A north facing kitchen can present as many problems as a dark and dreary one. Despite the copious amounts of natural light, the sun streaming in and the warmth, you also need to know how to take advantage of it and how to avoid some of the pitfalls associated with a sunny kitchen.

When deciding to buy replacement kitchen doors you will need to take into account the amount of sunlight which is entering the room. This will influence the colours you choose, the materials your kitchen cupboards are made of and how you will position your kitchen units, sink and table. You'll also need to think about the lighting as well as the general painting and decoration.

Replacement kitchen doors

If your kitchen is already bright and light (depending on the size of the window) you can get away with choosing a darker colour kitchen door. However, don't think that just because you have plenty of sunlight, that the room can be all dark in hue. You should break up the darker colours with lighter walls or a set of kitchen cupboards in white or cream as a contrast.

Doors that reflect the light in your kitchen may be somewhat dazzling in a north facing room, but it doesn't mean you can't have gloss doors. You just need to think about where they are placed in relation to the window and whether you will have a blind in place. Gloss doors will bounce the light around the room, which might be perfect for a larger room which only has a window at one end.

You can get away with wood-grain effect doors and solid wood in a brighter kitchen. Usually they will absorb the light, but in this case there is plenty to spare. Glass doors will also add sparkle to the room.

The only thing you will need to bear in mind is that if light is shining directly on to your kitchen doors, any marks, wear and tear or defects will be very obvious. If you do not want to be constantly cleaning, you should consider matt doors which hide the problems associated with daily usage.

Lighting a north facing kitchen

Your kitchen may not need artificial lighting during the day or at least – less of it. You should make sure you have under counter lights and maybe plinth lights to highlight your flooring. These can be used at times when the main lights are not required. You may also want to have directional lights which can highlight just the area you are working in (the hob, the sink or the worktop) rather than turning on all the lights.

Of course in the evenings your kitchen will need the same amount of lighting as any other room. Having a flexible arrangement as mentioned above gives to the opportunity of turning on all the lights or just a selection.

The design

If you are redesigning your kitchen at the same time as replacing your kitchen doors, you should always try to make the most of the natural light. You could have your sink under the window and the table or breakfast bar nearby so you will be able to sit in the sun, at least for part of the day. You may want to avoid having your food cupboards or your fridge in the path of direct and hot sunlight as this can increase the risk of food spoiling or the fridge having to work overtime.

A north facing kitchen will become the hub of the home and should be a friendly and bright place for all of the family to visit. Take advantage of the light by bringing in a family atmosphere and having chairs, tables, breakfast bars and entertainment all in one space if possible. It seems a shame to waste all of that natural light. It the next best thing to being outside.