Installing your own kitchen

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Fitting your own kitchen

Our range of Wickes Lifestyle Kitchens help you keep things simple when installing a new kitchen, but there are steps to follow to make sure you get things done right. Because it’s a big project, you’ll want to make sure you’re doing it in the most effective order. Following these steps will help you make sure that you’re properly preparing for the task at hand and doing the best job possible.

Things to consider

There are a few things to think about in the planning phase of your project. Putting in the work to plan things properly ahead of time can really save you hassle when it comes to getting it done

Sketch out a floorplan of your kitchen and accurately mark important areas, such as your water and gas supplies, switches and sockets, radiators and more
Consider drawer units, full-height units and magic corners for storage
Check what size the kitchen worktops come in to determine how many you will need
Order your cabinet hinges
Think about adding worktop bolts and Colorfill if you’re going for a laminate worktop
Try and place the cooker, fridge and sink in a kitchen work triangle for ease of use
Consider where your kitchen appliances are going in relation to the sink and check the drainer thickness compared to your worktop
The kitchen planning guide on the Wickes website is a great way to plan things out

Further help

This guide will give you an overview of installing your own Wickes Lifestyle Kitchen. We also have more detailed kitchen how-to guides if you need step-by-step guidance
For Wickes Bespoke Kitchen installation, we recommend you use one of our Wickes Approved Installers to ensure your kitchen is complete with high quality and standards in mind

Follow the links as you watch the video or use our Useful Links for further details

Steps to installing a kitchen

Remove your appliances and rip out all your old units.

Hire a plumber and electrician to deal with any pipework and fix your electrical points. Do not attempt electrical or plumbing work without extensive knowledge or prior training.

Patch up any holes in the wall or fully replaster.

Depending on your floor choice, you might need to self-level the floor using a floor levelling compound.

Assemble your kitchen cabinets so that you can focus on fitting them one after the other.

For more detailed instructions follow our assembling cabinets how-to guide.

Now move on to installing the cabinets.

We have another guide with more detailed instructions on installing kitchen cabinets.

Measure and mark out the points for all your new units and cabinets.

Attach supplied brackets where needed.

Fit your base units from the corner, working outwards.

Continue this until all base cabinets are fitted.

Maybe stop and have a cup of tea.

If you are having it, install under-cabinet lighting before you attach your wall units.

Fit your wall units, making sure that the top of them is aligned with the top of your larder/tower unit if you have one

Any built-in appliances should be installed as you go.

Any gas work or plumbing should be carried out by a professional.

Paint your walls now, before you’ve fitted your new kitchen flooring.

Lay your underlay and tape it in place.

Lay your flooring, fitting around the units to leave space for expansion.

We have more detailed guides to fitting flooring or laying floor tiles.

Fit your decorative end panels, plinths and supplied cabinet doors, as well as the trim and baseboards on your kitchen cabinets. Then attach your cabinet handles as well.

For worktops to be joined properly, an installer would be best to hire for the day. This is the preferred method of fitting.

Alternatively, follow our guide for fitting a worktop carefully!