A kitchen renovation is one of the highest-impact projects you can do to a home but it’s also one of the easiest to get wrong if the layout isn’t planned properly before units are ordered.
1. Start with how you use the space
Before looking at units or finishes, map out:
- Where you cook, prep, wash up and store food
- Whether the kitchen needs to seat family/guests (island, breakfast bar, dining table)
- Traffic flow doors, hallway access, and how people move through while cooking
2. The working triangle
The classic guide is the hob – sink – fridge triangle: each leg roughly 1.2–2.7m, with a combined total under about 8m. This keeps the core cooking tasks efficient without too much walking back and forth.
In open-plan extensions, this often becomes a working zone rather than a strict triangle, with an island handling prep and the sink, and the hob and fridge along a run of units.
3. Common layouts
- Galley units on two parallel walls, efficient for narrow spaces
- L-shape units along two adjacent walls, leaves room for a table
- U-shape three walls of units, maximum storage and worktop
- Island a central unit, usually needs at least 1.2m clearance on all sides for walkways
4. Storage and services planning
Plan early for:
- Extractor hood position and ducting route (especially important if the kitchen is moving into a new extension)
- Plumbing runs for sink, dishwasher and any boiler relocation
- Electrical points for hob, oven, and small appliances plan sockets before plastering
- Bin storage, larder units and corner solutions
5. Lighting
A good kitchen uses layers of light:
- General ceiling lighting for overall illumination
- Under-cabinet task lighting over worktops
- Feature pendant lighting over an island or dining area
6. Sequencing the work
- Finalise layout and services drawings
- First fix plumbing and electrics
- Plastering and flooring preparation
- Units installed
- Worktops templated and fitted
- Appliances connected, splashbacks, final electrics
- Decoration and snagging
Working with BUILDA
Our design services include kitchen and bathroom layout design, and our building services team handles the full fitout, including electrical and plumbing first fix.