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As the heart of the home, the kitchen is one of the most important rooms in any property. If your current kitchen doesn’t complement your lifestyle, it may be time to think about an update!
A kitchen update can be as simple as replacing benchtops and changing handles, or it can be a complete re-design. Whatever the scale, there are plenty of elements to consider.
From the functional to the fantastic, a kitchen needs to balance all the elements that make everyday living easier. This includes design features like storage, accessibility, appliances and flow, as well as aesthetic features like colour schemes, fixtures and finishes.
With so much to cover, knowing where to start can feel slightly overwhelming. But with this simple step-by-step guide and a little help from the team at Bunnings, you can introduce a brand-new kitchen that you will love for years to come.
The first step in the kitchen design process is understanding exactly what you want from the space, based on who uses it and how you use it.
You can use the following questions as a guide:
Do you have/are planning to have kids in the near future? If so, will you need soft-close drawers and fingerprint-free surfaces?
Do you entertain a lot?
Would you like to use your kitchen as a dining space?
How tall are the people using the kitchen? How high will they be able to reach overhead?
How much cooking do you do? Are there certain appliances that you use more often than others?
Once you’ve answered these questions, you should start to have a clearer idea of which elements you’ll need to include in your space.
You’ll need to know how much space you have to work with, so it’s time to measure your kitchen. Start with the basic length by width, before measuring particular elements – benchtops, cabinetry, stove, sink and any other built-in appliances.
Once you have your measurements, you can input these into the online Kaboodle 3D kitchen planner for ideas on how you could design your new space.
For a smaller-scale kitchen update, your layout may not change significantly. If you do opt to move things around, it’s important to choose a design that suits your existing appliances, while also utilising dead space.
For larger-scale updates that include shifting cabinetry, benches or appliances, the key considerations for your layout will be the size of the space you have to work with and how you’ll use your kitchen. For example, if you are a keen cook and want to include a freestanding stove, this will require a lot more space than a built-in option. Alternatively, if you don’t mind about built-in appliances but would prefer extensive storage options, you will want to place an emphasis on cabinetry and bench space. This could include maximising wall space to include additional wall cabinets or open shelving, or prioritising drawers in your cabinetry.
It’s also important to consider where your existing services are located in the space, including gas, electrical and plumbing. If you choose a layout that requires moving these services, this will incur additional costs, so it’s worth checking if these changes will fit into your budget.
Once you know how your kitchen will be laid out, it’s time to choose your materials and colour choices, with the help of the Bunnings team. There is a great selection of material and colour samples available, as well as a number of in-store displays that will give you an idea of which finishes work well together.
It’s quite common to keep the base colours of a kitchen quite neutral, but introduce bold pops of colour through features like a splashback and smaller appliances.
Now it’s time to install your new kitchen! If you are confident with D.I.Y. projects, you may want to take it on yourself! A Bunnings team member will be able to provide advice around rough timelines and the D.I.Y. skill level needed.
There’s also the option for DIFM (Do It For Me), in which a Bunnings partner will be able to expertly install every part of your kitchen, meaning you don’t need to lift a finger!
Learn more about our Kitchen Installation service.
Whichever option you choose, you’ll soon be enjoying all the benefits of a brand-new kitchen!
