In this section
- Planning your kitchen
- Buying your kitchen
- Appliances and furniture
- Maintenance and care
- Kitchen design tips
- Accessible kitchens
- FAQs
- Kitchen image gallery
Special features
KBSA Consumer Guide
Our FREE guide contains practical advice for consumers who are considering buying a new kitchen, bedroom, bathroom or home office.
Flooring & lighting
Flooring
- A floor should be comfortable and non-slip as well as looking good.
- Pets or children in the household put an emphasis on ease of cleaning and upkeep.
- A hard tile floor is tiring to stand on for long periods, whereas a cork, vinyl or carpet tile will absorb some of the impact.
- Some wooden floors are suitable for the heavy wear a kitchen will attract and there is even a bamboo floor, resistant to damp and humidity.
- Remember that installation can sometimes be as expensive as the flooring itself.
Lighting
- Lighting should be a combination of task lights for specific areas and supplementary lighting for overall background light.
- A good designer should be able to create zones which can be operated independently, creating different moods.
- Working areas such as the food preparation surface, hob and sink should all have high wattage independent task lights to illuminate the area without creating a shadow over it.
- For low-level background lighting, choose under-cabinet striplights, plus a light over the table on a dimmer switch to create the right atmosphere for dining.
