How to Interactively Design Your Own Kitchen

Software can make designing a kitchen fun.

Designing a kitchen used to require the services of an expensive interior designer or a consultation with the kitchen expert at a local appliance or home improvement store. Home computers have turned that chore into an enjoyable pastime through the use of online sites or programs. Since the process is now available for free or at low cost, you can design countless variations before settling on a final plan.

Instructions

1. Browse a free online designer like Autodesk Homestyler, which allows you to avoid space-hogging programs that may contain malware. You can start with a kitchen template or create rooms from scratch. You can also drag and drop walls, countertops, floors, cabinets and name-brand appliances to define the space. You can also switch instantly between two- or three-dimensional visualizations, then print a shopping list of items you used. Because the site can cover an entire house, you can add on a dining room and family room.

2. Download a free designer program such as Sweet Home 3D, which allows you to design your space without connecting to the Internet. Your kitchen appears in one pane as a two-dimensional grid with measurements, while another pane displays your efforts in three dimensions. Yet a third pane lists rooms and furniture, which you drag and drop into your created space. A Virtual Visit allows you to walk through the space. Placing and positioning items is somewhat clumsy but a little practice and some reading of the help file improves the process.

3. Buy, install and run a commercial program such as Chief Architect Home Designer Suite 9.0, which not only allows design of the kitchen interior, but its exterior framing, roof, foundation and stairs. A trial version is available that limits printing, saving and exporting.

   Step-by-step training videos teach you the basics quickly. You can use some of the many included cabinets, appliances and countertops, or design your own with the Cabinet Designer tools. Several three-dimensional views are available: Doll House gives you a bird's-eye view, Glass House provides a translucent visualization and Virtual Tour records a walk through your space. Night and day views, with realistic sun-generated shadows, are also available.

References

• Autodesk Homestyler
• CNET Downloads: Sweet Home 3D
• Chief Architect