Guide to Renovating a Kitchen in 2025

Things to consider before starting your kitchen renovation 

A kitchen renovation is very rarely going to be the kind of thing you can knock out on a long weekend with a couple of mates. Through our years of experience renovating homes throughout New Zealand, we have learned to live by the motto 80% planning and 20% doing.

By dedicating the time needed to planning and prep work you ensure a high-quality end result, reduce the stress during the project, and avoid an array of ways in which things can go wrong. Some factors to consider include:

Your budget 

Determining a realistic and comfortable budget and then sticking to it is essential. There are a lot of elements that go into a kitchen renovation, and not accounting for all of them or not allowing enough for each puts you at risk of a budget blowout. The best way to combat this is thorough planning and a built-in contingency fund to cover the unexpected. If your scope is starting to exceed your budget you may need to consider doing the work in stages, doing some of the work yourself, or delaying until you can save more to be able to do it right.

Are you planning to do any of the work yourself? (DIY)

Us Kiwis have a great culture of DIY but sometimes it’s better to call the professionals. Given that kitchens are such a big investment in your home and need to perform well for years and years of use you want it to be built to a professional standard. Depending on the scope of your renovation some work may be required by law to be carried out by the relevant professional such as a certified plumber, builder, or electrician. If you're looking to save some money or be more involved talk to your builder or project manager and see if there are any tasks such as demolition or painting that they are happy for you to do yourself.

What specialist trades are required

In a typical kitchen remodel you will need a variety of specialist trades – the main two being plumbing and electrical. These tradespeople ensure old fixtures are disconnected and removed properly and new ones are installed and connected safely. Often this type of work must be carried out by a registered tradesperson who then certifies the work complies with relevant laws and meets best practice. Depending on the design and scope of your makeover you may also need a cabinet maker, flooring specialist, tiler or benchtop installer. 

How long are you willing to be without a kitchen for? 

Remodeling your kitchen can be disruptive and in most cases there will be a window of time where you cannot access or use your kitchen. Understanding how long this window will be and when to time it is a key point when planning your kitchen renovation. You will need access to alternative means to keep you and your family fed whether that means staying with family, committing to uber eats, or relying on the BBQ.

Talk to your builder about how long they expect this to be, what scenarios could lead to that window of time being extended, and how you can mitigate them.

How much does a kitchen renovation cost in New Zealand? 

The cost of a kitchen renovation ranges from $20,000 to over $60,000 and many factors will drive the final cost including size of kitchen, kitchen joinery choice, finishes selected, appliances selected and features like butlers pantries and the like.

Standard kitchen renovation cost

For a basic kitchen refresh without significant building or design work, you are likely to spend $20,000-$30,000. The choice of materials or appliance upgrades are often the largest factor that will impact final costs. Kitchens at this level may involve some DIY to keep costs down.

Mid-range kitchen renovation cost

A mid-range kitchen upgrade will typically cost between $30,000-$45,000. This may involve some building alterations along with modern fixtures and appliances. This accounts for trade costs and engaging with a professional renovation company.

Luxury kitchen renovation cost

A luxury kitchen is the ultimate upgrade and can cost anywhere upwards of $60,000. At this level you can completely redesign your space to be what you dream of and choose the latest in kitchen technology to improve the longevity of the upgrade. The sky is the limit when looking at a luxury renovation as high end appliances and possibilities are endless.

See our guide to Kitchen Renovation Costs for additional pricing information, or see our 10 step kitchen renovation guide below.

Common kitchen renovation mistakes to avoid

When undertaking kitchen renovations, you don’t want to get to the end and look back with regrets. So we have put together a list of the most common renovation mistakes and oversights and how to avoid them.

Not including enough cabinet/storage space

Sometimes less is more, but that isn’t the case with kitchen storage. More is more! Some key areas to maximize your storage space include:

• Adding upper wall cabinets
• Where you can select drawers instead of cupboards
• Avoid corner cupboards where possible but if unavoidable install a carousel insert that allows to you better utilize the space.
• Finally – declutter. You would be surprised how many unused bits and bobs lurk around and take up valuable space.

Insufficient aisle space

A cramped kitchen can be frustrating to cook in, the cause of traffic jams, and in some cases unsafe. To ensure you have ample aisle space you need to allow a minimum of 1 meter for all aisles and ideally 1.2m. If your kitchen is a thoroughfare you may want to make this wider still to avoid traffic jams. Also, keep in mind how cabinet doors and appliances open and try to avoid layouts where doors are likely to clash.

Making the island too big

While we love kitchen islands – they are a great area to prep, entertain, and dine, it's important not to get carried away and make your kitchen island too big. In most kitchens space is at a premium so it’s important to use it wisely – and make sure the size of the island is appropriate for the space. Another danger of a kitchen island that dominates the space is that it often means aisles around it are smaller than recommended creating bottlenecks and awkwardly narrow walkways.

Lighting and ventilation

Lighting and ventilation are often an afterthought, and this can really let down a renovation. Insufficient lighting, the wrong type of lighting or lighting in the wrong area can make a good kitchen look awful or make it difficult to use without natural light. So be sure to plan and consult a lighting specialist on a lighting scheme that works with your renovation both functionally and aesthetically. The same goes for ventilation – while some ventilation is required by law not all ventilation is created equal. There is no point paying for a fancy new rangehood for example and then never using it because it's too loud. 

Protect your home during renovations

During renovations, there are a lot of different people coming and going, removing and bringing in bulky materials, appliances and fixtures It is important to have a clear pathway and remove excess furniture art, etc that could get damaged during this process. It’s also sensible to check with you insurance what they cover in case things go wrong during your remodel.

Kitchen renovation FAQs

If you're thinking of renovating your kitchen, there are usually some common questions that pop up. People want to understand what kind of cost is involved. Will the project need building consent? How long will it take? We answer all of these and more below.