Planning your kitchen

Before you start work on your new kitchen, it's a good idea to ask yourself what you want to achieve. Do you live on microwave meals, or does your kitchen need to cope with the demands of a large family? Things you might want to consider include:

• Appliances
• Plumbing
• Work areas
• Storage needs

The "working triangle"

Once you've measured your space, you need to consider your workflow and layout. Workflow in a kitchen is usually called the "working triangle", which describes the path taken to the most common areas: the fridge, the stove and the sink. The smaller the working triangle, the less time you spend in the kitchen.

Four common kitchen layouts:

• The straight line (best for when you only have limited space)
• The L-shape (ideal for homes that want to incorporate a small dining table into the kitchen design)
• The U-shape (best for large spaces, and a great choice for families due to multiple storage options available)
• The galley kitchen (great for entertaining. Provides two opposing work and storage areas)

Top tips

• Seek professional advice when disconnecting anything in the kitchen (water/electricity etc.)
• Install your dishwasher close to the sink. This will make it easier to plumb in, and save time and money in the long run
• Allow a minimum of 1.2m between opposite cabinets
• Allow a minimum of 45mm between your stove and your sink, so you have space for food preparation
• Ensure you leave a minimum of 650mm between your cooktop and rangehood

For more advice on how to plan your new kitchen, check out our mighty handy kitchen planning guide here.