What Should I Consider When Planning a Kitchen Cabinet Design?

Planning your kitchen cabinet design is one of the most enjoyable parts of a kitchen remodeling project. The kitchen is often considered the center of the home, and a well thought-out design allows you to get the most of your storage and work space while still providing interesting design details. You can plan your kitchen cabinet design by yourself or with a kitchen design professional.

The first step in planning your kitchen cabinet design is to develop your budget. A kitchen renovation project can be relatively inexpensive or very pricey. It is important to determine how much you can spend before you plan your kitchen remodel. This will help you make smart choices as you shop.

Once you have a budget firmly established, you can begin to design your kitchen cabinet layout. Graph paper allows you to draw the kitchen to scale, and then draw and erase until you are happy with the layout. Some things, like the location of the appliances, will probably remain the same. Even if you are getting new appliances, keeping in the same location prevents a tremendous added expense. Mark these areas clearly on your graph paper before you begin designing your kitchen cabinet design layout.

Next, sit down and imagine your dream kitchen. Do you do a lot of baking? You may want an island that is lower than traditional counter height. This makes it easier to knead and roll out dough. Do you entertain a great deal? A long run of counter space to serve food from may be one your wish list.

Prioritize the items on your wish list. Now, starting with the first item, see how they fit into your kitchen cabinet design. There are many specialty cabinets available, and it can be easy to blow your budget trying to fit too many organizational elements into one plan. It is more important to choose the designs that are functional and that you will use.

Some of the more popular choices in specialty kitchen cabinets are ones that allow you to store cookie sheets upright, so that you don’t have to unload the entire cabinet to reach the one that you want, and cabinets that conceal a retractable cutting board. Some people love the built in garbage or recycling containers while others like the specialty cabinets that house a stand up mixer. You can pull it out and use it and slide it back under the cabinet without ever lifting or moving the mixer.

There has never been a time when there was a wider selection for your kitchen cabinet design. The choices can be overwhelming, but if you think seriously about what your needs are for the kitchen and determine a budget, planning your kitchen can be an enjoyable experience. Kitchen planning professionals can help you make the most of your space and budget.