Planning a kitchen Transform your kitchen

Updating or transforming your kitchen?

Kitchens are the new living rooms

Start by looking at what you already have.

Focus on whether you simply want an update (eg changing the doors, drawer fronts, handles and appliances) or to tear out all the old units and worktops (you won’t be constrained by your current layout if you want to replace the entire kitchen and start again).

Next, consider how much you have to spend (remembering to set aside at least 10% for emergencies) and then see what you can get for your money.

We can help you with this in our ‘Best kitchen brand’ guide where we’ve researched into what a sink, base unit, four wall units, worktop and appliance housings will cost you from different companies.

Also remember to budget for fitting the kitchen and employing tradespeople such as plumbers - our guide to tradespeople costs shows you how much you should expect to pay for different plumbing and electrical jobs around the home.

Designer kitchen vs. a cheap kitchen

To make your house easier to sell when you come to move and get a good return on any money that you spend, plan to invest less than the uplift in the value of your home.

Talk to an estate agent to see what the maximum financial gain a designer kitchen would bring compared with what you're prepared to spend.

What your money buys

What can you expect from an expensive kitchen brand and is it worth the extra cost? We’ve looked at the core components of kitchens and asked independent kitchen experts Richard and Zoe Kacie-Malone from 1st4M.co.uk – one of the top-rated kitchen fitters on our recommendations site Which? Local – what you’ll get if you spend more and what the risks are when buying cheap.

Kitchen units

A costly bespoke kitchen gives flexibility for pieces to match your specification, but cheaper units work just as well providing they’re installed properly.

More expensive units tend to be made from thicker wood and arrive pre-assembled (and glued together) making very strong and rigid units. In some instances, cheaper carcasses can be cut with a lesser degree of accuracy and lead to poor and misaligned assembly. However, providing units are fitted correctly and the correct shelf fixings are used, then both types will be sturdy and take the same weight on shelves.
It’s important to check that 800 and 1,000mm units have a centre supporting shelf bracket as these widths of shelf can tend to bow.

Kitchen doors & drawers

New worktops and cupboard doors are a low-cost way to spruce up a kitchen

Spending more on doors and drawers can improve the overall look of your kitchen. Doors can costs upwards of £100 each, but you can buy one for as little as £10. Some cheaper door fronts are covered with a printed paper film, which can scratch and damage easily.

Cheaper wood-finish doors are often just a veneer, while a better-quality door is coated in a thicker surface layer, making it more durable. You’ll get a wider choice of door such as high gloss or solid wood if you spend a bit more.

Upgrading to soft-close doors and drawers makes a marked difference when using your kitchen. Soft-close drawers are designed for years of use with hard-wearing mechanisms. The cheap basic drawer runners can be clunky but will do the job.

Kitchen worktops

Prices vary from £50 to more than £500 for the same length of worktop depending on the finish and material. Laminate is cheapest and is long lasting and durable, but not the best quality.

Solid surface worktops have a thicker surface layer, which can be sanded and buffed, so joins are masked giving a better finish. 

The more expensive solid wood or granite will give a beautiful finish that should last a lifetime with proper care. Wood worktops can warp if poorly stored, so check thoroughly before installation.
Quartz worktops are similar in appearance to granite, but are more durable and even stronger.

Handy tips for beautiful kitchens 

Beautiful kitchens can be inexpensive. We have some handy tips on the next few pages for keeping costs down.

Once you’ve decided how much you can afford, use our interactive budget planner below to allocate funds to different parts of the project.