A kitchen extension idea using an open-plan layout and a white gloss kitchen with a handleless design

Kitchen Advice

Kitchen Extension Ideas

If you are looking to improve rather than move, then a kitchen extension is a great idea for increasing the available space within an existing room. Requiring more structural work, kitchen extension costs are usually higher than a standard fit and are often priced by the square metre. In return, it can increase the value of your property and make it more attractive to future buyers. It can also make a space more functional, giving you value for money in the long term. These kitchen extension ideas will help you visualise your new design and can be used to shape your plans with a trade professional.

A shaker kitchen extension idea with a space for family dining using slate-grey, solid timber doors and wooden worktops

1. Design for dining

One of the fundamental principles to farmhouse and country designs is to create a space where cooking and dining become one, which is why a kitchen extension lends well to shaker designs. The added room can accommodate a dining table and chairs for a more connected experience at family mealtimes. It will also create space for other activities like reading, work, and play.

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A kitchen extension using an integrated handle kitchen in a pebble colour

2. Embrace structural features

When planning a kitchen extension, it is quite common that new structural elements, like steels or beams, are required to strengthen the build. We recommend leaving these exposed for a signature look. Often seen in engineered interiors, this architectural dynamic works well in contemporary settings too, complementing the linear appeal of integrated handle designs.

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A slab kitchen design within a kitchen extension that uses a broken-plan style for kitchen and dining

3. Simplify with slab

Extending a kitchen is a a big project with many moving parts that can include planning permission, party wall settlements, and architect services. A great way to save time and money on your kitchen extension price, is to choose a simple design. Slab-style kitchens are affordable, easy to fit, and can be updated with minimal effort, prolonging the life of a design.

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A kitchen extension idea using a grey gloss kitchen with a handleless design, dark-grey worktops, and black profiles

4. Reach for the sky

This idea from @mpbbuildingcontractor really does demonstrate that the sky’s the limit when planning a kitchen extension. Providing an opportunity to start over can allow you to be more creative, especially if a bespoke look is what you are after. Here, they have installed a skylight to open up the room and emphasise the glossy finish of the units.

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5. Add a pop of colour

The increased space that an extension provides can allow you to be more creative with colour. Two-tone designs are increasingly popular and can draw a room in for a more intimate setting for socialising. @hollybushhome has used a mix of greys and blues in the room, using grey as her base shade to build upon with a statement navy island as the centrepiece.

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L-shape black kitchen idea with super-matt slab doors, glass wall cabinets above a white worktop, and a chrome kitchen tap.

6. Dare to go dark

The trend for dark kitchens shows no sign of slowing and in a small room it can appear closed in and crowded. To make way for a sultry shade, consider upgrading to larger window fittings to fill the room with natural light. Alternatively, a kitchen extension can expand on floor space that allows this colour to take centre stage.

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7. Set cupboards back

Freeing up floor space to create room for other features is a great reason to extend and setting cupboards back into the recess of a wall can do just that. This storage solution works particularly well in minimal interiors where visual clutter is kept to a minimum. Combine with white cupboards for a truly pared-back effect.

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8. Create a room with a view

For those that love to dine alfresco, a kitchen extension that overlooks the garden is a great way to extend your dining experience. In the winter months, this idea will help brighten a space by capturing plenty of natural light. To continue the botanical theme indoors, choose a design in rich green.

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Scandinavian blue kitchen idea in galley layout with shaker cupboard doors, white worktops, open shelving and wood flooring.

9. Make room for a pantry

For a small kitchen extension idea, why not transform an adjoining room, like a WC or boot room, into a pantry. Offering a designated area for storing ingredients, pantries are easy to access for all ages and can free up valuable space in base units. This will allow you to add alternative storage solutions likes drawers to keep essentials within easy reach for an accessible design.

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Slate grey modern handleless gloss kitchen in an apartment setting including kitchen island incorporating exposed shelving.

10. Break into open plan

One of the easiest ways to open up a space is to simply knock through a studwork or non-bearing wall. This will create an open design without the additional cost of structural changes. This cheap kitchen extension idea will also make way for full-height storage, like towers and larders, which can often overpower a small room, increasing the storing potential of a design.

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U-shaped kitchen with navy kitchen doors, wooden worktops and glazed wall units

11. Expose a wall

One of the benefits of a kitchen extension is that you go back to basics. This means you can expose original features, like a chimney breast or brickwork wall. Lending particularly well to engineered looks, this style would benefit heritage schemes too, like @thehawkes_victorianrenovation. Just add aged metal features with handles and taps to tie the look together.

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12. Add an island

More surface, more storage, more style opportunities - what better reason to extend than for an island. This focal feature creates a centrepiece in a room that is both eye-catching and multi-functional. For a statement look, ask your trade professional to create a wraparound effect, as found @lustliving, extending the counter around the edges of the unit for a premium look.

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Kitchen extension idea using a Chelford navy kitchen with open-plan layout and island

13. Build a social scene

Like islands, another reason homeowners look to extend is to create an open-plan design. This layout brings together cooking, dining, and living areas, making it a hub for entertaining. When planning open plan, we recommend adopting a consistent design feature throughout the space to tie the look together, like flooring as seen in the design from @house_on_the_crescent.

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14. Separate a utility

A separate utility brings its perks, helping to isolate noise from busy machines, keep laundry out of sight, and create a dedicated area for cleaning. This idea is easy to achieve when designing a kitchen extension and can allow enough space for freestanding devices, which have larger drum capacities. This will speed up household chores, allowing you to spend more time on other activities.

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15. Consider broken plan

For a large kitchen extension idea that helps to bring a room in, consider using a broken-plan layout with doorways. This design creates a divide between living, dining, and cooking areas, making it easier to navigate different zones. Our sliding door gears can be used with most of our internal doors while being easily customised for various configurations to extend or cordon off a space.

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