Start with the room you actually have
Measure both walls and the ceiling height, and mark doors, windows, radiators and service points before placing a single cabinet. The example uses a 480 × 380 cm room, but its value is the order of decisions, not its dimensions. Enter your own measurements first; a layout that only works at someone else’s size will not survive contact with your walls.
Place appliances before storage
Decide where the fridge, hob, oven and sink must go, because plumbing, extraction and power are the hardest things to move. Keep a landing space beside the hob and fridge, and check that appliance doors can open without blocking a drawer or a walkway. Only then fill the remaining width with the storage you reach for most.
Check the layout in three views
A plan shows widths; an elevation shows whether wall cabinets clear heads and worktops; the 3D view shows how the room feels from the door. Move between all three before settling. If two runs face each other, check the gap with doors and drawers open, not just the body-to-body distance on the plan.
Questions before you start
Which layout should I choose first?
Start from your longest uninterrupted wall. One run suits narrow rooms, an L opens the centre, and a U or island needs enough width that facing units still leave a comfortable walking gap.
When do I choose colours and handles?
After the layout survives the checks. Finishes change in one click, but moving a sink or a tall unit late in the process usually means starting the arrangement again.
