A NEW kitchen is probably one of the most popular home improvements and requires a great deal of thoughtful planning if it is to be a practical success.

Here are some tips for kitchen planning and care: Give some thought to what you dislike about your present kitchen so that it can be eliminated for your new one.

Think in terms of a kitchen that will accommodate your lifestyle. What ancillary things do you want to do there? Eat? Entertain? Study? Remember that for durability, there is much to be said for a kitchen in solid wood.

Plan your kitchen for ease of cleaning. A continuous work surface is advantageous.

If you are to cook elaborate dishes you need more space than for convenience foods.

What is your family's preference? Ensure your kitchen minimises traffic through the work areas for everyone except the cook.

Invest in a domestic fire extinguisher. It may never be needed but gives peace of mind for a small cost.

Never leave chip or other fat pans unattended, not even for a moment. And be careful not to let the fat get too hot.

Site your appliances sensibly. Try not to let through routes cross your work triangle, otherwise dangerous collisions can occur. For the same reason never place an oven or a hob by a door.

If at all possible, keep related items together so that pots and pans are stored close to the cooker, the wastebin is close to the sink, crockery and cutlery is near to the food serving area.

Try to ensure your surfaces have nicely rounded edges so there are no dangerous corners to catch yourself on. If you do have some sharp corners, buy a pack of rubber or plastic corner caps from a hardware shop.

Always wipe up spilt grease or water immediately to prevent unnecessary injuries from a slip or a fall.

Keep all potentially dangerous substances in a locked cupboard. That includes items like oven cleaner, bleach, disinfectant, shoe polish and caustic soda. Even washing powder and washing-up liquid can poison a small child.

Make a habit of directing pan handles away from the edge of the cooker since it is very easy to send a pan of boiling food splattering across the room. If you really want peace of mind, consider installing a liquid guard.

Finally, make sure you have adequate lighting. Wall lights allowing you to direct the beam on a particular work area are a good supplement to general overhead lighting, as too are under-unit strip lights.