Kitchen Design Checklist: 7 Steps to Avoid Costly Mistakes

Home PlannerApp Team · July 24, 2026

Many kitchen mistakes are made at the planning stage, before anyone installs a cabinet. Go through seven steps, from your real needs to the final checks, and test the layout in 3D in Home Planner.

Your new kitchen is still a sketch and a list of appliances. This is the cheapest moment to change it: moving a socket on paper costs nothing. Go through this kitchen design checklist before you order cabinets.

1. Start with your real needs

Start with how you live, not with what looks nice:

• How often do you cook: daily meals, quick snacks or occasional dinners?
• Who uses the kitchen: just you, a couple, kids, guests?
• Will you store pantry items, small appliances and cleaning tools here?
• Do you need space for laundry, a water heater or a dryer?
• Do you want a dining table, a breakfast bar or only a prep zone?

2. What are the basic kitchen design rules?

Keep the work triangle comfortable and keep the key distances below.

The triangle links the stove, the sink in the island and the fridge.

The work triangle (sink, stove, fridge):

• Each side: 120–270 cm for comfortable movement.
• No obstacles between the zones.
• In a single-line kitchen: fridge → sink → stove.

Key ergonomic distances:

Common mistake: adding an island without checking the aisle. Under 100 cm, leave the island out.

3. What does a kitchen maker need from you?

• Room measurements: wall lengths, ceiling height, windows, doors, plumbing, outlets.
• A furniture and appliance layout: even a hand-drawn sketch.
• Exact appliance models and dimensions: fridge, oven, dishwasher.
• Your choices: cabinet doors and colours, countertop material, handles and hardware, drawers or doors.
• A plumbing and outlet plan: locations and heights.

Use Home Planner to create an accurate floor plan and export it as a PDF.

4. Electrical and appliance setup

• Dishwasher: own socket, water supply, drainage.
• Range hood: ducted outside or recirculating with filters.
• Fridge: own socket and space for ventilation.
• Hob and oven: check whether they need separate circuits.
• Small appliances: kettle, microwave, coffee machine.
• Under-cabinet lighting over the worktop.

Put at least 3 outlets on the backsplash, more if you cook daily.

5. Kitchen cabinet planning: what goes where?

Store things where you use them: spices by the cooktop, cutting boards near the sink.

Base units:

• Pull-out drawers instead of deep cabinets.
• Corner carousels or L-shaped pull-outs.
• Trash and recycling bins near the sink.
• Drawer dividers for utensils, spices and knives.

A corner carousel and a narrow pull-out use space a plain shelf wastes.

Tall and pantry units:

• A narrow pull-out for bottles, cans and jars.
• A high shelf for seasonal or rarely used items.
• A full-height oven column to save counter space.

Wall units:

• A cabinet with a drying rack above the sink.
• Closed storage for dishes.
• Open shelves for display only: less practical daily.

6. Materials and finishes

• An easy-clean countertop: laminate, quartz or composite.
• Matte or anti-fingerprint cabinet doors if kids are around.
• Moisture-resistant materials near the sink and the stove.
• Light cabinets in a small kitchen, to reflect light.
• An easy-to-wipe backsplash: tile, glass or compact laminate.

Avoid porous natural stone unless you seal it regularly.

7. Kitchen design mistakes to avoid: what should you check before you order and install?

Many of them start before the order: a size not checked on site, or an appliance not chosen yet.

Before ordering:

• Confirm measurements on site.
• Finalise all appliance models.
• Check door swings and drawer clearance.
• Plan delivery around your renovation schedule.
• Confirm material lead times and production time.

Before installation:

• The walls and the floor are level.
• Electrical and plumbing points are in place.
• Ventilation and ducts are installed, if you need them.
• The appliances are delivered and checked.

Check the plan before you order

A checklist tells you what to check; a plan shows whether it fits. In Home Planner, create a floor plan with real dimensions, add appliances, test the work triangle, and place sockets and water points exactly. Choose materials, colours and cabinet styles, and preview them in 3D before you commit. Then export the plan with measurements and visuals for your contractor.

Try it on your own kitchen before you order anything.