Designing and redecorating your kitchen is a task full of excitement and a fantastic way to release your inner interior designer to the world…well, at least to the rest of your family and friends.

However, it can sometimes be more than a little bamboozling when it comes to organising the myriad of ideas you have into a conducive and more practical, step-by-step plan to ensure that the vision of your new kitchen is equalled, or even superseded, in reality.

With this in mind, continue reading to discover some top tips when designing and decorating the kitchen of your dreams.

Remember Lighting Needs to Be Practical

The scope for lighting design in terms of both fixtures and fittings, as well as the depth and brightness of the light itself, is such that it can be tempting to become somewhat carried away with everything.

As beautifully stylish, chic and minimal as you would like the lighting in your new kitchen to be, it is important to remember that food preparation, cooking and even cleaning in low-lighting is not only impractical, but it can also be somewhat dangerous, especially if you have young children.

Always Draw a Practical & Accurate Floor Plan

Obviously, even though your talents naturally lie in creative design and visual thinking, the practical element must not be forgotten during the planning stage of your dream kitchen.

Pay special attention to the available space in the room and mark on your floorplan where you propose each appliance should go, and if you want to be extra sure your new cabinets and white goods will fit comfortably where you would like them, the best thing to do is design your floor plan to scale.

Tour the Showrooms

Even if you have an incredibly clear, precise and detailed vision of exactly what your dream kitchen will look like upon completion, there is still a great deal to be said for visiting a reputable and renowned kitchen design company that specialises in creating handcrafted kitchens.

Even for the most creative and experienced designer, there may be certain elements to introduce into the space that have either simply never occurred to you or else you never knew would be a viable option.

Consider Your Desired Tone & Feel of the Space

When you are lucky enough to have free reign and are able to choose exactly the décor, ornaments, colours and overall themes and styles for your new kitchen, it is important not to fit too many elements from vastly contrasting tones in the same space.

For example, if you are designing a more natural and traditional kitchen, consider using materials in keeping with this aesthetic, such as hardwood for your cabinets and plywood for the base of the countertops.

Conversely, if your dream kitchen design is more of a modern and minimalist aesthetic and tonal feel, then fibreboard cabinets, with their smooth and chic surface, are much more appropriate, as are granite or marble countertops.