Kitchens are the hub of the home, and having one that's laid out well can make a huge difference to your enjoyment of cooking and entertaining. Effective design will ensure your needs are met, whether you want a purely functional space for preparing meals, or something that incorporates a breakfast or dining area. With the imaginative use of cabinets and drawers, and by following a few basic rules, your kitchen can be transformed to benefit your lifestyle.

There are four basic types of kitchen design: a single line of units; a double line (galley); an L-shape; or a U-shape. This, together with the size of the room, will affect the design possibilities, as will the whereabouts of windows and doors. But plumbing and electrical points can usually be moved, so don't feel bound to work around them. That said, the positioning of waste pipes and drains inevitably need to be taken into account when dealing with sinks and dishwashers, so consult a plumber if in doubt.

A precise scaled drawing is a must, as is accurate measuring throughout, so you can be sure of the room's dimensions. Don't assume the ceiling is the same height at one end as the other, for example, or that the room is a perfectly symmetrical shape. Either compare opposing walls or measure the room diagonally to be on the safe side.

Drawing appliances, worktops and so on to scale, then cutting them out and moving them about on your virtual' room, can be a useful way of helping get the design you want.

It's also useful to note which direction the doors open, and mark the location of existing power points, plumbing, gas supply, air vents and any permanent features, such as windows, sills, radiators and boilers. It's also a good idea to try to position your sink by a window, so you can see what you're washing up and have a nice view while you're doing it. Locate dishwashers and washing machines close to the sink, to minimise plumbing work.

Arranging the cooker, sink and fridge into a triangle will create a very practical, user-friendly and uncramped working environment that lets you move about freely between appliances. But avoid placing the cooker anywhere that means having to carry hot pans across walkways and remember to leave at least 300mm of clear space each side of the hob to allow for protruding panhandles.

Just before you take the plunge, here are a few more points regarding practicalities and safety: Don't position a cooker or hob beneath a window where curtains could catch fire, or where it is dangerous to reach the window; Position extractor fans on, or close to, outside walls; Don't plan a wall unit above a hob without an extractor fan; Don't put a hob next to a tall unit, corner wall or at the end of a run; Avoid appliances in corners; Avoid putting cookers next to fridges or freezers; To avoid accidents, sinks and cookers should not be put near or next to opening doors; Boilers and other gas appliances require airflow to operate safely, so don't box them in; Don't block up existing air vents if there are gas appliances in the kitchen. Consult a Corgi-registered fitter if in doubt; The law says all significant electrical work in the home must be done by a qualified electrician.