Questions to Ask When Designing a Kitchen 

Questions to ask when designing your kitchen:

• Why do I want to renovate my kitchen?
• What’s my budget?
• How do I want my kitchen to function?
• What’s my style?
• What type of tiles should I choose?

There could be many reasons to redesign your kitchen. Are you looking for a change in color and style or do you need to rearrange everything to gain useful function? Looking for a mini-makeover or a big renovation? The answer to this question can make a big impact on the design itself, and the renovation process as a whole.

If what you’re looking for is a stylistic change, it can be easier – and more affordable – than you might think. Relatively simple changes, such as painting the walls different colors, selecting new hardware or light fixtures, and choosing a new backsplash, can make a huge stylistic difference without requiring major construction. However, if the purpose of your renovation also requires a change in function, moving major appliances, or even changing the layout of the space, it will affect the cost and timeline of your project and therefore determine the entire process.

Kitchen renovations tend to be some of the most expensive projects in your home. With so many moving parts – cabinetry, appliances, countertops, flooring, backsplashes, and lighting – costs can pile up quickly, and that’s before talking about structural work that might be necessary, such as plumbing or electrical work. That’s why determining your budget well in advance is crucial to creating a realistic plan for your kitchen design project.

That being said, after deciding on your final budget – it’s time to start dreaming. An essential part of the creative process is asking yourself if money were not a factor, what would your new kitchen include? Re-designing your kitchen is a big, long-term investment, and you want the final result to fit your needs as much as possible and look as closest as it can to your dream kitchen. After imagining the kitchen of your dreams, you can realize that dream within the realities of your budget and your space.

Understanding your kitchen’s function, who uses it most, and how, will help you determine what is absolutely crucial in your design, and what can be skipped. Is your kitchen the busy heart of your house? Do you love to entertain in your kitchen? How often do you cook? Do you have a dining room, or is your kitchen also where you eat?

At the end of the day, a kitchen is first and foremost a functional room that needs to fit your lifestyle. After considering your budget, your dream kitchen, and the everyday uses for it, the creative design work can kick in with the correct planning for your kitchen in both style and function.

There are many practical decisions to make when it comes to your kitchen, but determining the look and style is much more personal. The most important thing to remember is that this is your kitchen we are talking about and you are the one who will be living and working in this space every day. There are a chosen few who know exactly what they want and already have the Pinterest mood boards to prove it. But what about those who break into a cold sweat looking at countertop samples or feel overwhelmed by the countless choices for a faucet?

There is now hope for people who get lost in a sea of options thanks to the marvels of modern technology. You can preview your favorite looks in finishes like tile with the click of a button. These View-In-Your-Room visualizers allow you to explore different looks for your kitchen, taking the guesswork out of choosing your style.