What is IKEA Kitchen Planner?
An easy-to-use online tool, the IKEA kitchen planner allows customers to visualize how their IKEA kitchen will look after it’s installed in their homes. Simply by dragging and dropping various appliances and storage units onto a virtual space. Users can create an entirely customized kitchen without having to spend a dime.
This free service is also not only great for helping you visualize your dream kitchen. It also comes with all kinds of helpful tips from experts on everything from storing wine to stocking up on utensils. Everything you need to get your new cabinets off on the right foot.
When you’re planning out your new Ikea kitchen, there are tons of questions to consider. How big should the island be? What color cabinets do you prefer? Which wall do you want your kitchen table to be on? But one of the most important considerations when creating an Ikea kitchen plan is how much storage space you will need and how you’ll get it. Fortunately, with these 10 helpful tips. Your planning process will go smoothly and your Ikea kitchen will be just what you want it to be!
Be Honest About What You Want
Start by being brutally honest about what you want. If you want a kitchen to cook in, rather than hang out in, consider looking at kitchen design options that prioritize function over style. The more clear you are with yourself and your goals early on, the better off you’ll be in terms of creating an environment where your family will want to spend time together.
And maybe even get some cooking done. Don’t Overlook Lighting! Like many spaces that don’t see as much action during daylight hours such as basements. Kitchens can be pretty dark during certain parts of the day—especially if they don’t have windows or even overhead lighting.
Create Multiple Plans
It’s important to design multiple kitchen plans to help ensure that you get everything right. If you simply create one plan and stick with it, there’s a good chance that you will not take into account something as minor as cabinet dimensions. You might be better off creating two or three different plans so that your layout is customized to fit your exact needs. Once you’ve created several options. Look through them and determine which layout seems like it would be best suited for your specific needs and requirements.
Measure your Kitchen Space
Create a kitchen design plan before you buy furniture and appliances. Measure your kitchen space with a tape measure, then sit down at your computer or use paper and pencil to draw out your kitchen to scale. By getting an accurate picture of your space—and its size limitations—you’ll be able to properly gauge what you can fit in there, and how you can get it organized. This is especially important if you have cabinets on opposite walls from each other; some appliances (refrigerators, dishwashers) won’t fit into such tight spaces if they are front-to-back rather than side-by-side.
Include All Your Appliances
Adding all your appliances to your ikea kitchen planner is a great way to make sure you don’t forget anything. Not only that, but it’s also an effective way to visualize how everything will look in your kitchen. When putting together a plan, you have to be methodical, and adding every appliance is one of those steps that’ll help. It can also make things easier when it comes time to place items on shelves or at counter tops—you already know where everything will go!
Evaluate the Functionality Needs in your Kitchen
Evaluating your kitchen’s functionality needs is a great place to start when creating an Ikea kitchen planner. The functionality requirements in your kitchen will be different than someone else’s, which is why it’s important to go through and figure out what you need and want before getting into any planning. Start by asking yourself: What tasks do I frequently perform in my kitchen? Do I love cooking? Am I an entertaining fanatic? Will my family grow over time? If so, how much room will they need to store their plates and cookware in a way that works best for them?
Choose One Countertop Finish
Granite, Quartz, Stone, or Ceramic: You may want to mix and match different types of countertops in one kitchen, but if you’re creating a plan from scratch, it’s best to choose just one. Granite is one of the most popular kitchen countertop materials because it is durable and comes in a variety of colors; quartz and other stone countertops are also hard-wearing and easily repairable. For those who want an eco-friendly option with personality, there are a lot of colorful ceramic options. Some people prefer these because they require little maintenance beyond occasional cleaning.
Whichever surface you choose, make sure it will complement your cabinets; good planning makes even dated kitchens feel fresh. But remember that form follows function—while certain finishes look great on their own, others look better when paired with certain materials like granite slabs that can be polished to a shine. If you don’t have any preference, I recommend choosing something affordable (with lots of available colors) such as granite slabs or marble tiles.
Choose One Faucet Style and One Faucet Brand
It’s easy to find a kitchen faucet you love, but your faucet will be incredibly inconvenient if it’s too large or too small. If you have a large-sized sink, go with a longer spout; small sinks are best served by models with shorter spouts. Don’t forget to choose handles that are in proportion to your sink as well. You can also consider mixing and matching: installing one high style faucet on one side of your sink and a lower-priced model on the other. Vibrant color and pattern is also always an option: no matter what you choose, make sure it fits into your overall design scheme before committing to buy!
Designate Storage Space For Appliances
Appliances are one of those items that you don’t need to buy at a furniture store. If you have an appliance (say, a refrigerator) delivered from another retailer, it is likely that they will provide their own delivery service and schedule. With kitchen planner software like iDesign, you can easily add appliances in and designate where they should go. This makes it easy to see how much space everything is going to take up without having to worry about moving stuff around once everything is delivered and unpacked. Everything stays in its place so you don’t have to worry about losing anything or missing an item when making changes down the line.
Consider Lighting Options That Work With Appliances
Not all kitchens are created equal. In fact, different models of appliances from different brands might clash if they don’t work well together. To create a functional kitchen space, consider your home’s overall electrical system when shopping for new appliances and fixtures.
If you have an older home with plenty of incandescent lights and only one or two outlets in each room, it will be difficult to position blenders and other high-wattage devices where they’re needed most. You can fix some of these issues by adding lighting fixtures and outlets or moving things around. But even then, you’ll need to keep high-power equipment in mind when designing your kitchen layout.
Save Some Money!
Before you start your Ikea kitchen planner, first think about how much you have to spend on furniture. In today’s economy, it’s wise to make a budget and stick to it! Start off by making a list of everything you need to outfit your kitchen with. Then, when you go shopping either at a real store or online. Know how much room in your budget is left over for special items. If something costs too much or if you simply can’t find what you want within your budget. Leave it behind—after all, there are always going to be new items coming out that might be exactly what you want if they fit into your plan.