Kitchen cabinet plans are essential when designing or remodeling a kitchen. Your cabinetmaker will need a plan to know what size and types of cabinets you need.
Kitchen Layouts
A great kitchen is one that has efficient work zones and plenty of useful cabinet space. In some cases, the type of kitchen cabinet plans you are able to create are based on the shape and size of your kitchen. The different types of kitchen space layouts are:
- U-shaped kitchen
- L-shaped kitchen
- Galley kitchen
- Island in the center
- 1-wall
Measuring the Room
Measuring the room is the first step in planning kitchen cabinets. Use a measuring tape and have a piece of graph paper ready to note all the measurements in scale. Measure the walls of the kitchen. Measure and draw windows and doors on the graph paper.
Efficient Work Zones
Efficient work zones in a kitchen are designed around the work triangle. The three primary work centers in a kitchen are the sink, refrigerator, and stove. Plan your kitchen so that the cabinets and appliances are in the best place possible. Your dish cabinets should be near the dishwasher. The refrigerator door should not block the cabinets. You should have several drawers near the stove and dishwasher.
Virtual Kitchen Cabinet Plans
The Internet has several good kitchen cabinet planner programs available, and some of them are free. In some cases these sites would like you to buy kitchen cabinets from them, but you are under no obligation to do so.
Lowes Virtual Room Designer
Lowes building supply store has a free online virtual room designer to create kitchen cabinet plans. After measuring your kitchen space, you can create several different plans to choose from. Virtually view your kitchen from several different angles to come up with your final design. Finally, save and print your personalized cabinet plans.
Home Depot Kitchen Designer
Home Depot has a free kitchen designer tool on their website. The kitchen designer helps you figure out your preferences and establish priorities so you can make your dream kitchen cabinets. A virtual showroom helps you decide the type of kitchen cabinets you want either by style, layout, or brand.
IKEA Kitchen Planner
Designing a kitchen that suits your personality and needs is easy using the IKEA kitchen planner. The 3-D planner allows you to view your kitchen from different angles and drag and drop different cabinet types into place until you are satisfied.
Microsoft Office Visio Dream Kitchen
Microsoft Office Visio 2016 has kitchen layout templates that will help you measure and plan your kitchen layout. With your measurements, choose the layout that best fits your kitchen space and insert the type of cabinets you want
Types of Cabinets
The quality, convenience, and storage capacity of kitchen cabinets is important. When planning your kitchen, ensure you have enough drawers for utensils, hot pads, and towels. Make sure you have cabinets for plates, bowls, glasses, serving dishes, pans, and small appliances. Also, consider cabinets for spices and other small foods items. Plan for a large pantry cabinet. If you have a corner cabinet you can have a Lazy Susan turntable installed, or you can use a breadbox.
Plan Carefully
Your kitchen is the most expensive room in your house. Take extra time to plan it right. After you have used some of the free virtual kitchen planners, talk to a professional cabinetmaker to get his recommendations.
