Homeowners tell us the best and worst things about getting a new kitchen

Buying a new kitchen can be both challenging and expensive, which means you want to get it right.

Decisions such as where to install your appliances or which decor will work can make a world of difference to the final design – and could end up costing more if things go wrong.

To help you, we’ve quizzed more than 1,000 Which? members to find the 7 things people regret most about their kitchen design, as well as giving you a host of expert tips on kitchen planning and layout ideas and how much you should spend.

We’ve also spoken to three homeowners about their experiences of getting a new kitchen installed and what mistakes to avoid. Remember, joining Which? gives you access to our insights into the best and worst kitchen brands, as well as help with finding Trusted Traders you can rely on.

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'It’s easy to get carried away with add-ons and they can add up'

• Who are you? Hannah Claytor, 32, head of customer experience and product development for a holiday company from Newcastle-upon-Tyne

• When did you get your kitchen installed?

'Our kitchen was installed in December 2021. It cost £15,000, plus installation and flooring. We were extending the back of the house and knocking through the existing kitchen and dining rooms to create an open-plan living space. 

'The kitchen was there when we moved into the house and was more of a farmhouse style. We kept it for a few years as it was nice and good quality, but not quite to our taste and the wooden surfaces were difficult to maintain.

'We went for an open-plan design, with charcoal cabinets and concrete effect island cabinets and white quartz surfaces – a modern take on a Shaker kitchen.

'It took about three weeks for design and tweaks, plus roughly two months to fit and finish, although it’s difficult to say exactly as it was part of a bigger project.

'I loved how it turned out and I still love it two years on. Seeing it all come together in different stages was so exciting.'

• What do you regret? 

'Not a lot, really. The one thing I’d change is I probably would have gone for an induction hob instead of gas – it would be much easier to clean!

'In terms of tips, I'd say don’t hesitate to ask to see multiple designs rendered up and tweak the plans based on your feedback. It’s a big investment and you want to be happy with it before it all gets locked in.

'Check all pages of the quote carefully. The quartz surface was costed for separately on an entirely different page. As there were two versions of the main quote – a sales price and standard price – this was hidden away at the back and we missed it off our budgeting plans.

'It’s also easy to get carried away with add-ons – things such as pull-outs for the cabinets and organisers for the drawers – and they can add up. Some can be useful, but really think about if you need them. We didn’t have many add-ons and I don’t regret it at all.'

• Our comment:

'You should always aim for as detailed a quote as possible to avoid any unpleasant surprises. Remember that a quote is a fixed price that can't be changed once accepted, but an estimate can increase significantly as work progresses. 

'Remember you should also factor in an extra 10% to 15% of your total budget for contingency costs – basically to cover anything that could go wrong.'

Is an induction hob right for you? See our best induction hobs guide. Plus, find out why induction hob owners shouldn't bother buying a slow cooker

‘It can be cheaper to buy appliances and worktops separately, but it does make it a little harder’

• Who are you? James Scott, 42, product manager from Surrey
  
  
• When did you get your kitchen installed?

'I had a £27,000 open-plan kitchen installed in 2023, which was done as part of a larger extension project and replaced older units. The extension rebuild took around six months to complete, with the kitchen around two months as part of that.

'I’m really happy with the new layout and modern appliances. I got a Quooker tap, which is excellent, and the oven and dishwasher are good quality. I’m also glad I got a drinks fridge, as I have noticed the integrated fridge is smaller than what I had previously.'

• What do you regret?

'I got the units from Magnet, but I now think it would probably have been easier to have Magnet fit the kitchen, rather than having the builder’s fitter do the work.

'The builders haven’t done a bad job by any means, but their fitter wasn’t as familiar with the parts and cabinets sent. Some extras pieces were required and I fixed a couple of issues myself rather than chase between them.

'It can be cheaper to buy appliances and worktops separately, rather than from the supplier.

'However, this does put more onus on you to get everything there on time and makes it a little harder to hold someone responsible for any issues.

'Delay delivery until you’re definitely sure you’re ready to install. You may only have a couple of weeks to report any issues with the delivery, so if it all stays boxed up while the tiling, plumbing and electrical work is taking place, you may have issues with the supplier rectifying problems.

'Assume it’s going in for at least a decade and make design choices based on that.'

• Our comment:

'Although using your own fitters and buying your own appliances and worktops will save you money, you shouldn't underestimate how difficult it is to organise your kitchen installation. 

'In addition, delays and issues in the fitting process are common. In our best kitchen fitters survey, out of more than 1,500 Which members who had a kitchen fitted in the past 30 years, 30% experienced delays in their kitchen installation. 

'Another 14% had problems with their fitter (for example, they damaged the units). 

'If you're going to use your own fitter, make sure you are using a Which? Trusted Trader.'

For more information, see our guide to kitchen installation. And if you're considering installing a boiling water tap or a wine cooler, read our guides to help

'Built in appliances can be far more expensive than standard versions – and difficult to replace'

• Who are you? Tony Cave, 76, retired from London

• When did you get your kitchen installed?

'I have a galley-style kitchen, which my brother and I installed ourselves in 2002. The kitchen units cost around £2,000 from Howdens.

'My kitchen still looks fantastic, even after all these years. Even if I were to change it again, I would probably keep the layout much the same – it really works for me.'

• What do you regret?

'Bear in mind that over time appliances will need to be changed. In my kitchen, my freezer, fridge, dishwasher, washing machine and boiler have all been replaced, in some cases more than once.

'Appliances such as washing machines and ovens seem to come in standard sizes, so were easy enough to change.

'However, if you have built-in appliances, which was the case with my first freezer, for some reason they can be far more expensive than buying the standard versions and be difficult to replace. I ended up buying a standard freezer to replace the built-in one and just doing without the fancy front.

'I actually found I got extra capacity with the standard freezer. With hindsight, I shouldn’t have been seduced by a freezer with a matching door.

'I also found that when I replaced the boiler with a Worcester Bosch boiler, it was smaller than the one that had come out. This meant there was a gap between the new boiler and the place where the wall tiles finished.

'I had kept some spare tiles, so was able to replace them, but I’ve just had it replaced again by a compact model, which is even smaller – and I don’t have any more tiles.

'I’ve taken a photograph of them to the tile shop in the hope that it will be able to track down similar ones. But it’s definitely worth thinking ahead when you have your kitchen fitted and bearing in mind that you may need to replace appliances.'

• Our comment:

'If you're concerned about the durability of your appliances, make sure you check out our guide to the best and worst kitchen appliances, which includes information on the durability of different brands.'

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