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How to design a kitchen

Whether this is the first time you’ve bought a new kitchen or you’re a seasoned pro, every kitchen design should kick off with the basics. Our kitchen designers start by understanding your kitchen goals – so that’s exactly where we’re going to begin.

View over kitchen island in Traditional Shaker-style tactile woodgrain Ludlow Sumi Black kitchen, brass details, and dark wood worktop in home office with Ludlow French clay seating area by black metal frame full height window.

1. Consider your kitchen goals

A great kitchen design isn’t just about style and colour, it’s also about functionality. Before you start forming an image of your new kitchen in your mind, consider how you and your family use the space and shape your ideas from there.

For example, if you have young children who like to play and eat in the kitchen, you might want to think about including a suitable seating area or storage for toys, books and games.

If you entertain friends and family on a regular basis, an integrated wine cooler could be beneficial. Or, if you have pets, you might want to incorporate a built-in sleeping area for them.

2. Choose your kitchen layout

Consider the size of your space when choosing your kitchen layout, as some layouts lend themselves better to a smaller or larger room. Our kitchen designers will talk you through the options at your first appointment.

Tatton Midnight kitchen from Magnet, a contemporary dark blue narrow frame shaker door, with a patterned tile floor.

U-shaped

If you’re working with a compact space, consider a U-shaped kitchen, which maximises your storage and work surface space. Make sure to consider both upper and lower cabinets, as well as corner cabinets with carousels for the most efficient use of your space. U-shaped kitchens are also a great way to achieve the ‘work triangle’ of fridge, cooker and sink, allowing you to cook with ease.

Modern Shaker kitchen Brunswick Spruce, a muted green shade, wall cabinets with fluted glass doors, Quartz Bianco Calacatta worktop and splashback, brass accessories like knobs, handles and tap, and a light wood herringbone floor.

L-shaped

An L-shaped layout works well with an open-plan kitchen, as the low-level units that form the part of the ‘L’ that protrudes can create a barrier between your food prep and dining zones. This might be a perfect solution for a small kitchen where a U-shaped or galley layout would leave your space feeling cramped. Wall cabinets and open shelving can help compensate for reduced storage space and prevent your work surfaces from becoming cluttered.

Tatton Kitchen by Magnet. A beautiful easy to use kitchen with traditional features with stylish modern touches.

Galley

A galley layout works well with a larger kitchen and is favoured by professional chefs for its efficiency. The kitchen units are positioned parallel to each other along opposite walls, meaning everything is within easy reach. This approach allows for plenty of counter space, and since the banks of units face each other, you can use them for separate purposes, e.g. divide them into ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ workspaces.

Woman and kitchen designer looking at and discussing a brochure in Shaker style kitchen at a Magnet Showroom.

Explore kitchen layouts

Discover more in our guide to kitchen layouts.

Read the guide

3. Think about your kitchen style

Once you know what sort of functionality and layout your kitchen needs to have, it’s time to think about what you want it to look like. When it comes to cabinet styles, there are three main categories to choose from: Shaker, modern and handleless. Each has its own unique look and will transform your space. Don’t forget about cabinet handles to add the perfect finishing touch to your new cabinets.

Modern kitchens

Choose slab cabinet fronts to create a sleek, stylish contemporary kitchen. Slab cabinets act as a base for a range of modern kitchen designs, from urban minimalism to industrial glamour. Metallic accents, on-trend colours like warm grey, and pared-back decoration are all key elements to achieving a contemporary kitchen.

View our modern kitchens.

Shaker kitchens

Our traditional kitchens are characterised by timeless, elegant Shaker cabinetry. Classic style kitchens have withstood the test of time for the cosy, comfortable atmosphere they invoke. Think a neutral colour palette and natural materials. Create a country-style kitchen with wooden (or wood-effect laminate) worktops, teamed with white or cream painted units. You could opt for wooden flooring too, or tiled flooring with warm tones.

View our Shaker kitchens.

Handleless kitchens

For an ultra-modern, seamless look, opt for our J-pull or true handleless design. If you love clean lines and a minimal feel, incorporate integrated appliances into your kitchen design, which are hidden away until needed.

View our handleless kitchens.

4. Create a mood board

Your dedicated Magnet kitchen designer will get to know you and understand more about your lifestyle before they make any suggestions. The best way to support this process is to have a kitchen moodboard ready.

You can do this with a Pinterest board, and don’t forget to create a wishlist of things you want to see in your dream kitchen. For kitchen ideas and inspiration, follow Magnet’s Pinterest or Instagram channels.

You might already have some design features in mind that you love and want to include. A Belfast sink, perhaps, or a statement island with pendant lighting. If you’re planning a small kitchen design, a breakfast bar might be a space-saving alternative to a dining table, with bar stools that can be conveniently tucked away underneath.

You also might already have an idea of the colour you’re looking for. White, grey, and cream kitchens are always popular – but recently, blue, green, and black kitchens have also gained popularity.

As you’re looking for inspiration, consider these things:

Colours

Did you know that kitchen colours can impact your mood? Calming colours can be great for promoting relaxation, while certain bold hues can inspire creativity.

Shapes

Kitchen shape and layout can affect things like flow and movement, while geometric design can evoke different attitudes and emotions.

Textures

Do you love the cooling touch of marble? The rustic grains and grooves of hardwood? Or the speckled effect of granite? Textured surfaces bring a space to life.

Use our planning tools

By now, your dream kitchen should be taking shape. Bring your kitchen ideas to life with our online design and planning tools.

Traditional Shaker-style tactile woodgrain Ludlow kitchen in bold shade Morello with matching wall panel and shelves, brass accents such as knobs and brass tap, a white ceramic sink, Ludlow parchment kitchen island and dusty oak vinyl flooring.

Kitchen style finder

Struggling to narrow down your kitchen selection? Take our quiz to find your dream culinary haven. We’ll take your preferred colour, theme and size and match you to a kitchen from the Magnet range.

Start the style quiz

Green fluted kitchen fronts on tall cabinets with built-in appliances and black handles, light neutral shade handleless kitchen island and green sideboard on metal legs.

Kitchen cost calculator

Get an instant online quote for your new kitchen in minutes with the Magnet cost calculator. This clever kitchen planning tool takes the basics of your dream kitchen and works out the estimated cost.

Get an instant quote

Magnet kitchen designer consulting customers in a Magnet store, showing a kitchen design.

Free kitchen design

Book a free kitchen design appointment – choose in-store or online. See your ideas come to life – our kitchen designers will turn your dream kitchen into a reality with a 3D render of your kitchen design.

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Kitchen Design FAQs

To have your kitchen designed by our expert team you can book an in-store or online design appointment.

Once your kitchen has been designed by the team at your free design appointment you will be provided with a full quote. You can also get a guide price with our cost calculator.

When planning a new kitchen you should consider functionality and your needs as well as style and design. For example, large families may want to consider additional storage space and kitchen seating. Our helpful team will talk you through options and considerations at your design appointment.