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As a kitchen consultant on shows such as Better Homes and 60 Minute Makeover, Tim Foley shares his 30 years' experience with the nation.

Here Tim lets us in on how to ensure your kitchen design delivers the right living space for you. Follow his top five tips for kitchen design perfection...

My five-point checklist for designing a kitchen is simple and easy to follow:

1. Plan effectively for the space you actually have - not the space you wish you had
2. Make sure you prepare.
3. Do your research: utilise the resources of the Internet via Q&A on forums, blogs
4. Choose products on quality and reputation as well as aesthetics
5. Choose your installers carefully and ensure they are qualified to undertake the work

1. Plan effectively for the space you actually have - not what space you wish you had.

Allow comfortable movement around a kitchen utilise a rule that allows a minimum distance of 900mm between cabinet runs, so for example, the size of an island is determined after allowing a minimum 900 mm clearance from any adjacent cabinetry. Of course this may limit the size you want your island and smaller kitchens cannot afford the same space. My advice in this instance would be to avoid planning an island in your layout and consider a portable alternative.

2. Make sure you prepare.

Consider the location of your services, waste pipes, water feeds, gas supplies and power points. After determining the layout, draw up a first fix preparation layout and undertake the work before commencing with your installation. There are no rules to state that your sink or washer needs to be fitted to an outside wall but you must consider the practicalities of locating them elsewhere if that is your choice .

3. Do your research: utilise the resources of the Internet via Q&A on forums, blogs etc.

Ask questions - there are enough websites with expert opinion that will give you great feedback on your design ideas and appliance engineers, designers and fitters offering free expert advice are now prevalent on the internet .

4. Choose products on quality and reputation as well as aesthetics.

Cost efficiency doesn't translate as discovering the cheapest products on the market. Buying wisely and choosing a product of chosen quality over cheaper counterparts can save you more in the long term as they will be more efficient and offer greater longevity. There's always room for efficient new products to the market but study both expert and customer feedback on them before parting with your money.

5. Choose your installers carefully and ensure they are qualified to undertake the work.

All installers undertaking gas or electrical work in a kitchen are subject to regulations and have to be qualified to do so. It's an easy task to determine if your installer is qualified to do so and it may be that a kitchen installer hires the services of an approved gas or electrical installer. As the buyer you are contracting their services, so it's the buyer's responsibility to determine this before work commences.

Tim Foley is a columnist on Kitchens, Bedrooms & Bathrooms (KBB) Review, the leading industry magazine, Consultant to Institute of Kitchen Bedroom Bathroom Installers (ikbbi); Consultant on ITV's 60 Minute Makeover and is founder of www.kitchensfitted.co.uk