How to Design a Kitchen | Kitchen Planning Guide NZ

Planning a new kitchen can feel overwhelming when you’re trying to work out the layout, cabinets, appliances, storage and everything else at the same time.

This guide walks you through the key decisions to make before ordering your kitchen, so you can create a layout that works for your space, your household and the way you actually use your kitchen.

You’ll learn how to think about kitchen layout, appliance placement, storage, bench space, cabinet selection, clearances and the finishing details that bring the whole kitchen together.

Whether you’re planning the kitchen yourself or getting help from Kitchen Buddy, starting with a clear plan makes it easier to choose the right cabinets and avoid costly changes later.

Where to Start

Start With Your Kitchen Wishlist

What do you actually want from your new kitchen?

If you already know, write it down.

If you are not sure, start one step back and think about what bothers you about your current kitchen.

Maybe:

You never have enough bench space
The pantry is too small
You cannot easily reach the back of cupboards
Pots and pans are stacked on top of each other
Small appliances take over the benchtop
Spices are taking up an entire cupboard
There is nowhere sensible for rubbish and recycling
The kitchen feels cramped when more than one person is using it
The fridge is in the middle of the main working area
You simply do not have enough storage

The things that annoy you now often point directly to what the new kitchen needs to solve.

Not sure what to include?

Use Our Free Kitchen Wishlist

The Wishlist walks you through the options so you do not have to think of everything yourself.

Kitchen Wishlist

Measure the Space You Have

Before you finalise a kitchen design, you need to know exactly what space you are working with.

At a minimum, you need to know:

Wall lengths
Floor-to-ceiling height
Doors and windows
Door swings
Fixed obstacles
Existing plumbing positions
Existing electrical positions
Appliance sizes

You do not need to work all of this out from scratch.

[How to Measure Your Kitchen]

Our measuring guide walks you through what to measure, what photos to take and what information your installer, plumber and electrician will need.

How to Measure

Think About Who Uses the Kitchen

A kitchen for one person can work very differently from a kitchen regularly being used by three or four people.

Think about:

How many people cook at the same time?
Do children use the kitchen?
Do people regularly come into the kitchen just to get food or drinks?
Do you bake?
Do you meal prep?
Do you entertain?
Do you prepare packed lunches?
Do you have pets whose food or supplies need kitchen storage?

This affects where things should be positioned.

For example, if several people regularly access the fridge, placing it towards the end of the kitchen can allow someone to grab a drink or snack without walking straight through the main preparation and cooking area.

The same can apply to the pantry.

Start With Bench Space

Bench space is one of the biggest pain points in many kitchens.

Think about where you actually need it.

You may want usable bench space:

Beside the hob
Beside the sink
Beside the fridge
Near the oven
For food preparation
For baking
For serving
For unpacking groceries
For small appliances

Also think about how much of your current benchtop is occupied by the kettle, toaster, coffee machine, air fryer or other appliances.

More Bench Space Usually Means More Base Cabinet Run

Your benchtop sits over your base cabinets.

If you want more usable bench space, you may need to:

Extend a run of base cabinets
Change the kitchen layout
Add an island
Add a peninsula
Reconsider the position of tall cabinets
Reconsider appliance locations
Move appliances off the benchtop and into dedicated storage

The goal is not simply to create more benchtop on paper.

It is to create usable uninterrupted workspace where you actually need it.

Shop Base Cabinets

Then Work Out What You Need to Store

Do not just ask, “Do I need more storage?”

Break everything in your kitchen into categories and give each category somewhere to live.

That makes it much easier to work out which cabinets you actually need.

Food Storage

Food will generally need pantry storage. Think about how much food you normally keep and how you like to access it.

Standard pantry shelving
Larger pantry
More than one pantry cabinet
Pantry drawers
Pull-out pantry storage
Internal pantry organisers
Dedicated snack storage
Bulk-food storage

A pantry that technically holds a lot is not necessarily useful if everything at the back is difficult to reach. Think about both capacity and access.

Shop Pantry Cabinets

Pots and Pans

Pots and pans can be stored in a base cupboard, but deep drawers often make them much easier to access because you can pull the contents towards you.

Deep drawers
Pot lid organiser
Separate frying-pan storage
Base cupboard for large or less frequently used cookware

Shop Kitchen Drawers

Plates and Bowls

Plates and bowls do not automatically need to be stored in wall cupboards.

Large drawer Base cupboard Wall cupboard

Stack plates by size to save space. Think about who uses them and which option is easiest to reach.

Cups and Glasses

Think about where drinks are normally prepared and who needs access to them.

Wall cabinet
Drawer
Base cupboard
Cabinet near the kettle or coffee machine

In a busy kitchen, keeping mugs and glasses outside the main cooking area can reduce unnecessary traffic through the workspace.

Cutlery and Kitchen Utensils

Cutlery, knives, tongs, spatulas and other everyday utensils usually work best in drawers.

Cutlery tray
Separate utensil drawer
Knife storage
Internal drawer organisers

Drawer dividers help maintain organisation. Keep everyday utensils close to the preparation and cooking areas.

Shop Cutlery Trays

Spices, Oils and Bottles

Small items can take up a surprising amount of useful cabinet space. Organise spices and cooking essentials within reach of your cooktop and prep area.

Spice drawer
Spice organiser
Pull-out spice storage
Narrow pull-out unit
Pantry storage

Dedicated storage can stop spices, oils and bottles from taking over a much larger cupboard or pantry shelf.

Shop Kitchen Storage

Food Storage Containers

Containers and lids can quickly turn into one overflowing cupboard and parts get lost or become difficult to find.

Deep drawer
Dedicated base cupboard
Organiser that separates containers and lids

Think about how many containers you actually own before deciding how much space to allocate.

Baking Equipment

If you bake regularly, give your baking equipment a dedicated home.

Deep drawers for bowls and tins
Smaller drawer for measuring tools and utensils
Vertical storage for baking trays
Large cupboard for mixers and appliances

A combination of drawers and cupboards often works better than trying to store everything together.

Small Appliances

Think about which appliances genuinely need to stay on the benchtop and which could be stored away. Examples include kettle, toaster, coffee machine, air fryer, blender, mixer, food processor, slow cooker and sandwich press.

Base cupboard
Deep drawer
Tall cabinet
Appliance cupboard
Pantry storage

Getting appliances off the benchtop can create significantly more usable workspace, but they still need to be convenient to access.

Drawers or Cupboards?

This is one of the biggest decisions affecting both how the kitchen functions and how much the cabinetry costs.

Cupboards

Cupboards generally cost less because they use less material and fewer components to make. They can work well for:

Large items
Less frequently used items
Small appliances
Bulk storage
Areas where easy access is less important

Shop Base Cabinets

Drawers

Drawers use additional components, runners and hardware, so they cost more. But they can make everyday storage considerably easier to access. Drawers can work particularly well for:

Pots and pans
Plates
Bowls
Food containers
Cutlery
Cooking utensils
Baking equipment
Frequently used pantry items

Internal or integrated drawers may cost more again because additional drawer components and fronts are required. You do not need drawers everywhere. Use them where the easier access will make the biggest difference.

Shop Kitchen Drawers

Plan Your Rubbish and Recycling

Rubbish and recycling are used constantly, so think about where they belong before you run out of cabinet space. You may want:

General rubbish
Recycling
Food scraps
Compost

An integrated bin unit can keep everything inside the cabinetry. Its position matters too. Close to the sink or food preparation area is often practical because that is where much of the waste is created.

Shop Kitchen Bin Units

Don't Forget Cleaning Storage

Think about where you will keep your cleaning items:

Dishwasher tablets
Cleaning sprays
Cloths
Sponges
Tea towels
Rubbish bags
Broom
Mop
Vacuum, if required
Depending on what you need to store, this might be:
Under the sink
In a base cupboard
In a tall cabinet
In internal storage accessories

Shop Cleaning Cabinets

Think About Your Wall Cabinets

Wall cabinets provide useful storage without taking away floor space or benchtop. They can be useful for:

Cups and glasses
Plates and bowls
Food
Frequently used ingredients
Items you want off the benchtop
But you do not necessarily need to fill every wall with cabinetry.
Think about the balance between:
Storage
Open wall space
Windows
Rangehood (can be integrated into wall cabinet)
The overall look of the kitchen

Wall cabinets have so many uses

Shop Wall Cabinets

Think About Tall Cabinets

Tall cabinets can provide a lot of storage in a relatively small amount of floor space. They can be used for:

Pantry storage
General storage
Oven housing
Microwave storage
Appliances
Cleaning equipment

The trade-off is that a tall cabinet removes an area that could otherwise be benchtop. If bench space is one of your biggest priorities, think carefully about how many tall cabinets you need and where they should go.

Shop Tall Cabinets

Plan Kitchen Corners Carefully

Corners can create a lot of storage, but they can also create some of the most awkward areas in a kitchen. Depending on the layout, you might use:

Corner base cabinet
Corner wall cabinet
Internal corner shelving
Pull-out corner storage
Swing-out corner storage

Specialist corner mechanisms can make the contents easier to access, but they also add cost. Choose the option based on how important that corner storage is to you

Shop Corner Cabinet Accessories

Choose Appliances Before Finalising the Cabinets

Appliance dimensions affect the cabinetry around them, so do not leave appliance selection until the kitchen cabinets have already been ordered.

Know whether your appliances are:

Existing
Being replaced
Completely new additions

Have the dimensions and installation requirements for each appliance.

Fridge

Check:

Width
Height
Depth
Door clearance
Ventilation requirements
Whether it needs plumbing

Think about where it should sit within the kitchen. If lots of people access the fridge, positioning it towards the edge of the kitchen can keep unnecessary traffic out of the main cooking area. It is also helpful to have nearby bench space for putting groceries down.

Oven

Check:

Width
Height
Depth
Door clearance
Ventilation requirements
Whether it needs plumbing

Think about where it should sit within the kitchen. If lots of people access the fridge, positioning it towards the edge of the kitchen can keep unnecessary traffic out of the main cooking area. It is also helpful to have nearby bench space for putting groceries down.

Hob

Think about what sits underneath the hob and how much working space you want around it. Allow useful bench space beside the cooking area for:

Ingredients
Preparation
Utensils
Hot pans and dishes

Do not position a hob without checking the installation requirements for that specific appliance.

Rangehood

Decide whether you want the rangehood:

Visible
Integrated into cabinetry

An integrated rangehood affects the wall cabinet above the hob, so it should be decided before the wall cabinets are finalised. Also check the rangehood's ducting requirements. Ducting can be custom cut into the cabinet on installation

Microwave

Decide whether the microwave will:

Stay on the benchtop
Sit in wall cabinetry
Sit within tall cabinetry
Be incorporated into an appliance area

Moving it off the benchtop can give you more usable workspace.

Dishwasher

A dishwasher needs good access to the sink, but its open door also needs to work with the rest of the kitchen. Check whether the dishwasher door will:

Block a walkway
Interfere with someone using the sink
Clash with a drawer
Clash with another cabinet
Prevent someone moving through the kitchen

Always plan the kitchen with appliances and cabinet doors open, not just closed.

Sink

Think about the sink before choosing the cabinet underneath it. You may want:

Single bowl
Double bowl
Drainer
No drainer
Waste disposal
Specific tap or plumbing requirements

The sink needs to suit the width of the cabinet underneath it. The sink cannot be wider than the cabinet, and some sink models specify a minimum cabinet width.

Think About How Everything Works Together

Instead of focusing on the old idea of creating a perfect kitchen triangle, think about the tasks you actually perform.

Food Storage

Fridge, pantry and food.

Food Preparation

Benchtop space, knives, bowls, utensils and ingredients.

Cooking

Hob, oven, pots, pans and cooking utensils.

Cleaning

Sink, dishwasher, rubbish, recycling and cleaning supplies.

Serving

Plates, bowls, cutlery and glasses.

Try to keep the things used together reasonably close to each other.

For example, keeping pots and pans near the hob makes more sense than storing them at the opposite end of the kitchen.

Allow Enough Room for Everything to Open

A kitchen can look perfectly fine on a plan and still be frustrating to use if doors and drawers clash.

Check that there is enough space for:

Cabinet doors
Drawers
Dishwasher
Oven
Fridge
Pantry doors
People moving through the kitchen

Also think about handles.

A cabinet placed directly against a wall may not open properly because the door or handle hits the wall.

This is one of the reasons fillers and panels are important.

Panels and Fillers Are Part of the Design

Panels and fillers are not simply decorative extras.

They can:

Finish exposed cabinet ends
Create clearance beside walls
Stop handles hitting adjoining surfaces
Allow doors and drawers to open correctly
Create a finished look around tall cabinets
Finish islands and cabinet runs

They need to be allowed for when the kitchen is being planned, rather than added as an afterthought.

Shop Panels & Fillers

Finish the Cabinetry

Once the functional layout is working, think about the details that finish the cabinetry.

This may include:

Cabinet colour
Door/front style
Handles
Panels
Fillers
Kickboards
Feature finishes
Contrasting finishes

Shop Cabinet Handles

Shop Kickboards

Allow for the Benchtop

Your cabinet layout determines the shape and size of the benchtop.

As you plan the base cabinets, think about:

Where you want uninterrupted workspace
Sink position
Hob position
Island or peninsula
Seating or overhang
Finished ends

Your cabinet layout needs to be established before the final benchtop can be accurately measured.

Plan Plumbing and Electrical Around the Cabinet Layout

You do not need to become a plumber or electrician to design the kitchen, but the services need to match the final cabinet and appliance positions.

Once the layout is taking shape:

Record the existing plumbing and electrical locations
Mark any new locations
Confirm the appliance positions
Make sure services will enter the correct cabinets
Give the final information to the appropriate trades before installation

Our measuring guide explains what to record and what photos to take.

How to Measure Your Kitchen

Need an installer, plumber or electrician?

Find an Installer

Think About Installation Before You Order

Kitchen Buddy cabinets are supplied preassembled.

You can install the cabinetry yourself if you have the right tools and feel capable of doing it, or you can use an experienced cabinet installer.

Also check that the cabinets can physically reach the room.

Consider:

Entrance doors
Hallways
Internal doors
Stairs
Lifts
Tight corners

This is particularly important for larger and tall cabinets.

Find an Installer

Build the Kitchen Around Your Budget

How you configure the cabinetry can make a significant difference to the final price.

Cupboards Cost Less

Cupboards generally use fewer components and are the lower-cost storage option.

Drawers Cost More

Drawers require additional materials, runners and hardware.

They cost more, but they often provide better access and can make the kitchen much easier to use.

Internal Storage Adds Cost

Storage accessories such as:

Pull-outs
Integrated bins
Corner mechanisms
Spice organisers
Internal drawers
Other specialised storage

all add components and hardware.

Use them where they solve a real problem.

Existing Services Can Affect the Budget

Keeping the sink close to its existing plumbing position can reduce plumbing work.

Keeping major appliances such as the oven in their existing location can reduce electrical work.

That does not mean you should keep a layout that does not work.

It simply means the cost of moving services should be considered when deciding which changes are worth making.

Spend Where It Makes the Biggest Difference

If the budget is limited, prioritise the things that will improve the kitchen every day.

That might be:

More bench space
Better pantry access
Deep drawers for pots and pans
Integrated rubbish and recycling
Better appliance storage
A useful corner solution

Use simpler storage where convenience matters less.

Shop Cabinets

Before You Start Choosing Cabinets

By this point you should have a good idea of:

What you dislike about your current kitchen
What you want the new kitchen to improve
How much bench space you need
What needs to be stored
Where your appliances will go
Where drawers will be worth the extra cost
How much pantry storage you need
Whether you need wall or tall cabinets
Which storage accessories would genuinely help
What your budget priorities are

Now you can start turning those decisions into a cabinet layout.

Not Sure What You Want Yet?

Take Kitchen Wishlist Quiz

It walks you through the options so you can decide what you would like your kitchen to include.

Ready to Start Choosing Cabinets?

Shop Kitchen Cabinets

Need Help Putting the Layout Together?

Contact Kitchen Buddy for Design Help