proper preparation helps keep the worksite safe and efficient, setting things up for a straightforward renovation.
Plumbing & electrics
Getting kitchen plumbing and electrical work done early will prevent damage to the finished surfaces. This is the time to run cables and pipework, relocate sockets and install any behind-the-wall essentials. It’s far less messy, less stressful and cheaper to do it now rather than retrofit later on.
Walls & floors
Once the groundwork is complete, focus shifts to the surfaces. Now’s the best time for plastering and painting your kitchen walls and laying new floors, without the risk of damage.
These jobs create the blank canvas for your kitchen, so it’s important they’re done cleanly, correctly and in the right order.
Cabinets & units
Once walls and floors are finished and dry, it’s time to install your cabinets. These are the backbone of your kitchen layout, so accurate fitting is essential. Working to a plan means everything aligns properly, leaving no nasty surprises when appliances are added.
If you’re doing it yourself, remember to start in the corners and work out from there, to avoid any last-minute re-jigs.
Appliances
Appliances need to slot neatly into the framework you’ve already built. Whether you’ve gone for integrated or freestanding, they rely on the earlier plumbing and electrical work being spot on.
Doing things in the right sequence ensures each appliance fits perfectly and works as intended from day one.
A new door
A new kitchen door is the final touch. It’s the finishing flourish that completes the transformation and gives your new-look kitchen a fitting entrance that sets the tone for your new space.
If you do decide to include a new door as part of your kitchen renovation, fitting it last avoids the risk of scuffs and damage during the messier parts of renovation.
Complete the look with a new door
Traditional
Depending on your taste, traditional doors can look equally at home in both traditional and modern settings. You might be looking to add a contrasting aesthetic to a contemporary kitchen or creating a period entrance to your farmhouse kitchen. Either way, a traditional back door can set off your remodelled space beautifully.
With modest decorative designs and the authentic look of wood, traditional composite doors also bring the added benefit of better security, insulation and longevity, they are definitely worth considering.
Contemporary
Contemporary doors typically use clean geometry and simplicity to good effect, which is ideal if you’re going for the modern look. That being said, a modern back door in a more traditional setting can create an interesting juxtaposition and will of course add to the security, comfort and durability of your entrance.
Contemporary exterior doors come in various styles, including flat panel, fully glazed and asymmetrical designs, so there are a lot of opportunities to style it in keeping with your new kitchen.
Stable
In the right setting, stable doors can add real character. They conjure up images of cosy kitchens, warm agas and balmy summer evenings. However, historically, their dual-opening design could make them susceptible to drafts, and slightly less secure than a traditional door.
These days, better insulation, more robust composition and modern multi-point locking mean there’s no reason why a stable door should be anything other than a nice way to enter your lovely new kitchen!
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What door will you choose to welcome you home?
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Find, inspire, build
Find a local showroom
If you prefer to see a design or style in situ, why not find a local showroom?
Speak to a local expert who can guide you in all the choices available. From glazing, to styles, right through to the finer points of handles, locks and letterplates.
Create a design that is unique to your and your home.
Be inspired
With so many options it’s also good to refine your ideas by checking out some style inspiration.
Viewing a few inspiring homes to see the décor, colour schemes and styles that work in combination can be a very helpful exercise.
You should explore a few different settings for the door you’re thinking of, to make sure it will work for you.
Design your door
A good door designer tool will let you design a complete exterior door, applying everything from the material, type and style, to the colour, accessories and surroundings.
Generally, they will be intuitive and easy to use, meaning you can experiment easily with a few different variations. A really good door designer will then allow you to request a quote for your specific setup.
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