Builders & Renovations FAQs

6 Foolproof Kitchen Design Tips for Your New Home

             Planning to design a kitchen for your new home? With new kitchens being a big investment, it’s important to remember that ‘failing to plan is planning to fail’!

We have pulled together these 6 foolproof design tips to help you plan your ideal kitchen to avoid going over your budget or making a kitchen design fail that you could live to regret!

#1 - Function first!

Obviously you want your kitchen to be beautiful, but always prioritise the function of your kitchen first and the finishes can come later. Start with a list of the most important functional needs such as: needing an island, or a butler’s pantry being essential. Once you have your key elements, then you can work out how much budget you have left for the finishes.

#2 - The kitchen triangle

The kitchen triangle is an old, but proven concept that takes the 3 most important work areas in the kitchen: the cooktop, the sink and the fridge, into a triangle.

These 3 areas are essentially:

• Where you clean and prepare food
• Place more likely to store food
• Where you cook

This triangle design allows your three key work areas the optimum efficiency so that you will need to be able to move easily between the fridge, stovetop and the sink.

This approach is relatively basic and takes a one size fits all approach and although it isn’t the only design consideration, it certainly helps you to plan the basics of your kitchen layout.

#3 - Kitchen layout design

U-Shape

The U-shaped kitchen is a versatile space that can be used for cooking, entertaining or simply storage. It contains an arrangement of different units positioned on three adjacent walls to create the U-shape and thus provide you with more options when it comes time to use your kitchen’s usable surface area.

L shape

The L-shaped kitchen has 2 main sides of the countertop running along the walls at a right angle with an open area in the middle. This design provides efficiency in the kitchen as the 3 key work areas (stovetop, sink, fridge) are all in close proximity. The L-shape leaves plenty of space in the centre to consider adding an island for additional preparation or storage space and for seating.

The L-shape is particularly popular with those aiming for an open-plan living space although you may need to consider adapting the corner cabinets as they will likely need to be modified to utilise the corner space.

Galley

The galley design has the countertops and appliances running along 2 parallel sides of the kitchen. This then creates a central passageway down the length of the kitchen. This is the best design for small spaces as it optimises the counter space and storage whilst keeping the space open in the centre.

You should, however, consider the lighting for your kitchen if you are planning a galley design as if you have cabinets along both walls, it can be difficult to ensure the whole area is well lit.

#4 - Lighting

It is important to consider the lighting when designing your new kitchen as it is crucial to ensure that you have your work areas well lit.

There are 4 main types of lighting to consider for your kitchen:

• Ambient lighting
• Task lighting
• Accent lighting
• Decorative lighting

Ambient lighting

Ambient is where you should start as it is the general light that provides the overall foundation lighting for your kitchen. The ambient lighting typically comes from the ceiling and can be downlights or pendants, however, under cabinet lighting can also add to the ambience.

Task lighting

Some areas of the kitchen may need task lighting, which is bright light that is directed at a small workspace. For example; over the stovetop, or where you would do most of your food preparation.

Accent lighting

Accent lighting highlights a particular object or area that you wish to accentuate. This can really add to the design aspect and allows you to really embellish your favourite kitchen facets.

Decorative lighting

This is where you can add your flair! As you already have the foundation of your ambient lighting, the decorative aspect is more to add texture and colour to your kitchen. You can consider pendants or even a linear suspended chandelier over your island!

#5 - Storage

Kitchens tend to contain a lot of ‘stuff’: think of all the mixing bowls, food processors and cooking pans that are awkward shapes and sizes. It can also be difficult to find a home for your appliances whilst still keeping them accessible and so it is key to plan the storage that you will require.

Built-in cupboards can be expensive and the size of your kitchen may affect the cupboards that you can have fitted. Consider alternative storage solutions such as:

• Open or floating shelving
• More drawers instead of cupboards
• Pull-out pantry
• Hanging bars for utensils, pans and chopping boards
• Give your island drawers
• Get a portable bar cart
• Look at freestanding cabinets or dressers

#6 - Ventilation

What’s that smell?? We often see the kitchen as the heart of our homes but there’s nothing worse than a lingering bad odour! It is certainly necessary to consider the ventilation when designing your kitchen.

Extractor fans (range hoods) are the best way to reduce cooking odours as well as trapping grease from cooking. Installing the stovetop against an exterior wall makes it easier to vent the extractor fan directly outside without needing to conceal the duct in cupboards and wasting storage space.

Need help from the kitchen design experts?

Need help with your new kitchen design for your new home on the Gold Coast , Tweed or Brisbane? Get your dream kitchen with your new home today with the trusted professionals at Symcorp. Give us a call on 07 5558 3812 or complete our online enquiry form . And we would be happy to help you.