If you would prefer Budget DIY Kitchens to design your kitchen for you, we can do so at a cost of £120 plus VAT, once we receive your floor plan and contact details Budget DIY Kitchens will contact you to discuss the kitchen.

Otherwise you are free to use our Kitchen Design Help

Getting Started

• When redesigning your kitchen consider what you like and dislike about your current kitchen or other kitchens you may have seen. Make notes of these and refer back to them whilst planning for you own.
   

• Get inspiration from other kitchens you may have seen or by visiting large showrooms where you can see what ideas you like and dislike, there are now a wide range of home improvement magazines which can also help to inspire you for what colours, layouts, features you would like to see in your own kitchen.
   

• Consider the colours you would like for your cabinets, doors, flooring, carpets etc. again try and have a look at other kitchens for inspiration. At this point you can also consider which materials you would like to use, for example Granite worktops are more expensive than Laminate worktops so you will have to also take your budget into consideration.
   
• Appliances are also very important at the initial stage, are the appliances you already have suitable for your new kitchen? Would you prefer a range cooker than a hob? Kitchens can now be designed to incorporate appliances into the cabinets and therefore can be hidden away, this can be useful to kitchens of a smaller size, whereas some kitchens can accommodate large American fridge freezers some people see as a feature.
   
• Ensure the measurements you take are accurate and double checked, draw a plan of your existing kitchen and a blank plan you wish to change. See our measurement guide for help and advice.
   
• To get the most from your kitchen you may like to look at the 'working triangle' theory which can be found here.

How to get the Most From Your Kitchen

Many people believe that:-
the more space a kitchen has the more efficient it will be, this is not always the case.

When designing a kitchen the most important thing to consider is how the kitchen will be used in terms of food preparation, cooking and clearing up (ie wet areas).

These three elements of kitchen usage are known as the 'working triangle' by taking these into consideration you can design the perfect kitchen with maximum practicality no matter what shape or size - .

Measuring Your Kitchen

The easiest when to measure your kitchen is to use 1/20 graph paper which can be bought from all stationery stores. Each small square on the 1/20 graph paper is equivalent to 10cm (100mm) on your design.

By following these easy steps you will be able to create a sketch of a floor plan for either us to design the kitchen for you or to design the kitchen yourself.

1. First of all draw a rough sketch of your kitchen to get an idea of the positions of the walls, doors and windows.

2. You will now need to measure the width of each wall including the distance from the corners to the doors. If you have any objects in your room such as air vents, pipes or radiators ensure to include them in your measurements. Ensure your measurements are in millimetres.

3. Once you have the wall measurements you will then need to measure the windows, first of all measure the size of the windows then their height and distance from the ceiling and floors.

4. Now you have included the window sizes you can measure the doors, from the outside of the architrave to the outside of the architrave. Make a note of which way the door swings open.

3. Decide if you would like to keep your existing electrical points and mark down and measure their existing locations. If you are considering moving your appliances mark down where you will need to have the electrical points moved to.

4. Finally, locate your utility points such as gas, water and drainage these are essential when designing your kitchen as they can determine where features such as your sink and oven are placed. If you intend to move these mark on your measurements their new locations.

5. Double check all of your measurements and ensure you have positions of all appliances, electrical and gas points correct.

Once you have your sketched floor plan you may either design the kitchen yourself following the guidelines on getting the most out of your kitchen. Or if you would like us to design your kitchen you may fax, post or email a copy of your sketch along with any suggestions you may have. Once received we shall create a 3D image and floor plan for you to view, along with further details of purchasing your kitchen.