10 Things to Think About When Designing a Kitchen

A beautiful kitchen is important—but a beautiful kitchen that functions well for the way you live is even better.

Kitchen design involves far more than selecting cabinets, countertops, and a backsplash.

There are hundreds of decisions that affect how the space looks, feels, and functions every day. And because kitchens are one of the biggest investments we make in our homes, getting those decisions right from the beginning matters.

When I begin a kitchen project with a client, one of my first steps is having them complete my Kitchen Design Questionnaire. It helps me identify how they use their kitchen, what is and isn’t working in their current space, their must-haves and priorities, storage and appliance needs, and their overall design style. It gives me a great starting point for creating a kitchen that is tailored specifically to them.

Whether you’re building a new home or renovating an existing kitchen, here are 10 things to think about before you get started.

1. How You Actually Use Your Kitchen

Every kitchen should be designed for the people who use it.

Do you cook every night or mostly reheat takeout? Does one person cook, or are several people usually in the kitchen at the same time? Do your kids do homework at the island? Do you entertain frequently? Are you a baker who needs plenty of countertop space? Do you want guests gathering in the kitchen—or would you rather keep them out of the main work area?

I start by understanding how my clients live, because those answers influence nearly every decision that follows.

2. The Layout and Flow

Before choosing finishes, get the layout right.

Think about how you’ll move between the refrigerator, sink, range, pantry, prep areas, and other frequently used spaces. There should be enough room to move comfortably without creating unnecessary steps.

It’s also important to consider traffic patterns. Someone walking through the kitchen to another room shouldn’t constantly cross through the primary cooking zone.

A well-designed kitchen should feel intuitive. You may not consciously notice why it works—you just know that it does.

3. Your Appliances

Appliances should be considered early in the design process, not after the cabinetry has been planned.

A 36-inch range requires a very different design than a 60-inch professional range. The same is true for built-in refrigeration, double ovens, microwave drawers, beverage refrigerators, ice makers, and other specialty appliances.

Beyond size, think about how you use them. Where will you naturally want to set something down when you take it out of the refrigerator or oven? Is the dishwasher convenient to the sink and dish storage? Can appliance doors open without interfering with one another?

These practical details make a tremendous difference once you begin using the kitchen.

4. Storage—and What You Need to Store

Rather than simply saying, “I want lots of storage,” think specifically about what needs a home.

Pots and pans, small appliances, spices, baking supplies, food storage containers, serving pieces, dishes, glassware, recycling, pet supplies, paper towels—the list can get long quickly.

Then consider where those items make the most sense based on how you use them.

Deep drawers may work better than traditional lower cabinets for pots and pans. Spices should be convenient to your cooking area. Everyday dishes should be easy to put away from the dishwasher.

Good kitchen storage isn’t just about having more of it. It’s about having the right storage in the right places.

5. Countertop and Prep Space

Counter space can disappear surprisingly quickly once you add a coffee maker, toaster, knife block, fruit bowl, and other everyday items.

Think about where you’ll actually prepare food and make sure you have adequate uninterrupted work surfaces.

An island can provide wonderful additional prep space, but bigger isn’t always better. An oversized island can make it difficult to reach the center or create awkward circulation around the kitchen.

The proportions need to make sense for the room.

6. Lighting

Kitchen lighting should be layered rather than relying on one type of fixture.

I typically consider a combination of general lighting, task lighting, and decorative lighting.

Recessed or ceiling fixtures can provide overall illumination, while under-cabinet lighting makes countertops more functional for food preparation. Pendants or other decorative fixtures bring personality and another design layer to the room.

Also consider where the lighting is positioned. A recessed light behind you while you’re working at the counter can leave your workspace in shadow.

Lighting placement matters just as much as the fixtures themselves.

7. Electrical Outlets and Charging

This isn't the most glamorous part of kitchen design, but it's one you'll appreciate every day.

Think about where you'll plug in small appliances, charge phones and tablets, use a laptop, or perhaps even work from your island.

Outlet placement should be considered along with the cabinetry, countertops, backsplash, and appliance plan so outlets are convenient without unnecessarily interrupting beautiful design elements.

There are also increasingly discreet ways to incorporate power into kitchens, islands, and cabinetry.

8. Materials That Work for Your Lifestyle

The prettiest material isn't always the best material for every household.

Consider durability, maintenance, staining, scratching, heat resistance, and how much upkeep you're comfortable with before selecting countertops, flooring, backsplash tile, cabinet finishes, and hardware.

A household with young children and pets may have different priorities than an empty nester who entertains occasionally.

This is where balancing beauty with practicality becomes especially important.

9. All the Details That Need to Work Together

Cabinet color. Door style. Countertops. Backsplash. Flooring. Hardware. Plumbing fixtures. Lighting. Paint. Appliances.

Each selection may look beautiful individually, but that doesn't necessarily mean they'll look beautiful together.

One of the most important parts of kitchen design is creating a cohesive material and color palette. Undertones, finishes, scale, texture, and proportion all need to relate to one another—and ideally to the surrounding rooms as well.

It's why I prefer to look at the kitchen as a complete design rather than making one isolated selection at a time.

10. Your Budget—and Where to Invest

Kitchen renovations can add up quickly, so establish a realistic investment range early and determine where your priorities are.

Perhaps custom cabinetry is important to you, while you're comfortable choosing a moderately priced backsplash. Maybe you're an avid cook and want to invest heavily in appliances. Or perhaps the statement range hood or beautiful stone countertops are what will make the kitchen feel special to you.

Not every element needs to be the most expensive option.

The goal is to prioritize your investment strategically so you're spending money where it will have the greatest impact on the way your kitchen looks, functions, and feels.

There’s a Lot More to Kitchen Design Than Meets the Eye

When you see a finished kitchen, you see the cabinetry, countertops, lighting, and beautiful finishes.

What you don't see are all the decisions that happened before installation—the space planning, measurements, clearances, appliance specifications, storage considerations, material coordination, lighting placement, sourcing, and countless other details.

That's why bringing an interior designer into the process early can be so valuable.

I help my clients look at the entire kitchen—not just how it will look, but how it needs to function for them. The goal is to create a space that feels cohesive, works beautifully for everyday life, and is one they'll enjoy for years to come.

Planning a kitchen renovation or new build? Living Interiors of Connecticut provides kitchen design, space planning, material and finish selections, 2D plans, 3D photorealistic renderings, sourcing, and procurement to help clients visualize their kitchens and make informed decisions before construction begins.