Alright, so you’re thinking about a new kitchen. Let me tell you – after years of seeing what works and what doesn’t, there’s a lot more to this than just picking nice cabinets.
## **Start With How You Actually Live**
Look, I’ve seen too many people design these magazine-perfect kitchens that… well, they look great but work terribly. The first thing you gotta ask yourself is: how do you really use your kitchen?
Are you the type who has three people cooking at once during holidays? Or maybe you’re more of a reheat-the-leftovers kind of person. Be honest about it. There’s no shame in admitting you mostly use the microwave – but that changes everything about where things should go.
## **The Work Triangle (Yeah, It Still Matters)**
Okay so this might sound old school, but the distance between your fridge, stove, and sink? That’s still the backbone of any good kitchen. I don’t care what Pinterest says.
You want these three things close enough that you’re not doing laps around the kitchen island every time you make dinner. But not so close that two people can’t work without bumping into each other. Trust me on this one.
## **Storage – You Need More Than You Think**
Here’s what nobody tells you: whatever storage you think you need, double it. I’m serious.
Those corner cabinets? Make sure they’ve got lazy Susans or pull-out drawers. Otherwise they become black holes where tupperware lids go to die. And those deep drawers everyone’s crazy about? They’re fantastic – but only if you organize them properly.
**Pro tip:** Think vertical. Wall cabinets that go all the way to the ceiling might seem excessive, but you’ll thank yourself later when you actually have somewhere to put the turkey platter you use twice a year.
## **Materials That Can Take a Beating**
Listen, granite and marble look amazing. But if you’ve got kids (or you’re just clumsy like me), you might want to think twice.
Laminate benchtops have come a LONG way. Seriously. The new stuff looks almost identical to stone but won’t crack when you drop a cast iron pan on it. And it’s way easier on the budget.
For splashbacks? Glass is brilliant. Wipes clean in seconds, no grout lines to scrub. Just… maybe skip the super light colors if you’re a messy cook.
## **Lighting – Don’t Mess This Up**
I cannot stress this enough: good lighting changes everything.
You need:
– Task lighting under the cabinets (for actually seeing what you’re chopping)
– Ambient lighting for the overall mood
– Maybe some pendant lights over the island if you’ve got one
And please, PLEASE, put your lights on dimmers. Trust me. The difference between “bright enough to perform surgery” and “cozy dinner party” is just a dimmer switch away.
## **The Stuff People Forget**
**Power outlets.** You need more than you think. WAY more. Every appliance these days has a plug, and nobody wants extension cords all over their nice new kitchen.
**Ventilation.** A good range hood isn’t sexy, but it’ll stop your whole house from smelling like fish three days later.
**Bin placement.** Where’s the rubbish going? In a pull-out drawer? Under the sink? Figure this out early or you’ll be stuck with a bin in the middle of the floor.
## **Budget Reality Check**
Here’s the thing – kitchens can get expensive fast. Like, scary fast.
But here’s what I’ve learned: you don’t always need a complete gut job. Sometimes new doors, a benchtop upgrade, and some smart modifications can transform the whole space. The team at FixNow does this stuff all the time – taking existing kitchens and making them work better without the massive price tag.
## **Final Thoughts**
Designing a kitchen isn’t just about making it look good (though that matters too). It’s about creating a space that works for YOUR life.
Take your time with this. Live in your current kitchen for a bit and really notice what drives you crazy. Is it the lack of counter space? The terrible workflow? The cabinet doors that bang into each other?
Fix those problems first. Everything else is just… decoration.
And hey, if you’re in Melbourne and need some help figuring this stuff out, the folks at FixNow have seen it all. They’re the type who’ll tell you straight if your ideas will work or if you’re about to make an expensive mistake. Sometimes that’s exactly what you need.
*Remember: a good kitchen isn’t about impressing the neighbors. It’s about making your daily life easier. Everything else is just a bonus.*