If you want to cook up a great kitchen the first thing to do is take stock of your ingredients and consider how much of each you will need.

First off, clarify your needs by answering these quick questions:

1. Who will be the main user of the kitchen? A busy mum, a gourmet chef, or a takeaway junkie whose most advanced appliance is a toaster?
2. How many people will you cook for on average? Are you into entertaining a crowd?
3. How much storage will you need? Do you shop on a daily, weekly or monthly basis? Will it be more fresh food, or tins and packets?
4. Would you rather an informal kitchen that is open to entertaining areas, or something quite separate?
5. Do you need to squeeze laundry facilities into the space?
6. Where are the existing entries and exits, windows or views, electrical, plumbing and exterior walls (for exhaust fans)? Can any of these be altered?

Draw up a floor plan

Now it's time to draw up a floor plan of the space you have available, to scale. Don't forget to mark fixed items like windows, power points, light switches, door swings and plumbing.

Snip out your appliances

The next thing to do is draw your intended appliances to scale and then cut up the pieces of paper so they are easy to move around the floor plan. This is the easiest way to find the best layout. You may need to compromise on size or style of appliances, depending on the space available.

Be sure to draw up your existing appliances to scale, or use our own handy cut-out kitchen planner. Just print it out, cut it up and play with the pieces. All dimensions are standard unit sizes.

To make drawing things to scale easier, buy some graph paper (1sq = 250mm) from newsagents.

Storage and bench space

Next up, look at how much storage and bench space you need so you can allow adequate space for them between appliances.

Draw up a list of everything you wish to store in your kitchen to make sure you don't miss anything out. Food, utensils and small appliances all need to be stored near where they're used. Consider dry goods as well as fresh food space needs - a cool cupboard with good ventilation for vegetables will save on fridge space. Also, don't forget space for the recycling bins or easy access to bins outside.

Most kitchen bench tops are 600mm deep, but length is a negotiable factor at planning stage. How much do you need? Here are some suggested lengths for bench spaces around the kitchen:

• Bench near the fridge for unloading goods: 450mm.
  Bench near a wall oven: 450mm.
  Serving bench to accommodate an average of two plates: 300mm.
  Serving bench to accommodate an average of four plates: 600mm.
  Preparation area bench: 1000-1800mm (more cooks equals more bench space).

Storage inspirations

Here are a few ideas for storage solutions:

Corners
Bifold doors.
A lazy Susan (180 or 360 degrees).
Cupboard doors accessible from other side.

Drawers
Cutlery inserts.
Vertical divisions.
Pull-out wire baskets.

Rubbish
Bench chute.
Bin attached to the back of cupboard door.
Bin in rollout frame within a cupboard.

Vertical storage
Cupboard dividers.
Deep drawer dividers (trays).
Pull-out wire frames.

Small appliancesBifold doors.
Sliding doors.
Under a raised ledge.
On shelf that pulls out from inside cupboard.

Overhead cupboards
Adjustable shelves.
Open shelves.
Racks.
Hooks.