A kitchen renovation involves more decisions than cabinet colour. The layout, services, storage and installation sequence all affect how the finished room works. Use this guide to prepare a kitchen brief that an installer can price and that you can check at handover.
Map the way you use the kitchen
Spend a week noticing where daily tasks feel awkward. Record where food arrives, is stored, prepared, cooked and cleared away. If several people use the room, consider where they pass one another. A breakfast bar or island is only useful if it leaves comfortable circulation and access to appliances.
- Measure the room, ceiling height, openings and existing services.
- List every appliance and its required dimensions.
- Count what needs storage rather than guessing cabinet quantities.
- Note lighting needed for preparation, dining and general use.
Decide the scope before seeking quotes
Separate a cabinet replacement from a full renovation. Will you move plumbing, alter electrics, change flooring, remove a wall, replace windows or redecorate an adjoining room? Mark each item as included, excluded or undecided. This prevents a quote for units and fitting from being mistaken for the cost of the complete room.
If you are changing the structure or adding a kitchen in a room that did not have one, check whether approval is needed. The Planning Portal guidance for kitchens and bathrooms says a straightforward refit does not generally require building regulations approval in England, while drainage or electrical works may do. Check your exact proposal with the relevant professional or building control body.
Make the layout do the work
Draw the proposed units and appliances to scale. Check door swings, drawer clearance, the route between fridge, sink and cooking area, and the space available when an appliance is open. Keep enough useful worktop where food is actually prepared. Think about where bins, small appliances and cleaning supplies will live before committing to decorative features.
Ask how the design will handle ventilation, power points, water shut-offs and future access for appliance repair. If a layout requires services to move, request that the added work is identified separately in the quotation.
Specify the products that change the price
For meaningful quotes, list cabinet construction and finish, worktop material and edge detail, handles, sink and tap, appliances, splashback, flooring and lighting. If you have not chosen a product, provide an allowance and state whether it covers supply only or installation too. Keep manufacturer dimensions for every appliance in the project file.
Compare the complete installation
Ask suppliers to include a line-by-line description of removal, disposal, building work, first-fix services, installation, testing, tiling, flooring, decorating and making good. Check VAT, delivery, waste removal and any design fee. Find out who orders missing parts and what happens if a product arrives late or damaged. Do not sign off on a schedule that assumes all materials will arrive on time without checking lead times.
- Are electrics and plumbing included or supplied by other trades?
- Is any plastering or floor levelling included?
- Who coordinates deliveries and stores materials?
- What certificates or warranties will be provided?
- How are changes priced and approved?
Sequence the work realistically
Agree when final measurements will be taken, when orders become fixed and when the room will be out of use. A kitchen may be unavailable during strip-out, service changes, installation and finishing. Plan a temporary place for simple food preparation if you will live at home during the work. Leave room for hidden issues discovered after removal of the old kitchen.
At handover, open every door and drawer, test appliances, taps, lights and extraction, check worktop joints and visible finishes, and record any outstanding items. Keep manuals, warranties and certificates together. For a wider project framework, see our home renovation planning checklist.
Kitchen quote checklist
Give each supplier the same room measurements, layout, appliance list, product specification and scope. Ask them to show assumptions and exclusions in writing. That makes the comparison about the finished kitchen, not just the headline price of cabinets.
Source: Planning Portal: building regulations for kitchens and bathrooms. Guidance here relates to England; requirements vary by project and nation.