Kitchens are now by far the most costly room in the home, with the average spend having increased by 45 percent since 2005. As kitchens can represent such a major investment, it is important that you get the right one for you.

Cabinets

According to kitchen designer Barry Open, cabinets are the workhorse of your kitchen. He advises pushing your budget as far as possible when it comes to your cabinets and highly recommends a tall pull-out larder unit and corner unit for extra storage space. Cabinets should have soft-closing hinges, very rigid units and robust steel drawer runners. Steer clear of anything with lots of moving parts, as this means there is more to go wrong. When you are working out how much storage space you need, don’t forget your recipe books, tea towels, refuse and recycling. Think practically when it comes to the finish of your cabinets. Highly polished dark colours show fingerprints easily, for example. When it comes to colour, no matter what the current trend, remember neutrals stand the test of time better than bold or strong colours which rarely work in small kitchens. If neutral colours are not for you, however, another option is to include a few bolder-toned cabinets in larger kitchens. “It means you can get a very individual look that can be changed later,” says Open. Don’t neglect handles, he also advises, as they can make or break a kitchen. Small handles generally don’t work, but chrome is effective and never dates. Alternatively, you could even go handle-less.

Worktops

If you don’t want to spend a lot of time maintaining your kitchen worktops, avoid wood near sinks or you will always be re-oiling them. Be aware that glass worktops can also quickly look tired and scratched. There are now laminates that resemble glass. In fact, consider laminates anyway. They are now back on trend with some wonderful look-alike exotic woods and metals at a fraction of the cost of the real thing. “If you’re on a budget, it’s far better to buy quality units with laminate worktops than cheap units and put granite or other expensive worktops in,” says kitchen designer Diane Berry. “With the latter, the worktops will last and the units will look jaded very quickly, whereas quality units and worktops will look as good as new for years.” Corian is good for the seamless look. Granite too remains the top worktop choice.

What is best when it comes to your sink (or sinks) and taps.

“For sinks, stainless steel is best,” believes Open. Taps have come a long way very recently. You can now get taps that provide filtered water and others, such as the Franke Minerva instant boiling water, that give you boiling water, plus cold and hot water from the same tap, saving you energy and removing the need for a kettle in the kitchen.

Appliances

What is the best advice when it comes to choosing your appliances? Appliance specialist Rona Witczak says: “Daring colours are now more fashionable than ever with sleek surfaces and streamline designs. “Don’t hide them away – make them the focal point of your kitchen, opting for super-modern or retro style.” Wine coolers are now very popular and cheaper than they used to be and built-in coffee machines are another great touch. American fridge/freezers are still selling well. Whatever size fridge you decide to go for, choose a frost-free model that’s A+ energy rated. With dishwashers, opt for super-efficient models with no noise levels. If you have a big family, you can also choose one with extra-large capacity. If you need to have your washing and drying machines in your kitchen, noise can be a problem. Look for the low-noise washers and dryers. Ian Johnstone, senior design manager for New World Appliances, says: “Remember that built-in appliances create the illusion of more space in a small kitchen, whereas if you have space in abundance a freestanding appliance can make a real impact.”

Cooking

“Virtually every customer wants a gas hob – instant and easily regulated heat,” says kitchen company owner Paul Giles. “But induction hobs have changed this and the moment people discover the technology, they change their mind. The temperature control is as responsive as gas but far more energy efficient and easier to clean. It’s safer, too, as no heat is generated by the appliance itself.” Designer George Bond’s advice is to consider what size hob and oven you will need first, before looking at any other factors. “If you only bake the odd jacket potato, do you really need that five-burner range?” he says. Companies ranging from Smeg to Neff now do stylish slimline hobs, he says, including a wok burner and teppanyaki plate. Steam cooking is the latest in kitchen innovation. Miele’s new multifunction steam oven offers fan heat in conjunction with steam. You can cook vegetables, meat and fish as well as defrost and reheat food. The downside is that they are still very expensive.

Layout

When it comes to kitchen design and what goes where, your first priority should be the ‘working triangle.’ This kitchen ‘rule’ exists for a very good reason – if you site your fridge, sink and cooker too far apart, it will become tiresome when you are working in the kitchen. On the other hand, if they are too close together, you will feel cramped. In larger kitchens, you need to decide whether you are prepared to accept an obstruction, such as a kitchen island, which blocks the triangle. You may decide it is worth it go create more storage or preparation space. If you do decide to go for a kitchen island, make sure you leave a metre of space around it. Use a kitchen designer if you really want to make the most of the space available. Ask them to play with different concepts and ensure you see them in 3D. You could also recreate your floor plan in your room so you can walk around it and envisage what it will be like. Kitchen experts advise thinking hard about your lifestyle when remodelling your kitchen. Frequent entertainers need a U-shaped kitchen with island in the middle and open ended for social gathering. Country kitchen types prefer a big L-shaped layout with a range-style cooker, large fridge and freezer and huge farmhouse table. Town dwellers and couples would perhaps prefer a galley-style layout with plenty of wall storage cabinets. At the end of the day, make sure you go for the sort of kitchen that meets you needs and that will make you want to spend time there.

Happy kitchen planning.