Whether you’re planning a new home or a major remodeling project, sooner or later you’re going to have to address the elephant in the room – what about the kitchen? Designing a kitchen can be intimidating because it’s one of the most used rooms in a home and the last thing you want is leave something out or make an error that you may have to live with for many years. Even if you’re remodeling and have the old kitchen as a reference point, changing the basic cabinet footprint can alter the entire layout and how efficient the room operates.
So what’s the answer – where can you look for help? Here are a few places where you can start:
- Kitchen Design Centers – many home improvement stores and kitchen design centers have staff on hand who have been trained or are experienced in kitchen design. These personnel can be very helpful, but don’t make the mistake of thinking their advice is free of charge. Their salaries are often added into the cost of the cabinets the retailer sells.
- Kitchen Contractors – while they may not have a degree in design, most experienced kitchen contractors can provide a lot of good advice on kitchen remodeling. They can also provide assistance on determining the most economical layout for your kitchen project – something that professional designers often overlook. This service usually isn’t free either – a contractor can be very helpful if they have the job, but will probably charge a consulting fee otherwise.
- Online Cabinet Retailers – many online cabinet distributors such as the RTA Cabinet Store provide kitchen design help for homeowners on their websites. A kitchen design tool can assist with cabinet dimensions and appliance locations and even give you a scaled idea of how the finished room will look. One big advantage of this service is that it doesn’t cost you a cent – you can play around with your cabinet arrangements all day to determine what looks best. All you need to get started are the overall dimensions of the room and where your doorways are located.
So the answer to the question is yes, you can design your own kitchen, but it never hurts to have a little help and these three resources should get you started in the right direction. Regardless of which route you take, don’t forget to ask about the latest kitchen trends that may help to increase the value of your home.