Moving a kitchen to another room isn't a task for the faint-hearted. Here's what to consider before you start

If moving a kitchen to another room is going to form part of your kitchen renovation plans, you'll probably have already anticipated that it's not quite as simple a job as switching bedrooms or living rooms.

With power, water, drainage and ventilation all an integral part of any kitchen design, the reality is that relocating a kitchen isn't for the faint-hearted. Even if it's just to a room next door, there are lots of different elements to consider and budget for.

So before you make your final decision, we asked kitchen and building experts for their top tips for moving a kitchen to another room.

Be clear on why you are moving your kitchen to another room

While you may be thinking of relocating your kitchen on the advice of an architect or designer, if it's purely on a whim, it could be worth taking a step back and taking a long hard look at the reasoning behind your decision.

"Relocating a kitchen is a major project that requires careful planning. The first step is understanding why the move is necessary – it it to create an open-plan kitchen, improve functionality, or optimise the home’s layout?" says Charlie Smallbone, founder of Ledbury Studios.

Once you understand the why, it's then necessary to consider the impact of this on the rest of your plans for renovating a house.

"I would always suggest that any decision regarding the design and layout of a kitchen should be deeply influenced by its position in your home and how the other rooms and spaces relate to it," adds Nathan Kingsbury, creative director at Nathan Kingsbury Design.

"Therefore in the scenario of moving a kitchen to another room, one should consider the current layout and the position that you would like to move the kitchen to, and why you feel it would work better in the new one.

"Though it sounds like a cliche (it’s for good reason), the kitchen really is still the 'heart of the home'," says Nathan, "so working through all the ramifications of its position and how it will make your home feel and flow is by far the best approach.

"Once this decision is made, it's a case of ascertaining the cost of such a considerable move in terms of services and change of use," he explains. "Weighing up these costs against the potential benefit will quickly crystallise your decision."

Charlie Smallbone

Charlie Smallbone was the founder of bespoke furniture brand Smallbone of Devizes and has been pushing the boundaries of kitchen design for over 40 years. Charlie’s current venture, Ledbury Studio, was born of his desire to harness the beauty of natural materials while creating practical kitchens that exude style and elegance.

Nathan Kingsbury

Nathan has over 20 years experience in the kitchen industry. For Nathan, designing kitchens is more than just a business; it’s a vocation and passion. He is a natural artist with an inventive, engineering mind, a trained craftsman with a precise eye for detail and a perfectionist with an honest and attentive nature.

Moving services, drainage and ventilation

The most impactful part of moving a kitchen to another room is how this will affect your services, drainage and kitchen ventilation. Whether the stunning view from your second floor means you're going as far as considering designing a kitchen for an upside down layout, or you're simply switching to a different location on the ground floor, relocating a kitchen isn't just a case of popping in a new set of kitchen cabinets, choosing a worktop and adding a few appliances to a different room.

"Deciding the new location is crucial, as it will impact complexity and cost," says Charlie Smallbone. "Moving a kitchen into a kitchen extension, reconfigured room, or an entirely different part of the house will require different levels of structural work, plumbing, and electrical adjustments for safety and usability."

Getting your drainage right

One of the biggest implications of moving a kitchen to another room is the demand for the correct drainage.

Bringing water in should not be too much of an issue – plastic plumbing is flexible so it can be run through voids in the floor and around corners in a way that can be harder or more time-consuming to do with copper plumbing.

However, relocating waste pipes tends to be more problematic. Not only will you have to consider your sink, but also a dishwasher and perhaps a washing machine too. Where your drains are located will play a large role – in semi-detached houses they are often to the side of the house, but if they are at the rear and your new kitchen will be located at the front of the house, then getting a large pipe to and from the right points can be tricky.

"Drainage is vital for any kitchen and will be dictated by the location of the sink, dishwasher and any other plumbed in appliances," confirms Charlie Avara, founder of Build by Charlie.

"New pipework will need to be linked to the existing main drain in the house so knowing where the main drain is will be extremely helpful when planning your kitchen.

"Factoring in what your floors are, or will, be made of is also important," she adds. "It can be easier to run new pipework through a suspended timber floor than creating channels in a solid floor, for example."

Charlie Smallbone also notes that if you will require new drainage routes or structural alterations when moving a kitchen to another room, this may require addressing practical factors such as planning permission and building regulations early to avoid encountering any potential delays.

Charlie Avara

Charlie Avara has over 15 years experience in the construction industry and now runs her own domestic contracting business, BUILD by Charlie. With a proven track record of delivering on projects ranging from the ultra modern, through to period properties, Charlie is an expert when it comes to building, renovating or remodelling homes.

Will you need additional ventilation if you relocate your kitchen?

Kitchen ventilation is not just important from comfort point of view – after all no-one likes the lingering odour of cooking smells – but there are also building regulations requirements in place you must adhere to which may impact your final kitchen ideas.

"Ventilation can often throw up challenges when it comes to relocating a kitchen, as one client recently discovered," says Charlie Avara.

"On a recent project to create a luxury kitchen the interior designer was looking to put the hob on a kitchen island. The design meant that the only way that we could effectively ventilate the hob was to use a new downdraft system.

"However the property has a solid concrete floor rather than a suspended floor, meaning that running the necessary ventilation through the floor would be both challenging and costly," explains Charlie.

"Instead the decision was made to relocate the hob to an external wall making ventilation much more straightforward. Another possible work around would have been to use a recirculating ventilation system, but then building control would need to see an additional source of ventilation which the client didn’t want to go for."

Consider these downdraft extractors for your new kitchen ventilation plans

Don't forget that you will also need to take fire safety into account

It's also important to consider the fire risk implications of moving a kitchen to another room, warns Charlie Avara.

"Unsurprisingly, kitchens are the most common room for domestic fires to break out and as a result there are strict regulations to maximise safety. You are required to have a firebreak between the kitchen and circulation spaces and thirty minutes between the kitchen and the stairwell," says Charlie.

"For a traditional property this can be achieved with a firedoor, however if you are looking for an open plan finish you might want to bring in a fire consultant to work with you or a designer," she suggests. "Common ways that clients have overcome the challenge of fire safety in open plan designs is by installing a fire curtain or a misting / sprinkler system."

If moving a kitchen to another room upstairs, then seeking expert advice on the matter is even more important as your exit plan will need to take this into account.

Design and layout implications

With the practical elements in hand, you'll also need to dedicate time and attention to the design and layout of your new kitchen – particularly as moving a kitchen to another room will likely have an impact on your dining and living spaces, or even your bedrooms.

It's why engaging the services of professionals is advised, even more so than when planning a kitchen in a new build or standard kitchen extension ideas.

"The new kitchen in it's new location should integrate seamlessly with the home’s design while still meeting practical needs," says Charlie Smallbone. "Homeowners should define their preferred style and ensure the space suits their cooking and lifestyle habits. Researching inspiration and consulting with kitchen designers, architects, and contractors early on will help ensure feasibility."

“If a kitchen relocation is on the cards, there has to be a valid reason why it makes sense, so to ensure it does, we’ll ask our clients what their new kitchen needs to deliver in terms of practicality and function, ahead of what it looks like," says Richard Davonport, managing director and founder of kitchen specialists, Davonport.

"That way, we can access the space on offer and see if their dream kitchen really can be delivered in their planned space. Many kitchen designers have years and years of experience and have seen many different shapes and sized rooms, so don’t be afraid to ask them their thoughts and if they would do anything differently," he says, "so they may have an idea you or your architect haven’t thought of."

If moving your kitchen to an area that will also serve as a living space for example, it may be that your kitchen designer suggests looking at whether freestanding kitchen ideas rather than fitted ones may be more suitable – something you may not have previously considered.

Richard Davonport

Richard Davonport is a luxury cabinetmaker and designer, and the founder and Managing Director of kitchen specialists, Davonport. The company designs and makes bespoke kitchens from its workshop in the heart of East Anglia.

Cost and time implications

"Budget is a key consideration, as relocating a kitchen is often more expensive than your standard new kitchen costs, due to additional expenditure for new drainage, electrics, and possible structural changes," says Charlie Smallbone.

"Moving services is one of the most costly aspects of relocating a kitchen," confirms Charlie Avara. "If you are going to remodel a kitchen you’re likely to be moving them anyway, but relocating the services is costly because they usually run through the floor or ceiling, meaning that you are pulling up floors, or pulling down ceilings to reroute piping and ductwork – often you’ll need to do both."

And, if the space is far away from existing connections, costs can rise even higher says Charlie Smallbone.

“It might be that in order to make relocating a kitchen work, another area may have to be sacrificed, such as choosing your kitchen appliances or worktop options," says Richard Davonport. "With remodelling, we always recommend at least a 20% additional budget over the usual 10% extra for just a kitchen renovation."

Of course, this also doesn't include any major plumbing, drainage, electrical or ventilation costs so be sure to get a comprehensive quote before you make your final decision.

Make sure everyone is aware of timescales

With so much work to complete, it can also be easy for timescales to run away with you. The expert's advice for keeping on top of it all? Clear channels of communication.

“From a homeowner perspective, and a designer’s perspective, there needs to be clear communication over timescales and also with all other tradespeople involved in a job," advises Richard Davonport.

"For example, when designing a kitchen, a designer will think carefully about position for electric sockets, but this needs to be relayed clearly to the tradespeople on site. It is important to talk about who is responsible for communicating various aspects of the design to the relevant individuals. A designer may ask this question but it is also worth the homeowner raising the points too.”

Another element not to forget when moving a kitchen to another room is a potential issue with soundproofing. With the hum of appliances and regular footfall, be sure that it won't affect other rooms close to the new location and take a look at whether acoustic insulation could be a potential solution.

Likewise, as with any work involving your current kitchen, you'll also need to consider where you cook while the work is taking place. "

Planning temporary kitchen arrangements can make the transition smoother. With careful preparation and informed decisions, relocating a kitchen can significantly enhance both thehome’s functionality and overall living experience," says Charlie Smallbone. So, if you're planning on staying put while the work takes place, follow these top tips for living on site while renovating.