It's one of the first things people say when they come to see me: "I don't even know where to begin." Honestly, I get it completely. When you're standing in your kitchen imagining something new, there are so many decisions to make that it can feel completely overwhelming. Cabinets or worktops first? What about appliances? Should I be thinking about the layout before any of that?
The good news is that the kitchen design process has a logical order, and once you understand it, everything starts to feel much more manageable. So let me walk you through exactly how I approach it with every single client.
Before we talk about a single door style or worktop material, we need to talk about how your kitchen will actually work. Layout is the foundation of the entire kitchen design process, and changing it later is costly and disruptive.
Think about how you move around your kitchen right now. Where do you prep food? Where does the washing up happen? Do you find yourself walking back and forth constantly? A well-planned layout should make cooking feel effortless, not like an obstacle course. Layout defines how the space will work day to day, and it affects every other decision that follows, from where plumbing sits to how many cabinets you can realistically fit. Get this right first, and everything else slots into place much more naturally.
This surprises a lot of people, but appliances come next in the kitchen design process, and they need to be chosen before cabinets are finalised. The reason is simple: appliances dictate space. A range cooker needs a very different configuration from a built-in oven and a separate hob. An American fridge-freezer takes up significantly more room than an integrated one. An island with a hob requires extraction above it.
Lead times for high-demand appliances can be significant, so making these decisions early and ordering as soon as your design is confirmed is really important to keep the whole project on track. I've seen beautifully planned kitchens derailed simply because an appliance decision was left too late, and then didn't fit the space that had been designed around it.
With your layout confirmed and your appliances chosen, you have the framework you need to make cabinet decisions properly. You'll know exactly how much space you're working with, where the gaps are, and how many units you actually need rather than guessing.
This is also the stage where I encourage clients to think beyond just what the cabinets look like. Think about how they open, how deep the drawers are, and whether you want integrated storage solutions inside them. The style matters, of course, but the functionality matters just as much. A beautiful cabinet that's awkward to use every day will frustrate you very quickly.
Worktops are one of the most exciting choices in the kitchen design process, and I think that's exactly why so many homeowners want to start here. They really do need to come after cabinets, because the worktop needs to work with your door style, your cabinet colour, and the overall feel of the space.
The worktop also needs to suit your lifestyle. Marble looks absolutely stunning, but it does require more care than a quartz or solid surface alternative. If you cook every day and your kitchen gets heavy use, that matters. This is one of those decisions where I always encourage clients to think practically as well as aesthetically.
Splashbacks, lighting, handles, flooring: these are the details that bring the whole design together and give your kitchen its personality. They're not afterthoughts, but they are the last layer of the kitchen design process for good reason. Once you have your layout, appliances, cabinets, and worktops confirmed, you have a much clearer picture of what will work and what won't.
Most kitchen projects run into difficulty because key decisions are made too late, which causes layouts to change, costs to increase, and timelines to slip. Following a clear order from the very beginning gives you control, saves you money, and means the finished kitchen is exactly what you wanted.
As a kitchen designer, I love creating a stunning space where life is easy and memories are made! If your kitchen needs upgrading, modernising or a complete renovation, let’s have a conversation and see what you could do with your space.
A new kitchen with a specialist design is more cost-effective than you may think – just get in touch with us today for a free in-store kitchen design consultation and we’ll show you how.
Emma Reed – Kitchen designer – 01792 712000
© 2026 Kitchens by Emma Reed Limited. Company number: 11451277. Registered office address: 1-2 Valley Way, Llansamlet, Swansea, United Kingdom, SA6 8QP.
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