How To Design a Kitchen Remodel
We all dream of a space in which we can spend hours concocting delicious meals, listening to our favorite playlists, and baking up a storm. Sometimes, all it takes is a little renovation to transform a kitchen entirely. Whether your goal is to make small changes to your kitchen or to rip it out and renovate it entirely, there are plenty of options as far as remodeling goes.
The process of renovating a kitchen is often overwhelming, but with Skipp, you’ll find the process goes smoothly. In this guide, we’ll cover a ton of kitchen remodel ideas plus frequently asked questions.
What is kitchen remodel design?
Remodeling a room is the practice of tweaking the layout so that it maximizes the use of space and feels open and comfortable. A kitchen remodel design is simply the design you use to plan this.
Small kitchen remodels typically don’t require changing the layout of the kitchen entirely, but if you’re looking to do a larger renovation, you may need to rearrange your appliances, cabinets, and accessories completely. How much (or little) you remodel your kitchen is entirely up to you!
Do I need a designer for a kitchen remodel?
You won’t necessarily need to enlist a designer to help you remodel your kitchen, but a professional opinion can certainly help! An experienced kitchen designer will be able to tell you where each piece of furniture should go, how much space should be left in “high traffic” areas and which patterns and color schemes will work best for your space.
Fortunately, working with a top designer doesn’t mean you have to have a six-figure budget for your remodel! When you work with us, you can typically save 40% on the cost of your kitchen over going to a general contractor or competitor, and you’ll have access to top designs and designers to give you a custom kitchen for a fraction of the price!
How much does it cost to remodel a kitchen DIY?
The cost of remodeling a kitchen depends on several factors. The size of your kitchen plays into the cost in a big way, which makes things even trickier as the average kitchen size seems to change every year. (It seems we all want a bigger kitchen, right?)
A low-cost remodel will usually cost between $100 and $125 per square foot, whereas a mid-range kitchen renovation will set you back from $200 to $250 per square foot.
If you factor in rewiring lighting and totally replacing entire cabinets, your pricing could change entirely all over again. If you’re handy, you can save a huge amount on labor by doing it yourself (you can even use our designs to help you), provided you’re happy living in a half-built kitchen until it’s done, but professional labor is, of course, costly.
The cost of remodeling a kitchen yourself will also depend heavily on the area in which you live; a popular contractor in an affluent area will charge a lot more than a young contractor in a rural area. Fortunately, when you work with us we’ll work with our own hand-picked contractors, so you can rest assured knowing you’re getting the best work for the best price.
How to Design a Kitchen Remodel
Designing a kitchen remodel from scratch is a time-consuming process, and varies a lot depending on whether you want to do light renovation or a complete remodel, whether you want to move the major appliances or not, and more.
Also, it takes a trained eye to know how much space you should leave for traffic (humans and pets), and how much space you should use for storage and countertops. The best solution is to work with our designers, whether you plan to DIY your remodel or pay someone else to do every step for you.
With the help of Skipp, you can save up to 40% in the process! Our easy 4-step process is by far the simplest way to design and remodel your kitchen. Here’s just how simple it is:
1. Book your 3D measurements. All we need for precise measurements is a 30 minute, in-person scan of your kitchen space. Our process is so straightforward that there’s no need for multiple visits or lengthy processes.
2. Get your personalized layout recommendations. At Skipp, we generate hundreds of layout options and tailor them to suit your budget, requirements and preferences.
3. Get designing! We provide curated design collections for you to choose from, and access to top-tier designers so that you can have the kitchen you’ve always dreamed of!
4. Time to construct. We remove risks, costly mistakes and unnecessary stress with vetted contractors and architect grade renovation planning.
Kitchen Remodel Ideas
You can spend hours looking through Instagram and Pinterest for inspiration, so at some point, you simply need to collect your ideas and start looking at designs! If you’re stuck, our top designers are always on hand to help. Here are some ideas for your kitchen remodel:
For small kitchens:
· Make the most of the space you have with clever lighting, friendly-looking plants, neutral-bright tones, and mirrors. Not only can statement lighting draw attention from a small kitchen, but it also can add a sense of intentional style and panache.
· It’s also a good idea to think vertically; you may not have a lot of space in square meters, but that doesn’t mean you can’t build upwards! Use your wall space to hang plants, install spice racks or add a couple of hooks for cooking utensils.
· Use open shelving to let in more light from a window if built-in cupboards would block it.
· If you’re working with a particularly small kitchen, concealing appliances can also be a great way to save space. Select a cupboard in which you’ll keep your toaster, coffee maker or food processor, and you’ll save a bunch of countertop space and make everything look tidier.
· Keep your colors light and bright – dark tones will make the space look smaller. If you definitely want to go dark, keep it to the bottom cabinets only.
For open kitchens:
· Open kitchens are in in a big way, and allow for a lot of flexibility whether you’re in a small apartment or 5-bedroom home. The key here is to consider how it will “blend” in with the rest of your home. Often, a similar color scheme to your walls, floor, and furniture will look best.
· Use an island as a transitional space between the kitchen and other areas of the home. This is where everyone will congregate, so consider if that hob or sink you had planned for your island is really the best location.
· If your kitchen is open plan, think about where you want your family or guests to be when you’re cooking. Do you want to make a small “chillout” area nearby? This can be a good option if you have a separate dining room and don’t need six different eating spaces.
On a budget:
· There are lots of things to consider when remodeling your kitchen on a budget. One of the most expensive parts of redoing a kitchen is the cabinets, so you may want to look into refacing your kitchen cabinets instead of replacing them. This allows you to completely change the look of your kitchen without the expense of a complete remodel.
· The three most important workspaces in your kitchen are the sink, the refrigerator, and hob, and the three should form a triangle. You want to avoid them being too far apart from each other or too cramped, so bear this in mind when arranging your kitchen furniture if you’re doing the majority of the work yourself.
· Look on online marketplaces, as often you can buy kitchens, cabinets, and other kitchen furniture for a fraction of the price new. Some people will literally rip a kitchen out of a new build to replace it with one they want, so you can get a real bargain.
Latest trends in 2020/2021:
· Two-tone kitchens are hugely popular in 20/21. This look can be a little trickier than incorporating a number of shades as it requires you to select specific hues of each color, but when it’s done right, it can be stunning. Go for deep, dark units and create contrast with brighter shades elsewhere to add character and depth to your kitchen.
· As for color trends and motifs, greens and botanical patterns are as popular this year as floral patterns were in the ‘90s. Whether you choose to paint a large panel in the middle of your kitchen or go for a totally new wall pattern, plant patterns and natural greens are in this year. (Of course, feel free to simply use plants instead!)
· A statement faucet can be a great way of giving your kitchen a modern, industrial feel or a retro, mid-century vibe, so shop around before you settle on one, especially if it’s in the island as a centerpiece.
Is there a kitchen remodel design tool available?
While we live in an era while there is an app or software for literally anything we need, the kitchen remodel software out there leaves something to be desired, unless you’re a trained designer.
Skipp’s design services allow you to select every little detail about your new kitchen from start to finish. You can plan your ideal color scheme, statement pieces, furniture placement and wall patterns. Our user-friendly system empowers you make every choice so your kitchen is completely unique to you and your space.
What software do kitchen designers use?
Now that everything is done online, most interior designers use rendering software for designing. There isn’t any one software all designers use, unfortunately, and many of the ones the professionals use are expensive and not beginner-friendly.
If you’re looking for a design software just to have a go with, Homestyler is free with a section that allows you to include furniture from real brands, and of course IKEA’s 3D kitchen planner is useful, though limited to their products and not particularly high-tech.
Designing a kitchen can be time-consuming and expensive, but with Skipp, you can save money and still have access to top professional designers. Simply tell us which sort of layout and size best describes your kitchen, tell us your approximate budget, when you’d like to begin renovations and whether you’ll need Skipp laborers for the job.
Our website will take you through a few stylistic options such as Two-toned and Timeless, Moody Scandinavian and Modern Farmhouse, and what sort of statement you want your kitchen to make. We’ll then take your email address and send you your results. From there, we’ll do the design work, and you can look forward to a brand new kitchen!
