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Before you start planning the details of your new kitchen, you need to get your tape measure out to discover what space you have to work with.

Whether you\u2019re hiring a professional designer or putting your DIY skills to the test, no big kitchen revamp can begin without accurate measurements - even an inch error in measurement can cause real headaches later down the line.

Before you begin, make sure you have the right tools. Measurement doesn\u2019t require a specialist kit, but you\u2019ll need a tape measure, a straight edge and grid paper as a minimum. If you\u2019re tech-minded, laser levels and laser distance measures exist \u2013 they\u2019re extremely precise and easy to use, but by no means necessary.

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Start with the basics

Firstly, draw the outline of your kitchen and take the following base measurements. These should all be noted down on a large sheet of grid paper in a clear, legible fashion.\u00a0

Measure the width of the walls. You should measure at the base, in the middle and at the ceiling \u2013 walls are rarely square and yours could surprise you.
Once you\u2019ve measured the width, measure the height. Follow the same idea as the width \u2013 measure at the corners and in the middle of the wall to capture any variation.
Next is doorways. You need the distance from the corner of the walls to the edge of the door trim, the total width of the doorway (including trim) and the height of the door (again, including trim).
Follow the same process with windows \u2013 from the corner of the walls to the edge of the window trim, the width and height of the window (including trim) and finally, the distance from the floor to the bottom of the window trim.

back of the shelf? It\u2019s taking up valuable space, so chuck it out or find somebody who wants it.

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At a minimum, you should allow:

15 inches of countertop space on the handle side of the refrigerator, or within 48 inches of the refrigerator front.
15 inches of countertop space to one side of an oven. If countertop space is opposite the oven, ensure the route does not intersect a walkway.
15 inches of countertop space to the handle side of a microwave.
24 inches of countertop space to one side of a sink, and 18 inches on the other.
At least 36 inches by 24 inches in the primary food preparation area.
The dishwasher should be located no more than 36 inches from the countertop space allocated to the sink.

Where countertop space intersects \u2013 e.g. if the landing space for the oven and microwave are the same piece of countertop \u2013 then you should add a minimum of 12 inches.

These are suggested minimum guidelines, not hard-and-fast rules \u2013 if you frequently cook for groups of people or create complex multi-stage meals, for example, you may wish to allocate more countertop space. On the other hand, if you live alone and never have much washing up to do, the countertop space to one side of the sink can be reduced.

- Is the \u2018work triangle\u2019 suitable? The primary work triangle is the area covered between the sink, fridge and oven/hob. This area should be minimised to make meal preparation more efficient. You should also make sure that no \u2018traffic\u2019 comes through the work triangle, to avoid people walking through your meal prep area.

- Is there space for bins? Bins aren\u2019t glamorous, but you\u2019d soon miss them! Make sure there\u2019s a waste receptacle within easy reach of the sink, and another for recycling in a convenient spot.

- Are there enough electrical outlets? Not being able to find a spare plug is a real frustration that can be minimised with careful planning. Make sure to consider all likely uses \u2013 where will household members charge their phones? What appliances will be plugged in regularly? Will you have plug-in LED lights in cabinets? If in doubt, nobody regrets having too many spare outlets.

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The Right Way to Measure up for a New Kitchen