After years of saving up money and waiting for the right moment, it’s finally time for you to design your dream kitchen! Now that this moment is upon you, you might not know where exactly to start.
If you’ve never designed a kitchen before then you might not know what to expect. How do you go from having no ideas to have a finished kitchen that will help with your every need?
Fortunately, there are several tips you can follow to start. See below for several kitchen design tips that you can use as you begin to plan.
1. Think Long-Term
It’s easy to get caught up in making little decisions such as the color of the cabinets or what material you want to place on your countertops. However, the key to any successful plan is looking at the big picture first.
What are you envisioning when you think about the kitchen’s final design? Are there any specific features of the kitchen that you’re thinking of? For example, your dream kitchen might include things like an island, black appliances, neutral colors, etc.
From there, take a look at what you’re currently working with (assuming you’re remodeling a kitchen). Are there any redeeming qualities of the kitchen’s current layout or configuration?
Be sure to hire a trusted interior designer to achieve the layout and aesthetic that you’re going for. They can provide concrete steps on how to achieve your dream kitchen.
2. Draw a Floor Plan
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be an experienced contractor to draw up a floor plan of your kitchen. Simply measure out the walls of your home (in feet and inches) and draw an accurate description of your kitchen’s layout.
Make sure to measure things such as doors, windows, current cabinetry, where the water pipes are located, etc.
Drawing a floor plan will give you a blank canvas to work with. From there, you can start to plan out different aspects of your kitchen in terms of real measurements.
Try to remind yourself often to have a scale. For example, every inch that’s drawn on the paper represents one foot of your kitchen layout in real life.
3. Consider Different Layouts
Every home is different, so the spacing that you have for your new kitchen might be more limited than others. Fear not, there’s a perfect kitchen layout for every amount of space!
For example, if you’re strapped for space (such as in a townhome or studio apartment) then you might consider a galley kitchen. The entire kitchen is laid out across two parallel lines, hosting all kitchen appliances inside of them.
If you have a bit more space to work with, then you might consider an L-shaped or U-shaped kitchen layout. As their names would imply, the counters in these kitchens form the shape of their respective letters.
You might also think about a double L-shaped kitchen, which has an additional island that’s also in the shape of a capital L.
4. Draw Inspiration Around You
Perhaps you’re completely stumped at where to start planning. You have absolutely no idea of what you’re looking for or features you’d like to implement in your home.
If that’s the case, then there’s no better way to gather ideas than drawing inspiration from other kitchens. Take notice of the kitchens that you friends and family members have. What features do you love about their respective kitchens?
You can also use social media as an incredible tool for gathering some ideas. There’s also the all-inspiring HGTV in which you’re bound to get a takeaway or two.
Remember, this kitchen design process should be fun! While it might require an overwhelming amount of planning in the short-term, you get to build your dream kitchen into your home. Keep your eyes on the prize and look for inspiration.
5. Use the Kitchen Working Triangle as Your Base
If you don’t know where to start when designing your kitchen’s layout, start by implementing an optimal kitchen working triangle.
For those of you that don’t know, the kitchen triangle refers to the space between your sink, your refrigerator, and your stove. Since these are the three most-used areas of a kitchen, you’ll want to keep them within proximity to each other.
After you’ve formed the kitchen triangle on your idea kitchen layout, you’ll find it a lot easier to implement other places such as additional counter space and cabinetry.
6. Focus on Materials
After you have the layout that you want, it’s time to add some depth to all the different features you’ve drawn. In other words, you’ll want to consider the materials you’ll use in your kitchen.
For flooring, you might consider options such as laminate, vinyl, tile, hardwood, bamboo, or cork. For counters, you might think through marble, stone, wood, or plastic laminate.
The materials that you choose for your flooring and counters will set the tone for the rest of the kitchen’s design. Then you can think through additional features such as cabinet hardware, appliance color, and so on.
Implement These Kitchen Design Tips in Your Plans
Now that you’ve seen all the different kitchen design tips that go into planning your new kitchen, it’s time to start with the first step!
Be sure to read this article for 3 steps on how to prepare for an initial interior decorating consultation.
For more inquiries, please feel free to reach out via our contact us page and we’ll be happy to assist you further!
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Hi, I’m Kimberly, the owner of KH Home Design serving Connecticut. With my streamlined process, exceptional customer service, and impeccable design sense, I’m here to transform your home into a stunning reflection of your personal style and needs. As a multi-award-winning Interior Designer with a passion for design and a deep understanding of psychology, I create spaces that not only look amazing but also feel amazing to be in. Book a Complimentary Call today to get started on creating the home of your dreams.
