Designing a new kitchen from scratch? This is your one chance to create a design and layout that works perfectly for you, to make the changes that will save you valuable time as you use the space. Incorporate these ideas into your new kitchen to make life much easier:

Make use of magnets.
It’s amazing how something so small can make such a difference to everyday tasks such as cooking. For example, a magnetic knife rack saves you valuable time finding and putting away knives and metal utensils and a magnetic noticeboard makes it simple to pop up urgent bills, shopping lists and notes. You can even put magnets on things like bottle openers and pasta dryers to keep your workspace clear and free up space.
Build storage around appliances.
To make emptying the dishwasher easier, place all your drawers and cupboard for plates, pans and cutlery right next door, along with the bin. To make cooking easier, locate food storage areas next to preparation areas, and pans and utensils next to the stove.  

Embrace multi-functionality
Every item in your kitchen should be earning its place by doing more than one job. Take the kitchen island for example. This shouldn’t just be a worktop space or a seating area – it should be both and also incorporate lots of storage space.  

Divide and conquer
Save time rummaging through large drawers packed with different items by installing drawer dividers. This keeps everything in its place, makes it all easy to find and helps you utilise every last inch of storage space.  

Hang it up
You can free up lots of storage space and have all of those essentials within easy reach by making use of hanging storage – in the form of racks, rails and hooks. This is particularly handy with pans and utensils around the stove. Need a pan? Just grab and use, no need to rummage about in a drawer.  

Put it on wheels
If you want a more flexible space or simply want to be able to shove items out of sight when you’re not using them, consider putting wheels on butcher’s blocks, small islands and storage units.  

Pull-out storage makes great use of the space
If you have a tight kitchen or just want to fit more in, try pull-out pantries and drawers.  

Consider open storage
Just like with hanging storage, open shelves and boxes put everything you need within easy reach. It’s easy to access and easy to put away.  
Use the sides of cupboards.
Desperate for more storage space? Make use of a wasted surface – the sides of cupboards and units. These often face onto a worktop, making them very handy for hanging utensils and spice racks. Whatever clever tricks and gadgets you use to improve your kitchen design, it’s crucial to ensure you get every element professionally fitted. If it doesn’t fit, it won’t work for you and your family.

​Consult the experts at A&J Kitchens to chat about your plans. 

If you’re designing a kitchen from scratch, you’ll obviously be looking to do it exactly the way you want. You’ll be choosing colours, styles and materials that suit your tastes alone, because it’s your dream kitchen.
However, unless you never plan to move, you’ll also need to consider what future occupants of your house will think of the kitchen. A new kitchen is a considerable investment, and you’ll want it to increase the value of your property rather than making it hard to sell. This is why it’s a good idea to at least bear in mind the appeal of the design to future buyers when coming up with the design.
It’s also important to design a kitchen that doesn’t date, or again it could negatively affect the value or appeal of your property when it eventually goes on the market. Kitchen design trends change all the time, but there are some ways you can future-proof the space. Bear these tips in mind:

1. Avoid brightly coloured units and embrace neutral shades. Unless you’ve absolutely got your heart set on those deep purple or avocado green doors and drawer fronts, it’s usually best to stick to relatively neutral shades. Black, white, grey and natural wood are all timeless choices, which should ensure your kitchen doesn’t date.
2. Include colour in tiles and paint. Just because you’re bearing the future appeal of your kitchen in mind, it doesn’t mean you can’t have the colours you want. It’s best to include these in relatively inexpensive and easy to replace ways, such as tiles and wall paint. If this isn’t to someone else’s taste when you sell your home, replacing them is simple.
3. Want something quirky? Make it portable. Just like your colourful tiles and walls, you can add in items that suit your personal taste but make sure they are easy to remove. For example, distinctive light fittings and wall art, which you can enjoy while you live there but which are easily removed for a neutral, clutter-free space.
4. Incorporate technology, but don’t go crazy for gadgets. The problem with the latest trends in technology is that they end up being short-lived fads. By all means leave space for handy high-tech kitchen gadgets but it could be an expensive mistake to incorporate and integrate technology into the design of the kitchen itself.

Last of all, go for quality in everything from the worktops to the fitting. It is perfectly possible to create a great quality kitchen without spending a fortune, and it is definitely worth doing. A kitchen that is solidly made and installed by a professional kitchen fitter will last longer and continue to look new, preventing it from looking dated. This makes your money go further, as it ensures that the cash you spend on your new kitchen now will help to boost the property’s value and appeal in the future.
Looking for a perfect finish? Choose A&J Kitchens, a skilled team of professional fitters with years of experience installing all kinds of kitchens to the very highest standards.