1 June 2026

Having a kitchen fitted: flat-pack or showroom kitchen?

Buying a kitchen yourself and leaving the fitting to a professional is often the sharpest route. What to watch with flat-pack versus showroom kitchens — and how to plan the installation smartly.

More and more people buy their kitchen themselves — at a DIY store or in a showroom — and have only the fitting done by a professional. That is often the sharpest route: you decide the budget for cabinets and appliances yourself, and pay € 1,500 to € 4,000 for skilled hands that turn it into a sharp kitchen in one or a few days.

A flat-pack is cheaper per cabinet, but the fitter spends more time: every cabinet is assembled on site before levelling and hanging begins. A showroom kitchen comes with pre-built cabinets and is fitted faster, but carries longer delivery times and a higher purchase price. In both cases the quality of the end result sits in the setting — level cabinets, tight seams, fronts in one line — and precisely that is the trade.

Plan the job in the right order. Wait to book the fitter until the delivery date is confirmed, check the delivery immediately for damage and missing parts, and allow for a custom worktop: it is often measured only after the cabinets are in. If an old unit still has to go or new appliances are going in, mention it in the request — then everything sits in one quote.

Request several quotes and set them against the price index. Watch what is included: removal of the old kitchen, connecting the sink, tap and appliances, and sealing. A complete quote from a fitter who takes on the whole picture usually beats three separate appointments.