A kitchen renovation is one of the biggest opportunities to change how your home feels and functions.

It might start because the worktops are tired, the cupboards have seen better days or the flooring is showing years of wear. But once you begin looking properly at the room, it often becomes clear that a renovation can improve far more than appearances.

The best kitchen projects improve storage, movement, lighting, practicality and the way the room connects with the rest of the home.

Does Your Kitchen Need Updating or Replacing?

Not every tired kitchen needs to be completely ripped out.

If the layout still works and the cabinets are structurally sound, it may be possible to transform the room with more targeted improvements.

These could include:

• Replacing worktops
• Changing cabinet doors and handles
• Redecorating
• Installing new flooring
• Updating splashbacks
• Improving lighting
• Replacing appliances
• Adding additional storage

On the other hand, if the layout is frustrating, cabinets are damaged or the plumbing and electrics need significant work, a complete renovation can provide a much better long-term result.

Start With How You Use the Kitchen

Before choosing colours or worktops, think about what does and does not work in your current kitchen.

Where do you prepare food? Where do people naturally gather? Is there enough space around the cooker? Are the bins inconveniently positioned? Do you have cupboards full of things that are difficult to reach?

These everyday frustrations are often much more important than the style of a cabinet door.

A successful layout should make the kitchen easier to use every day.

Make the Most of the Available Space

Good kitchen design is about using the space intelligently rather than simply filling every wall with cupboards.

Taller cabinets can make use of otherwise wasted space. Deep drawers can be more practical than traditional base cupboards, and awkward corners can often be improved with carefully designed storage.

Where standard units do not make good use of the room, bespoke cabinetry can sometimes solve problems that an off-the-shelf kitchen cannot.

This is particularly useful in older properties where walls, floor levels and room dimensions are not always perfectly square.

Think About the Kitchen Work Triangle — But Don't Be Ruled by It

Traditional kitchen planning often considers the relationship between the sink, cooker and refrigerator.

Keeping these areas reasonably connected can reduce unnecessary movement, but modern kitchens often contain much more than three working points.

Dishwashers, ovens, microwaves, coffee machines, recycling bins and food preparation areas all need to be considered as part of the overall layout.

The aim should be a kitchen that flows naturally for the people actually using it.

Plan Your Electrics Before Installation

Electrical planning is one of those things that is easy to overlook until you realise there is nowhere convenient to plug something in.

Think about power for:

• Kettles and coffee machines
• Toasters
• Microwaves
• Fridges and freezers
• Dishwashers
• Ovens and hobs
• Extractor fans
• Wine coolers
• Under-cabinet lighting
• Phone and tablet charging

Electrical points are much easier to position correctly while the room is being renovated than after the kitchen has been fitted.

Don't Underestimate Kitchen Lighting

One ceiling light is rarely enough for a kitchen.

A combination of general lighting, task lighting and feature lighting can make the space both easier to use and much more inviting.

Under-cabinet lighting is particularly useful over preparation areas, while pendant lighting can work well above islands and breakfast bars.

Lighting should be considered before the electrical work is completed so cables and switching can be incorporated neatly.

Choose Worktops for the Way You Live

Worktops have a major influence on both the appearance and practicality of a kitchen.

Different materials offer different benefits in terms of durability, maintenance, appearance and cost.

Rather than choosing purely from a sample, think about how the surface will actually be used.

A busy family kitchen may have very different requirements from a kitchen used mainly for entertaining.

Consider Flooring Early

Kitchen flooring needs to cope with regular foot traffic, spills, cleaning and changes in temperature.

The finished floor height can also affect cabinet installation, appliances, doors and transitions into adjoining rooms.

Deciding on flooring early makes it easier to plan the entire room properly.

Look Beyond the Kitchen Units

A kitchen renovation often exposes issues that have little to do with the kitchen furniture itself.

Damp, damaged plaster, old wiring, ageing pipework or uneven floors may all become apparent once the existing kitchen is removed.

Dealing with these properly before installing the new kitchen is much better than hiding them behind new cabinetry.

Should You Include a Kitchen Island?

Islands can provide valuable preparation space, storage and seating, but they only work if the room is large enough.

An oversized island squeezed into a kitchen can make movement around the room frustrating.

There should be enough space to comfortably open cabinet doors and appliances while allowing people to move around the kitchen.

In a smaller room, a peninsula or breakfast bar may provide many of the same benefits without taking up as much space.

Think About the Rest of the Room

Modern kitchens often form part of a larger kitchen, dining and living space.

If that is the case, kitchen finishes should be considered alongside the wider room.

Flooring, lighting, wall colours, fitted storage and furniture can all help make an open-plan area feel like one complete space.

If the existing kitchen simply does not provide enough space, it may also be worth considering whether a home extension could provide a better long-term solution.

Allow for a Contingency

Until an old kitchen is removed, it is not always possible to know exactly what is hidden behind cabinets, floors and wall coverings.

Allowing some flexibility within the budget can make unexpected repairs much easier to deal with.

Choose a Kitchen That Will Last

Trends change quickly, but a kitchen is usually expected to remain in place for many years.

That does not mean the design needs to be boring. It simply means thinking carefully about which elements are difficult or expensive to replace later.

Cabinetry, layout, flooring and worktops are generally long-term decisions, while wall colours, handles and accessories can be changed relatively easily.

Renovating Your Kitchen With Calico

A successful kitchen renovation brings together far more than cabinets and worktops.

Plumbing, electrical work, plastering, flooring, lighting, decoration and cabinetry all need to work together to produce the finished result.

At Calico, we can look after the complete project rather than leaving you to coordinate several different trades.

You can find out more about our kitchen and bathroom renovation services or explore our wider building renovations.