What are the pros and cons of DIY kitchens?

Transform your home this summer with DIY kitchens

So the time has come to update your kitchen? It’s exciting but very daunting. A brand new kitchen is a wonder to behold. Gone is your tired looking old kitchen, with all the niggling things that either didn’t work properly or that you never liked. And in its place is the kitchen you really want and that is exactly right for your home and lifestyle.

Unfortunately with a new kitchen there are often weeks of disruption. All that noise, dust and dirt. Not being able to cook a proper meal for weeks. People constantly coming and going through your home. And that’s before you even start thinking about the expense of it all.

But does it have to be that way? 

In this article we take a look at alternative solutions to a professional kitchen refit : DIY kitchens. We explain what they are, how everything works, and what are the advantages to you as a customer.

What are DIY kitchens?

DIY kitchens are brand new kitchens where you are in complete control of both the purchasing and installation of the kitchen. Typically you would buy your kitchen cabinets and other furniture and fittings online. Everything would arrive at your home mostly flat packed, and it is then up to you to install it.

For someone either confident at DIY or with a little building experience, most DIY kitchens can easily be assembled yourself. However, another popular option is to buy DIY kitchens online and arrange for an independent kitchen fitter to install it for you. This option is still considerably cheaper than a complete kitchen refit by a kitchen company.

What is the process for installing DIY kitchens?

The key to successful DIY kitchens is careful planning. There are three main stages to this process:

• Get accurate measurements of your kitchen

It is really important to get the sizing exactly right. If you are out by just an odd half inch or centimetre, it can make a huge difference to whether or not your kitchen will fit properly. So measure, measure, and measure again. You need to be 100% confident that your measurements are 100% correct.

• Plan the best layout for your space

Take your time to plan the kitchen layout you want. On the one hand, you don’t have to keep the same layout you have now. If it is not working for you, then change it. On the other hand, bear in mind that if you are changing the location of items that need gas, electricity or plumbing, you are more likely to need professional help during the kitchen fitting process.

There are many kitchen design apps available that can help you to experiment with kitchen layouts. You will be able to input your kitchen measurements and see how different configurations of kitchen furniture would fit in. Check out the App Store or Google Play for options.

• Choose the styles and colours of your kitchen furniture

Once you have decided on a layout, you need to identify a supplier of DIY kitchens and start choosing your kitchen furniture. DIY Homefit supplies a wide range of kitchen cabinets, drawers, worktops, splashbacks and also accessories such as handles, plinths, pelmets, cornices and end panels. Everything is available in a range of standard sizes, or can be customised at no extra charge. And everything can be ordered online and will be delivered directly to your home.

You can find out more about products for our DIY kitchens on DIY Homefit’s kitchen cabinets page.

Installing DIY kitchens

If your measuring and planning has been accurate, installing the kitchen should go smoothly. All DIY Homefit DIY kitchens come with detailed instructions to help with the process. However, if you need help, or would prefer the installation to be done by someone with more experience, we can help with this too.

We offer a unique ‘Find a Fitter’ option to put you in touch with five potential kitchen fitters near you. Many already have experience with our DIY kitchens. To see the list of kitchen fitters near you, simply head to our Find a Fitter page and enter your postcode.

What are the advantages of DIY kitchens?

There are many advantages to DIY kitchens. Here are just a few:

• Cost : DIY kitchens are much cheaper than a complete kitchen refit by a kitchen company, but if done carefully can look just as good.
• Timing : DIY kitchens put you in control of every aspect of your kitchen refit, including when it happens. You don’t have to wait around for weeks until a company can fit you in, you can determine a time that works for you and plan accordingly.
• Creativity : when designing your kitchen yourself you can have it exactly the way you want it, without being overly influenced by others and possibly ending up with a kitchen that looks the same as everyone else’s. You can mix and match the different elements of your kitchen in whatever way you choose, and result in a unique kitchen that is right for you and your family.

Are there any disadvantages of DIY kitchens?

You may be reading all the above and still have a niggling doubt whether DIY kitchens are right for you. Are there any disadvantages?

The only potential disadvantage is that something goes wrong either in the planning process – particularly with measurements – or with the quality of the installation. But both these scenarios can be overcome.

Firstly you need to ensure that you are very careful when measuring and planning the layout of your kitchen. DIY Homefit has produced Measuring Up Procedure guidelines to help you through this stage, and are also happy to provide advice by phone or face to face.

Secondly you can call on professional expertise during installation if needed. We have already mentioned our Find a Fitter service, and even if you decide to use this, your new kitchen will still be considerably cheaper than if you had outsourced the whole job to a kitchen company.

We hope that this article inspires you to consider the advantages of DIY kitchens if you are planning a new kitchen any time soon. For more inspiration and ideas take a browse through DIY Homefit’s gallery of kitchen pictures to see just how good DIY kitchens can look.

And remember to visit us again soon here at DIY Homefit for more home and lifestyle tips.