Today, kitchens are more than a meal preparation space – they’re the heart of home life. A must-have for any dream house is a light, stylish, open kitchen space that brings together the best of cooking, dining, sharing, and entertaining. While many homes in the UK have small, old-fashioned kitchens that are impractical and too dimly lit for modern living, renovating your kitchen is a fantastic way to get the home you want, on budget, and add value to your overall investment. Here are some of the most effective and elegant kitchen extension design ideas from Plus Rooms to inspire you and create the perfect home.
Table of Contents
- Kitchen Diner Extension Ideas
- Kitchen Extension Ideas for Victorian Houses
- Side Kitchen Extension Ideas
- Rear Kitchen Extension Ideas
- Side Return Kitchen Extension Ideas
- Wraparound Kitchen Extension Ideas
- Kitchen Family Room Extension Ideas
- Small Kitchen Extension Ideas
- Victorian Terrace Kitchen Extension Ideas
- Kitchen Extension Ideas for Terraced Houses
- Vaulted Ceiling Kitchen Extension Ideas
- Large Kitchen Extension Ideas
- Kitchen Extensions With Skylights
- Velux Windows in Kitchen Extensions
- Glass Roof Kitchen Extension Ideas
- Bungalow Kitchen Extensions
- Bifold Doors for Kitchen Extensions
- Conservatory Kitchen Extension Ideas
- Open-Plan Kitchen Extension Ideas
- Kitchen Extension Roof Design Ideas
- Glass Kitchen Extension Ideas
Kitchen Diner Extension Ideas
If the ground floor of your UK home is a muddle of small, impractical rooms that don’t flow well or let in much natural sunlight, you aren’t alone. And you don’t have to keep on living in the dark either. Knocking out walls and extending your kitchen diner area creates a surprising amount of far more usable space, allowing you to create a welcoming and bright open plan kitchen and diner where family and friends can gather.
See more kitchen diner extension ideas here.
Kitchen Extension Ideas for Victorian Houses
While there is so much to love about character-filled Victorian properties, their dark, cramped kitchens aren’t one of them. Whether you are in a terrace that’s suffered from tasteless extensions or a larger home that’s never been modernised, there’s a lot you can work with to help reach your property’s full potential. Depending on your budget, position, and style, you can create an open diner, comfortable sitting area, and entertainment space, bringing your home up to date through a tasteful, modern kitchen extension.
See more kitchen extension ideas for Victorian houses here.
Side Kitchen Extension Ideas
Want to preserve as much of your garden space as possible while making your home bigger? A side kitchen extension is the best way to get it done. Many homes have unused, impractical spaces to the side of the structure, so it makes sense to incorporate them into the home itself so that you can get the most use out of your property. A great side kitchen extension gives your living areas space to breathe, making the home more spacious for family living. And with the right design, it will maximise natural light too, incorporating glazed skylights and panels to expand the space even further.
See more side kitchen extension ideas here.
Rear Kitchen Extension Ideas
If you don’t have a side return or simply want to maximise your floor space, a rear kitchen extension is a great option. Today’s rear extension designs are sophisticated and attractive and can create a modern contrast against your traditional architecture or sit seamlessly against the original building to look like it’s always been there. By creating a flow out into the garden using level decking, large bi-fold or sliding doors, and other architectural elements, rear kitchen extensions create a beautiful connection with the outdoors that’s perfect for family living and entertaining.
See more rear kitchen extension ideas here.
Side Return Kitchen Extension Ideas
Edwardian and Victorian homes often have a small ally to the side of the property that’s leftover from a much older way of life. Rather than letting it turn into a dumping ground for bins, bikes, and garden equipment, it’s much more useful when used to widen the living areas of these often-narrow properties. A thoughtful and well-designed side return extension complete with skylights and bifold doors will transform a kitchen into a light and airy multi-use space with far more usable space. Depending on what you’d like to achieve, your kitchen can become an eat-in kitchen-diner, a family space for eating together and watching TV, or a space for entertaining friends and family.
See more side return kitchen extension ideas here.
Wraparound Kitchen Extension Ideas
If you want to get the most out of your home renovation and you have the space to expand, it’s difficult to beat a wraparound kitchen extension. Also called an L-shape extension, this essentially combines a side extension and rear extension into one project. It’s a very worthwhile way to extend your home even though it’s more costly, as homes with large, airy rooms are in high demand. By pushing out to the side return and into the garden by just a few square metres, you can completely reimagine your ground floor and outdoor entertainment space, creating a light and airy kitchen, adding a downstairs WC, and much more.
See more wraparound kitchen extension ideas here.
Kitchen Family Room Extension Ideas
Open plan living goes with family life as strawberries go with cream. When you have children, the design of your home’s living areas can create the family lifestyle you want to achieve, especially when you choose a kitchen family room extension. This type of extension creates a centre for home life – a space to gather for meals, relax in comfort, finish homework, watch the children play, and wind down. These extensions can be completed in any style, whether you want a more affordable, modern flat-roofed extension or a character-filled but more expensive pitched roof option.
See more kitchen family room extension ideas here.
Small Kitchen Extension Ideas
When it comes to a kitchen that works and feels great, the key is in how you use the space – not how much space you have. A small kitchen extension can transform your space, creating something stylish, functional, and enjoyable to use without requiring a lot of work or a big budget. With small kitchen extensions, great design is essential. It’s an opportunity to stretch your imagination and creative organisation skill, adding high-quality appliances, bold urban designs, and luxurious skylights to produce a truly envious and inspiring space.
See more small kitchen extension ideas here.
Victorian Terrace Kitchen Extension Ideas
Older and unmodernised Victorian terrace properties are one of the best buys on the market because they offer plenty of potential at a more affordable price. However, you need the vision and design inspiration to look beyond the dark rooms and narrow spaces to see how the right kitchen extension can transform the property into a new home. Victorian terrace kitchen extensions can be designed for mid, end-of-terrace, and semi-detached properties, expanding down the side return and/or into the rear garden to deliver a modern, light-filled, and spacious way of life.
See more Victorian terrace kitchen extension ideas here.
Kitchen Extension Ideas for Terraced Houses
Terraced houses are very popular in the UK, and while they don’t give you many options for expansion, some very clever and effective designs will extend the kitchen and living area to create a luxuriously spacious home. Kitchen extensions for terrace houses can include side and rear extensions, flat or pitched roof designs, and modern or character concepts, so there are plenty of opportunities to put your stamp on your property – and increase its value.
See more kitchen extension ideas for terraced houses here.
Vaulted Ceiling Kitchen Extension Ideas
London homes often come with limited expansion options, but a vaulted ceiling can provide the desired light and spaciousness. Unlike flat ceilings, a vaulted ceiling follows a peaked roofline, adding an extraordinary touch to the space and drawing the eye upwards. This effect creates an airy and larger appearance, even within small rooms. Vaulted ceilings offer increased surface area, perfect for incorporating glazing, transom windows, and skylights, enhancing daylight capture throughout the day. This infusion of natural light not only creates a warm and welcoming ambience but also contributes to energy savings. While pitched roofs lean towards tradition, they offer great flexibility to harmonise with your home’s overall style and kitchen interior design.
See more vaulted ceiling kitchen extension ideas here.
Large Kitchen Extension Ideas
In contemporary homes, the kitchen serves a multitude of purposes beyond cooking. It’s where we observe our children completing homework or engaging in outdoor play, indulge in our hobbies, and host gatherings with friends and family. When presented with the luxury of space for expansion, a large kitchen extension design offers all this and more. With large kitchen extensions, the primary objective is to optimise space – enabling children to sprawl into the interconnected living area, seamlessly integrating outdoor living spaces, and crafting cosy nooks for relaxation and remote work. Remarkably, achieving this isn’t contingent upon owning a detached home; a thoughtfully curated kitchen extension has the potential to turn any dwelling into an expansive sanctuary of contemporary living.
See more large kitchen extension ideas here.
Kitchen Extensions With Skylights
Whether due to building restrictions, the architectural layout of your house, or concerns about privacy, it’s not always feasible to incorporate windows for introducing natural light into your space. This is precisely where skylights and roof lights prove remarkably effective, ushering in ample natural illumination from the sky throughout the changing seasons. By harnessing the power of natural sunlight, skylights and rooflights diminish your dependence on artificial lighting. Similar to windows or glazed doors, skylights inherently amplify the sense of spaciousness and openness within your kitchen extension. Notably, skylights and rooflights hold the potential to make a significant design statement in your kitchen extension, serving as a striking feature while also fulfilling a practical role.
See more kitchen extensions with skylight ideas here.
Velux Windows in Kitchen Extensions
Beyond spatial considerations, the foremost design factor for a kitchen revolves around harnessing natural light. In the UK, a superb design must harmonise luminosity with robust insulation and energy efficiency. This underscores why our house extension design and build team, places paramount importance on integrating Velux windows within kitchen extensions. Notably, Velux windows boast anti-burglary features, reinforced construction, and integrated locks, guaranteeing home security without the need for unsightly window bars or security gates. Mitigating maintenance expenses, a considerable concern for homeowners, Velux windows shine by virtue of their maintenance-free and waterproof attributes. An optimal choice for roof windows and expansive glazing, Velux windows serve as an ideal solution.
See more Velux windows in kitchen extension ideas here.
Glass Roof Kitchen Extension Ideas
Modern, sleek, and elegant, it’s difficult to beat the striking effect of a kitchen extension with a glass roof. This design brings in the most natural light, flooding dark corners, bringing in a warm glow even on dull days, and minimising the need for artificial lighting. With a glass extension, you create almost-invisible walls between indoor and outdoor spaces, bringing your garden and natural surroundings into your living space while keeping the elements at bay.
See more glass roof kitchen extension ideas here.
Bungalow Kitchen Extensions
Using thoughtful bungalow extension designs, homeowners can entirely transform these humble properties, reinventing the floor plan, creating the large living spaces needed for modern family life, and adding considerable property value in the process. Every bungalow kitchen extension design needs to be based on what you want from your home; from the current lifestyle you lead to the future you’re planning for. A design specialist can help you develop the perfect style for your kitchen extension, but there is one important consideration for you to think about before you start with the details. This is about whether your extension will be seamless or deliberately different.
See more bungalow kitchen extension ideas here.
Bifold Doors for Kitchen Extensions
Bifold doors, which are made of stackable panels that fold up against a wall, are one of the most sought-after features in kitchen extensions. Unlike sliding doors and traditional doors, bifold doors concertina the panels together to allow you to open up the full width of your extension, essentially taking the place of the rear wall. They also take up much less space this way and are easier to move, so you don’t have to worry about creating space for a conventional door leaf to swing, worrying about wind and the weight of a door, or even positioning your furniture to be out of the flow of traffic. Sturdy, practical, and easy to use, bifold doors are a functional way of opening a space out into the garden, creating a floor-to-ceiling opening almost the full width of your rear wall.
See more bifold doors for kitchen extension ideas here.
Conservatory Kitchen Extension Ideas
Homeowners interested in a kitchen extension are usually looking to maximise space. This opens up a world of opportunities, allowing them to bring in natural light, make spaces multifunctional and turn their kitchen into a place people want to gather. It is for this reason that conservatory-style kitchen extensions are one of the most popular home improvement projects. With the kitchen playing such a central role in the home, any improvements must be subject to careful consideration, in terms of both style and practicality. You’ll want to consider the purpose of the kitchen. Do you want a show-stopping space for entertaining guests, a comfortable living area for the family, or perhaps a secluded nook for reading in the sunshine? All of these things will affect the layout and positioning of the final design.
See more conservatory kitchen extension ideas here.
Open-Plan Kitchen Extension Ideas
For homeowners opting for an extension, open-plan kitchens are a popular choice and for good reason. When done well, they deliver the perfect combination of style and functionality. An open-plan kitchen extension offers additional storage, enhanced natural lighting and many other benefits. If you feel limited by your current kitchen layout, an open-plan extension enables you to redefine your living space in a way that best suits your needs.
See more open plan kitchen extension ideas here.
Kitchen Extension Roof Design Ideas
And whilst there are many aspects to consider when embarking on a kitchen extension, the design of the roof is one of the most important. Considered a more contemporary choice, a flat roof creates a modern, linear space. When installed with skylights, a flat roof helps to evoke a sleek style with clean lines. If you prefer a more traditional take on home design, a pitched roof might be more appropriate. Valued for their versatility, pitched roofs allow for higher ceilings and greater insulation, helping you to create a cosy, inviting atmosphere in your kitchen extension. Typically seen on churches, cathedrals, and suburban houses, hip roofs slope downwards from the peak on all four sides, with no flat end. The walls beneath are all the same height which creates a perfect, symmetrical appearance. They are durable and highly efficient against high winds.
See more kitchen extension roof design ideas here.
Glass Kitchen Extension Ideas
Glass kitchen extensions are growing in popularity, both for their innovative modern design as well as a range of practical benefits. For instance, not only do they welcome more natural light into the home but they can help you create a wonderful entertaining space. They prove to be particularly popular in the summer months, offering a seamless transition from indoor to outdoors – perfect for hosting barbecues and dinner parties. A glass kitchen extension is an exciting project for any homeowner, and with so many design options to choose from, the options are limitless. You can stretch beyond simple patio doors to create a unique feel to suit your style. From country-inspired to a minimal Nordic vibe, there is a design for everyone’s taste.
See more glass kitchen extension ideas here.
Plus Rooms is a leading design and construction firm in London that specialises in custom kitchen extensions. Our talented team will lead you through the process from start to finish, helping you get the best floorplan, features, and quality for your budget. Whether you want a home for entertaining, for family living, or your own enjoyment and investment purposes, we’re here to make that dream come true. In over 17 years we’ve helped over 1,400 homeowners transform their houses – contact us and let’s see what we can do for you.
