DIY step-by-step kitchen installation: From beginning to end

If you’re dreaming of a new kitchen but looking to keep costs down, you might be willing to give DIY kitchen installation a go. But with so many elements to get your head around, it can be difficult to know where to start.

Here, we’ll walk you through DIY kitchen installation step by step, so you can feel confident getting your new kitchen set up yourself.

Fitting a kitchen from start to finish

When it comes to fitting a kitchen, the exact steps you need to follow (and the order in which you do them) will depend on the scope of your kitchen renovation.

For instance, are you simply looking to replace your kitchen cabinets and worktops? Or are you looking to remodel your kitchen entirely, from changing the layout to switching out your kitchen floor?

That said, as a general guide, the process of DIY kitchen installation will usually look something like this:

1. Prepare your kitchen. This includes ripping out your old kitchen and hiring a plumber or electrician to deal with pipework and electrical points.
2. Assemble your kitchen cabinets. If your kitchen has arrived flat pack, you’ll first need to assemble your cabinets.
3. Start kitchen cabinets installation. Start with the base corner units and leave the wall units until last. Fit any integrated appliances as you go.
4. Paint. If you’re going to be redecorating, it’s a good idea to paint before you install any new flooring or kitchen worktops.
5. Install new flooring. If you’re replacing your kitchen floor, now’s the time to do it. Lay your underlay first and tape it in place. Then fit the flooring.
6. Add the finishing touches to your cabinets. This includes fitting your end panels, kitchen doors, trim, baseboards and door handles.
7. Begin kitchen worktops installation. You’ll need to cut your worktop to size and screw it into position.
8. Start installing a kitchen sink. If you have a standard inset sink, now is the time to install it (just bear in mind that a Belfast sink will need to be fitted before the worktop).
9. Install your splashback. Finally, you’ll just need to install your kitchen tiles, splashback, or upstand.
10. Complete your second fix. Finish off by getting your electrician and plumber back for their second fix. Then simply touch up any paintwork as needed, sit back and enjoy a cuppa in your new kitchen!

Pssst! If you’re short on time or energy, why not get a kitchen fitter to install your kitchen for you? Not only will they get the job done without you having to lift a finger, but you’ll also know your kitchen has been installed to a professional standard that will stand the test of time.

How to prepare for a DIY kitchen

Now you know roughly what the process of installing a DIY kitchen looks like, let’s go into a bit more detail. When it comes to preparing for your new kitchen to go in, here’s what you’ll need to consider:

• Rip out your old kitchen. Remove your old kitchen appliances and units, making sure to have a skip ready if you’re going to be disposing of them. You may also need to rip out your old flooring if you’re planning to replace your kitchen floor.
• Hire a plumber and electrician. We wouldn’t recommend taking on plumbing and electrical work yourself. Instead, hire a plumber and electrician to deal with any pipework and fix electrical points. They should do their first fix before you install your new kitchen.
• Patch up plasterwork. Now that your kitchen is a bare space, it’s time to patch up any holes in the wall or plaster – usually, you can just use filler, but if your walls are in bad condition, you might need to hire a plasterer to skim.
• Re-level the floor. Depending on what kind of new flooring (if any) you’re going to be installing, you may need to screed the floor to level it.

Kitchen cabinets installation

If you buy flat-pack units, you’ll need to assemble them before you start installing cabinets in your kitchen. This won’t be much different to assembling any other kind of flat-pack furniture.

However, if you buy cabinets that are pre-assembled, you’ll usually just have to slot the feet onto the bottom. Then, you’re ready to start fitting your kitchen units!

Installing cabinets in the kitchen

1. Get your base units into position. Start with the corner units and work your way out – place any freestanding appliances into their correct spots as you go.
2. Level your base units. Use a spirit level to ensure that they are all adjusted to the same height – you can adjust the heights of your units by twisting the feet on the bottom.
3. Secure your units together. The easiest way to do this is to use clamps to hold them in place before drilling through the sides of your base units and screwing them together. They should end up being connected in one long line.
4. Secure them to the wall. Use L-shaped brackets to screw each unit to the wall.
5. Mark out the position of your wall cabinets. Make sure that the top of them is in line with the top of any tower cabinets you’ve installed. Use a spirit level, a measuring tape and a pencil to draw a line where you want the bottom of the cabinets to be.
6. Install your wall cabinets. Use wall brackets to fit your wall cabinets at your desired height – start in a corner and work your way out again.
7. Secure your wall cabinets together. Use a spirit level to check that your wall cabinets are level and then clamp and screw them together as you did with your base cabinets.
8. Fit your end panels. Cut your end panels to size and secure them to your units using clamps. Then screw through the side of your unit into the end panel to fix them in place.
9. Fit your kitchen plinths. Cut your kitchen plinths to size and then use fitting clips to attach them to the feet of your base units.
10. Fit your cabinet doors. If your cabinets arrived without doors, now’s the time to attach them. Either way, check that the doors are hanging level and adjust them if necessary. Don’t forget to add handles to your cabinets too!

Kitchen worktops installation

Fitting your own kitchen worktops can be tricky – worktops are heavy and some materials require special attention. For instance, stone and granite worktops should really be installed by a professional.

In an ideal world, we’d recommend getting the help of a joiner when it comes to installing kitchen worktops. However, if you decide that DIY kitchen worktop installation is the way to go, here are the steps for fitting laminate worktops. Just make sure that you get someone to help you as you’ll likely need two pairs of hands!

Installing kitchen worktops

1. Let your worktops acclimatise. Leave them for around 24 hours after they have been delivered and then fit them as soon as possible.
2. Cut your worktops to size. The easiest way is to use a circular power saw with a fine-tooth, thin blade. Smooth down any rough edges with sandpaper.
3. Place the worktops into position. Rest them on the base units and check that the overhang is the same across all sections.
4. Join sections of worktop together. To do this, cut a joining strip to the same width as the worktop. Screw it to one of the cut edges, then add some silicone sealant to it before pushing it firmly against the adjoining section of worktop.
5. Secure the worktop to the base units. Clamp them together and then screw through the back and front support struts into the worktop from below, using 5mm diameter wood screws.
6. Finish cut ends. The manufacturer should provide you with end strips for this purpose – cut them to size and then apply contact adhesive to the strips and the ends of the worktop. Wait for 15 minutes before securing the strip in place.

Kitchen sinks installation

A standard inset sink will need to be installed after the worktop, whereas a Belfast kitchen sink will need to be installed beforehand. Here are the steps you’ll need to take to install each of them.

Installing a kitchen sink

To fit a standard inset kitchen sink, follow these simple steps:

1. Fit the base unit that will accommodate the sink. These have an open top to make it easy to fit an inset sink directly on top.
2. Get the plumbing ready. Addressing the plumbing now will allow you to reach down from the top instead of fiddling around beneath a worktop, which will be much easier. Ideally, you should hire a plumber to carry this out for you.
3. Fit your kitchen worktop. Follow the steps in our guide to fitting kitchen worktops above. You can order worktops with holes for your sink and taps already in place, but if not, you’ll need to cut them in – which brings us onto…
4. Mark the size of your sink on the worktop. Position your sink upside down on the worktop. Use a pencil to draw around it and mark out the cutting area.
5. Measure in from the pencil mark. Usually, it’s recommended to measure in around 25mm from the pencil mark – but make sure to use whatever measurement the manufacturer recommends. Mark out the area you’re going to be cutting out clearly.
6. Cut out a hole. To cut a hole for your sink, drill a 25mm hole in your worktop, then insert the blade of your jigsaw and cut around the area you’ve marked out.
7. Apply sealing putty to the edges of the sink. Do this while the sink is upside down – usually, sinks will be supplied with sealing putty in either a tub or self-adhesive roll.
8. Fit the sink into the hole you’ve created. It should sit neatly with the sealed edges flush against the worktop.
9. Attach the sink clips. These should be fastened all around the edge of the sink to secure it to the worktop.

Belfast kitchen sink install

If you’re looking to install a Belfast kitchen sink, the process will be a little different as they’re undermount as opposed to inset sinks:

1. Mark out the indent for your sink on the worktop. Mark out the sink’s measurements and then measure in by 7-10mm to create an overhang along the back and sides of the sink. This will prevent water from running between the sink and the worktop into your kitchen cabinets.
2. Cut the indent into your worktop. Use a saw to follow the marked out measurements you made. Then, set your worktop aside to install later.
3. Place your sink onto the base unit. There should be a designated space for it to sit – make sure it fits with the plumbing and waste pipes and ideally leave 5mm clearance around the sink in case of expansion.
4. Connect your sink to the plumbing. We’d recommend getting a plumber to handle this for you.
5. Check your worktop fits. Place it over the sink to make sure the indent you created is the right size and that the overhang is present. Make any necessary adjustments before sanding down the edges of the cut to create a smooth finish. Then, remove the worktop.
6. Apply sealant to your sink. This should go around the rim of your sink’s sides and back – basically, anywhere it will have contact with your kitchen worktop.
7. Fit your worktop. Make sure everything is lined up perfectly and then place it down. All that’s left now is to install your kitchen tap!

Kitchen tap installation

Fitting a kitchen tap is a lot easier than you might think. However, we’d always recommend getting the help of a qualified plumber to connect it to the mains, to make sure the connection is secure and won’t let you down!

How to install a mixer tap on kitchen sink

1. Drill a tap hole into your kitchen sink. Your kitchen sink may already have a tap hole made, but if not, you’ll need to drill a tap hole into it following the manufacturer’s instructions.
2. Line the tap up with your sink’s tap hole. Slot the tap in gently and make sure it’s lined up properly.
3. Add the rubber washer. Get beneath the sink and place the rubber washer on your tap’s thread. Use a nut to secure it. These parts will usually come with your new tap.
4. Check your tap is facing the right way. Once you’ve got it where you want it, use a spanner to tighten the nut so it doesn’t move about.
5. Connect it to the mains. Use the fittings included to create a reliable connection to your water pipes, making sure to use rubber washers or o-rings. Ideally, we’d recommend getting a plumber to complete this step, just to be safe!

DIY kitchen design

If you’re planning to fit your own kitchen, you might be contemplating designing your own kitchen too.

If this is the case, you can use an online planner for DIY kitchens to try and visualise what your space will look like with new kitchen cabinets and appliances in place. Generally, you can input your kitchen’s measurements and drag and drop different-sized cabinets, appliances, cooker hoods and more into place to see what will work for your space.

That said, unless you’re planning on buying a second-hand or ex-display kitchen, you can often get kitchen design for free from your kitchen supplier. It’s often a service that’s provided before you buy, and is used as a way to encourage you to make a purchase. So, you might as well make the most of it!

How much is kitchen installation when you do it yourself?

Embarking on DIY kitchen installation will save you the cost of getting a professional kitchen fitter to install it for you. But how much is kitchen installation when you do it yourself?

Well, it’ll depend hugely on the size of your kitchen, the scope of your project (for instance, whether you’re going to be replacing your kitchen floors or just your kitchen cabinets), and whether or not you get a plumber and electrician in to help you with pipework and electrics.

As a rough guide, here’s what you can expect to spend.

• Units: Between £20 and £70 for a base unit, or between £20 and £50 for a wall unit.
• Kitchen worktops: For a 5m length of worktop, at the lower end you could pay between £200 and £800 for laminate. At the higher end, you’re looking at between £550 and £1,150 for granite.
• Appliances: Around £450 for a budget cooker, hob and hood, or £5,200 for a premium cooker, hob, hood, fridge/freezer, dishwasher and microwave.
• Plumbing: A typical plumber’s hourly rate will be between £40 and £60.
• Electrics: A typical electrician’s hourly rate will be around £55 per hour.
• Tools and materials: Around £150 for tools and materials for DIY kitchen installation, including a plunge saw, clamps, laser measure and sink waste.

On the other hand, the typical kitchen fitter will charge around £240 per day. As a ballpark estimate, you could pay around £2,200 to have a small kitchen professionally installed, or around £4,600 for a large kitchen.

Our guide to new kitchen costs has much more guidance on the costs associated with a new kitchen – whether you’re planning to have yours professionally installed or to have a go at DIY kitchen installation.

FAQs

How to remodel a kitchen DIY?

If you’re keen to remodel your kitchen yourself, it’s a good idea to use an online DIY kitchens planner. That way, you can attempt to visualise what different layouts and configurations might look like in your space.

If you do decide to change your kitchen’s layout, we’d recommend calling in a plumber and electrician to help you reroute any plumbing and move electrical fittings. These are jobs best left to the professionals!

How to paint kitchen cabinets DIY?

If you’re hoping to paint your kitchen cabinets, you should sand your cabinets down to give the paint something to stick to. We’d also recommend using primer before painting. Apply at least two coats of your chosen paint.

Our guide on how to paint kitchen cabinets will walk you through it step-by-step.

How to reface kitchen cabinets DIY?

To reface kitchen cabinets, you just cover the cabinet frames with self-adhesive wood veneer and add plywood to the end panels. Then, get new kitchen doors and drawer fronts to replace your old ones. It’s a great way to get the look of a new kitchen at a fraction of the cost!

Can I do extractor fan kitchen installation myself?

If you’re experienced at DIY, you might be able to carry out most of your extractor fan installation yourself. However, you’d still need to get your work checked by an electrician to make sure it’s safe and that it complies with regulations.

Ultimately, extractor fan installation involves cutting holes through ceilings and walls, installing ducting and working with electrics. So, it’s generally a job best left to the professionals.

How to install kitchen cabinets DIY?

The best way to install kitchen cabinets DIY is to start in a corner with your base units, and work your way out. Then, once they’re all in place, make your way onto your wall units, using the height of your base units as a guide.