Kitchen Design Details That Make a Big Difference (Before You Order Your Kitchen)
If you’ve recently hosted friends and family or spent time in a beautifully considered kitchen, you’ll know how important the finishing touches can be. Often, it’s not the cabinetry that stands out most, but the smaller kitchen design details: thoughtfully placed sockets, lighting that creates the right atmosphere, and hardware that feels as good as it looks.
Rather than chasing trends, the most enduring kitchens are shaped by considered details that stand the test of time. Thoughtful choices around lighting, sockets and hardware can quietly elevate the space, influencing how it feels and functions every day. These elements allow a kitchen to feel calmer, smarter and more refined.
1. Plan sockets like you plan seating: around real life
When people say “I wish we’d added more sockets”, what they usually mean is: “we put them in the wrong places.”
Before your design is locked, stand in your imaginary kitchen and map the moments that actually happen:
- coffee station (machine + grinder + phone charging)
- prep zone (blender, toaster, scales)
- entertaining zone (island nibbles + music + chargers)
- “appliance garage” / tucked-away countertop bits
Then match socket positions to those zones so you’re not trailing leads across the worktop when you’ve got guests over.
Quick checklist to share with your kitchen designer/electrician:
- Do you need sockets on/near the island?
- Do you want charging (USB) where people naturally drop phones?
- Are any sockets better hidden inside cupboards (for small appliances)?
2. Layer your lighting – and use dimmers
If your kitchen lighting only has one setting, you won’t be able to adapt it to different times of day.
A kitchen that feels inviting usually has layers of light:
- Task lighting (this could include under-cabinet, or spotlights so prep is shadow-free)
- Ambient lighting (downlights or a central ceiling fitting that can be dimmed)
- Accent lighting (pendants, wall lights, shelf lamps)
For day-to-day life, task lighting matters most. For hosting, dimmable mood lighting is what makes the whole room feel softer and more considered.
Mini tip: if you’re doing pendants over an island, think about where the switch will sit when your hands are full (plates, pans, kids… all of it).
3. Going for matt cupboards? Go bigger on handles (and save your sanity)
Matt cabinetry looks beautiful, but it comes with a very real-life issue: hands naturally grab the door wherever they can, and matt finishes show those marks fast.
The fix: choose larger handles / longer pulls so your hand is guided to one place, every time. It’s a simple kitchen design detail change that:
- reduces fingerprints on doors
- feels more ergonomic (especially on heavy drawers)
- adds texture and intrigue to your kitchen
D&R finishing-touch upgrade: use properly sized pulls (including appliance pulls where needed) and keep the finish consistent across the room – it’s one of the fastest ways to make cabinetry look more premium.
4. Don’t forget the ‘invisible’ switches (this is where kitchens feel truly bespoke)
This is the one that separates a nice kitchen from a beautiful one.
In a kitchen, you’ll often need switched fused spurs (sometimes called fused connection units) for appliances so you can isolate power safely without crawling behind a dishwasher. Guides from electrical suppliers note these units are commonly used for isolation, and often include switches for turning appliances off when needed.
The problem? These are exactly the plates people leave until last… then end up with a random bit of white plastic that breaks the whole scheme.
Add these to your “don’t forget” list:
- fused spurs for dishwasher / washing machine / fridge (where required)
- extractor / hob isolators (where applicable)
- any pantry/utility area plates (often overlooked)
5. Choose a ‘finish story’
When choosing finishes for your kitchen, it’s often more effective to think in terms of a cohesive finish story rather than following short-term trends. Kitchens that stand the test of time tend to be anchored by palettes that reflect the people who live there, layered with texture and one or two considered accent finishes used consistently throughout the space.
Timeless colour and finish combinations to consider:
- Soft off-whites like Pantone’s 2026 Colour of the Year, Cloud Dancer, pairs beautifully with polished nickel or chrome for a bright yet quietly luxurious feel.
- Deeper blues like Dulux’s Colour of the Year 2026, Slow Swing™, combined with antique brass or bronze to introduce warmth and richness, without dating
- Blue or pale pink cabinetry with matt black accents create a clean, contemporary contrast – black is particularly effective with pale worktops.
Once you’ve chosen your cabinet colour and worktop, pick your finish story (one metal + one supporting tone) and specify your sockets, switches, handles, lighting and taps at the same time.”
Ally Dowsing-Reynolds, Co-Founder
