Kitchen Ideas and Designs
What kind of kitchen design should I go for?
With so many kitchen ideas and photos to look at you might be a bit overwhelmed when it comes to picking your own kitchen design. If you are updating your kitchen you know what a big and important decision it is to get the design right – the kitchen can be the hub and heart of the home, and it’s unlikely that you would invest in renovating your kitchen again in a few years. But fear not, focusing first on the important elements like layout, cabinet style, worktops and appliances will help you to bring together your dream kitchen design. Additional elements like kitchen lighting, cupboard storage and decor can come after in the kitchen planning process.
A kitchen designer or fitter can help you to decide the layout of your kitchen in terms of where to place your kitchen units, appliances and island (if you’re having one), but if you prefer to handle this yourself you can focus on where you want your key elements of your kitchen to be – the oven, hob, sink and fridge. Of course you might be constricted by space, but try to envisage the easiest and most efficient layout based on how you usually like to cook and prepare your food. If you’re fed up of always having to carry dirty pans and pots across the room to the sink, place the sink closer to your oven and hob. Once you have the core elements sorted, consider extra layout considerations, such as where your bins will be stored, where the cutlery draw should be and where small kitchen appliances can be installed.
Should I include a kitchen island?
Kitchen island ideas are abundant these days; it seems most kitchen designs include a kitchen island, if not multiple islands. However, if the layout doesn’t work, especially if you have a small kitchen, then there’s no necessity to add in a kitchen island. You can add a breakfast bar or counter to your existing kitchen units, or stick with a good old-fashioned dining table if you don’t need the extra work surfaces.
That said, if you do have the room, take a look at some kitchen island ideas to see if the designs inspire you for your kitchen. There are a huge variety of island designs to cater to different needs – you can have sinks, ovens, hobs, wine storage and all sorts of drawers and organisers built-in, you can have separate bars and counters that extend from your island, or you could go for a kitchen island on wheels to make your kitchen layout more versatile.
How do I choose my kitchen units and cabinets?
When picking out kitchen units and cupboard styles for a fitted kitchen, you’ll first want to consider the more practical questions – how many units do you need? How many cupboards and drawers do you need? Do you need extra kitchen storage built into your units? It’s always best to overestimate how much kitchen storage you’ll need as we all tend to have a habit of filling up whatever current space we have to the maximum.
Next you can consider kitchen cabinet style and colour. Shaker style cabinets and raised and recessed panel cabinets offer a more traditional kitchen cabinet look, while flat panel cabinet doors tend to lend more to the modern and contemporary style. However, going for raised or recessed panel work in a striking colour such as dark blue, green or black can still work with contemporary kitchen ideas. White kitchens can give a sleek and clean feel, but remember you may have to do a bit more cleaning of those cupboard doors if you want everything to stay shiny and fresh. Of course, grey kitchens are the neutral colour choice du jour and can be paired with pale and rich shades alike if you want your fitted kitchen cupboards to contrast with your worktop, splashback, floor, or all of the above. Exposed shelving and storage is also popular for eclectic, Scandi and industrial-inspired looks, so you could opt for glass-fronted cabinets or no wall-mounted cabinets at all. Remember that this will require more restraint in what you can store and more effort in keeping it looking presentable compared to what is stored away hastily behind cupboard doors.
The kitchen cupboard handles are also another element to decide upon – do you want traditional round knobs, modern metal bars, country kitchen cup handles or maybe to go ultra sleek with a completely handleless kitchen?
What kitchen storage ideas should I consider?
If you want to keep your kitchen well-stocked and well-equipped but don’t want it spilling over with clutter, then you’ll need to rely on good kitchen storage. Apart from the usual fitted kitchen cupboards and drawer space, there are many other ways of keeping your kitchen tidy. Whilst a large kitchen pantry is the dream of most homeowners, it can’t always be a reality. However, there are now lots of pull out compartments and drawers with trays and shelving that can act as mini kitchen pantries, and you can install handy cupboard organisers that fit onto the inside of the door to make the most of your cupboard space. You can also look at corner drawers and cupboards that open up to reveal lots of extra storage. Rails or small shelves along your kitchen walls or splashback can help with hanging utensils or pans, or storing small items like herbs and spices in an usually empty space.
Buy extra kitchen storage products for your home on Houzz
Are there small kitchen ideas for small spaces?
If you’re working with a galley kitchen, a one-wall kitchen in an open plan space or just a pretty small kitchen, there are some small kitchen ideas that can help you get the most out of your cooking and dining area. If you find that you don’t utilise the back of your cupboards (maybe they become the graveyard for out-of-date tin cans), you could decide to go with shallower kitchen units to free up some extra floor space in front of your cabinets. As mentioned, open shelving or glass-fronted cabinets are a popular trend and they should make the space feel more open and less boxed-in. However, if you have the capacity for it, cupboards and kitchen units that maximise the floor-to-ceiling space you have will mean you can use all of that for valuable kitchen storage. Wall or ceiling racks could be a useful solution for hanging pans and pots if you’ve run out of cupboards in which to store them. Kitchen ideas and accessories such as baskets, trolleys and storage jars are both aesthetically pleasing and practical as they give you extra storage space. Kitchen appliances like a fridge or dishwasher can be tucked away in built-in units in fitted kitchens so they blend into your layout and don’t make the space look crowded.
Discover all the small kitchen ideas you could need by taking a look at photos of compact kitchens.
What sort of kitchen lighting should I go for?
In the kitchen you need to have practical lighting – no one wants to chop, cut and cook in a dingy room. Kitchen ceiling lights are probably the best way to go, but should you opt for recessed spotlights or traditional hanging ceiling lights? While spotlight LED kitchen lighting will give you excellent light, they may not fit with a design that’s not contemporary. Traditional chandelier lights could work for other kitchen styles, and of course, kitchen pendant lighting comes in all sorts of styles, colours and designs. While the popular choice is to go with one or two pendant lights over your kitchen island, you could also opt for a single pendant light over your dining space, or a few spaced out across your kitchen. Of course, if you want good lighting for your worktops, under-cabinet lighting is the way forward. Speak to your kitchen supplier about having this pre-installed, or there are a number of easy-install options you can fit yourself or with the help of a lighting expert or electrician.
In the market for your kitchen lighting today? Once you’ve found some inspiring kitchen lighting ideas here, take a look at our kitchen lighting products to find the new lights for your kitchen project.
Check out these popular kitchen pages below:
Whether you want inspiration for planning a kitchen renovation or are building a designer kitchen from scratch, Houzz has 2,688,941 images from the best designers, decorators, and architects in the country, including Adam Luszniak Photography and English Hardwood. Look through kitchen photos in different colours and styles and when you find a kitchen design that inspires you, save it to an Ideabook or contact the Pro who made it happen to see what kind of design ideas they have for your home. Explore the beautiful kitchen ideas photo gallery and find out exactly why Houzz is the best experience for home renovation and design.
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Adam Luszniak
Large coastal l-shaped kitchen/diner in Buckinghamshire with a belfast sink, white cabinets, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, ceramic flooring, an island, white floors, shaker cabinets, wood worktops and stainless steel appliances.
Kitchen cabinets - london111
Anna Stathaki
Photo of a contemporary single-wall kitchen/diner in London with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, white splashback, black appliances, light hardwood flooring and an island.
Black kitchen cabinets and timber - gayathri_subramanian93
Very much a bespoke kitchen, we designed this German manufactured kitchen in a way which suited the lives of our clients perfectly, whilst adding a dramatic looking industrial space which is incredibly stylish and inviting.
This is an example of a contemporary single-wall open plan kitchen in London with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood flooring, no island, brown floors and grey worktops.
Handles - lulububs
Rob Crawshaw
Design ideas for a medium sized country single-wall kitchen/diner in Other with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, granite worktops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood flooring, an island, brown floors, white worktops and a belfast sink.
Brickwork - delythmartyn
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Collings and Heal Photography
This is an example of a medium sized contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Other with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, an island and beige floors.
breakfast bar on island - helenajh
A perfect balance of materials, technology and colour. Matte, handleless units perfectly balance the light, bespoke breakfast bar and open drawer units. Gaggenau appliances add a true sense of luxury, fitting seamlessly with the stainless steel surfaces to give a clean, modern feel.
This is an example of a medium sized classic l-shaped kitchen in Devon with white cabinets, an island, a belfast sink, beaded cabinets, grey splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood flooring, brown floors and white worktops.
William Layzell
Design ideas for a medium sized contemporary galley kitchen/diner in Channel Islands with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, concrete worktops, beige splashback, glass sheet splashback, ceramic flooring, an island, grey floors, a submerged sink, black appliances and grey worktops.
like the colour wood on barstools to match with wire copper pendants - frazzledmum
Matt Clayton Photography
Design ideas for a traditional galley kitchen/diner in London with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, white splashback, integrated appliances, light hardwood flooring, an island, beige floors and black worktops.
the contrast in the two work surfaces, the windows at the end and the windows in the ceiling - webuser_31981700486
This is an example of a medium sized classic l-shaped kitchen/diner in Wiltshire with recessed-panel cabinets, an island, beige floors, a submerged sink, beige cabinets, black appliances, white worktops and white splashback.
Traditional with modern - wendy_turner39
Medium sized contemporary single-wall kitchen in Other with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, an island, white floors and white worktops.
extractor over the cooker - webuser_509499026
This is an example of a contemporary kitchen in Essex with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, white splashback, black appliances, an island, grey floors and white worktops.
great design - webuser_533372509
Chris Snook
Photo of a coastal kitchen/diner in London with a belfast sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, blue splashback, metro tiled splashback, light hardwood flooring, an island and brown floors.
Love the light but interesting floor, the low back open chairs and all the furnishings and colours. - michelemalone
Juliet Murphy Photography
Inspiration for a scandinavian kitchen in London.
Sink (with window splash back) ovens and fridge freezer - ratty_rina
This is an example of a contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with flat-panel cabinets, green cabinets, integrated appliances, light hardwood flooring and brown floors.
Love the pastel green & simple cabinet design with clean lines - aoilee_chong
Photo of a farmhouse u-shaped enclosed kitchen in Other with a belfast sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, grey splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood flooring, no island and brown floors.
Cabinet colours, white counter tops and wood floor - delythmartyn
Medium sized contemporary galley kitchen/diner in London with a single-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, laminate countertops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, lino flooring, no island, beige floors and white worktops.