A Complete Step by Step Guide on How to Design a Kitchen

A major kitchen remodel can cost homeowners around $20,000. With a price tag like that, it’s important to take any remodel or kitchen design seriously.

Sure, you might have a few Pinterest boards saved that show off exactly how you want your dream kitchen to look.

But, learning how to design a kitchen and carrying it out properly (and under budget) require a little more work.

Whether you’re looking to design a kitchen from scratch as part of building a new home or simply want to refresh your current kitchen’s look, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it wisely.

Learn How to Design a Kitchen Layout

If you’re designing a kitchen from scratch as part of a building a brand new home, then you’ll need to factor in the layout.

However, if you’re just remodeling your current kitchen, you likely can’t do much about the current layout. You can optimize space, rearrange cabinets, and change appliances.

If you’re going to move appliances around, however, you have to think about plumbing.

However, you choose to organize your kitchen design and layout, and it’s crucial to think about efficiency.

Optimize the layout of your kitchen by organizing it so that anybody cooking in one station or using one appliance has everything they need within arm’s reach.

This can mean moving the cutlery drawer to a place right above the drying station or putting the spatula and other cooking utensils right next to the stove.

During this step of the planning phase, you should also think about the outline of your kitchen. Do you want to incorporate a kitchen island, or are you looking for more of a U-shaped outline?

Plan According to Major Design Features

Now that you’ve got the layout taken care of, you’ll want to plan according to the significant design styles you want to incorporate.

This means that if you know you want to go with a specific cabinet kitchen design, then base all of your other design features off of your cabinets.

The same goes for countertops. Perhaps you’ve just seen a stunning quartz guide that’s inspired you to design a quartz-filled kitchen.

One of the top tips for designing a kitchen you love while staying under budget is this: Select one prominent feature like this, invest in it wisely, and then build your kitchen off of that centerpiece.

Quartz countertops look great, and so does recessed lighting or maybe even smart kitchen technology. However, if you’re working on a budget, you’ll need to pick one.

Ensure that it’s the center of the attention in the kitchen and plan other design themes around it that complement it without overpowering it.

Don’t Forget About the Flooring

Many people tend to focus so much on their kitchen countertops, cabinets, and appliances that they forego kitchen flooring.

However, the right kitchen flooring can add a lot to overall kitchen design.

When it comes to picking out the right flooring, you’ll want to think about the function. If you do a lot of cooking in your kitchen and it receives a lot of traffic, then you’ll want to install flooring that won’t wear down with spills and grease.

Porcelain tile is an excellent option if you’re looking for durability and style. Hardwood flooring can look great in specific kitchens depending on the overall style of the home.

If you’re opting for hardwood, be sure to install it after you install the cabinets.

If you’re installing kitchen flooring yourself, then you’ll want to ensure you’re smart about how you measure. It helps to use the same measurements (inches or centimeters) that you used for your kitchen cabinets.

Then, be sure to measure everything, include niches, windows, doors, and where the water pipes come up from the floor. This will help prevent any mistakes.

Factor in Electrical Outlets and Storage

The Pinterest kitchen of your dreams likely doesn’t show the nitty-gritty details like electrical outlets and under-the-sink storage.

However, when you’re designing a kitchen, you’ll need to think about these kinds of small details.

When it comes to electrical outlets, be sure you’re placing them in areas where you’ll actually need them. You’ve got a few options here, which include:

• High Position
• Under Cabinet Position
• Pull-Up Position
• Hidden Outlets

If your kitchen is small, incorporating hidden outlets and storage wherever you can is a good idea.

Pull-out pantries and hidden kitchen island electrical outlets both work great for smaller kitchen spaces in which you need to conserve the aesthetic while still ensuring everything is functional.

Kitchen storage solutions are also a great way for you to get creative with design. Installing under cabinet outlets, for example, might allow you to save space on the walls where you can store other necessary items.

Consider Smart Kitchen Technology

Smart home technology makes life more accessible, and that’s certainly the case in the kitchen. On top of that, it can also increase the value of your home.

When designing or remodeling a kitchen, it’s smart to think about adding appliances or features that can increase the value of your home in case you ever sell it.

Some of the top smart kitchen appliances and devices of the year include smart displays connected to voice assistants and appliances that you can control remotely.

Things like this are great, somewhat low-cost solutions to kitchen optimization and can even help you become a better cook by providing you with step-by-step recipe instructions!

Designing Other Areas of Your Home

Designing a kitchen requires a lot of planning and attention-to-detail. It’s also a process that you’ll want to undergo with careful consideration.

If you know that you’re going also to want to redo your living space that’s connected to your kitchen, then you’ll need to ensure the design themes don’t clash.

Now that you’re all set with your guide on how to design a kitchen, you might be looking to redo other areas of your home.

If that’s the case, head over to our article that features some of the industry’s top tips for remodeling a bathroom on a budget.