Building a welcoming new kitchen or renovating an existing space can increase the value of a new or older home. However, it can be costly and time-consuming. An app can help you search for great design ideas and see what furniture and materials look best before starting your project. Since kitchens often have limited space for storage and appliances, an excellent design is especially important. Here are some of the best apps for helping you design your kitchen.
Autodesk HomeStyler
Image via Flickr by okchomeseller
Autodesk HomeStyler can work in almost any browser, and most people don’t need any downloads. It’s a two- and three-dimensional room planning app that’s powered by Flash, a program most people already have on their computers. You can zoom and turn the camera to get a good view of your new kitchen layout and check out a variety of styles. Several common refrigerator, dishwasher, sink, and microwave designs are available. You can also choose the colors and patterns of your floor, counters, and walls.
You can upload files to examine any design, choose where appliances will go, change the placements of doors, and convert a separate kitchen to one with a more open floor plan. Autodesk HomeStyler can also analyze the positions of the windows and the ideal materials for walls. It can even add small appliances and decor like a coffee maker or a fruit bowl and let you share designs through email or social media.
This app is simple to use, and it can generate first-person views of detailed floor plans. The website has several video tutorials and an FAQ section, and you can adjust dimensions by clicking and dragging. However, the app could be sluggish for people who have computers without enough capacity.
Houzz Home Design & Remodel App
The Houzz app works with Apple and Android phones and tablets. It’s filled with kitchen photos and ideas, and you can specify the styles and colors you want. Users can submit their suggestions, ask questions, and shop for appliances and decor. You can take a picture of your kitchen and superimpose new appliances, cabinets, sinks, and more. This is especially convenient for people who want to remodel. The Houzz app isn’t as sophisticated as Autodesk HomeStyler, but it gives you access to thousands of photos and an easy way to get an idea of how your renovations will look.
Planner 5D
The Planner 5D app is available for iPhones and Android devices, and its catalog contains more than 5,000 design elements. You can create realistic three-dimensional renderings of your ideal kitchen, or you can use the two-dimensional mode. You can edit colors, materials, and patterns to create custom furniture, walls, floors, and more.
You can also adjust item sizes, convert two-dimensional floor plans to three-dimensional scenes, and try out different landscaping and exterior elements. The Snapshots feature can add shadows, lighting, and other details to your new design, creating a realistic image that looks like a photograph. You can choose a variety of angles to create multiple images. The easy interface doesn’t need extensive tutorials, and you can look at designs from other users for inspiration.
Roomstyler 3D Room Planner
With Roomstyler 3D Room Planner, you’ll have access to a library of more than 120,000 pieces of furniture, appliances, and decor items. It comes with lots of easily searchable categories, so you can find what you’re looking for quickly. If you see an item or a piece of furniture you like, you can discover where to buy it by clicking on the Available for Purchase button.
You can share your designs and create mood boards to help inspire others. Users can also move the camera easily around your three-dimensional design to take a look at different views. A variety of preloaded kitchen layouts are available, or you can upload your own floor plan.
Undo and redo buttons let you easily fix mistakes and try out a variety of ideas. Measurements in meters or feet are available, and a zoom button allows you to see how your kitchen will look from up close or far away. You can tilt the view up or down and choose the position of the sun and light levels as well. You can even adjust the thickness of the walls. Roomstyler is free, and it’s available through your computer’s web browser, your iPad, or your iPhone. If you create an account, you can share your designs through social media.
Floorplanner
Floorplanner is easy to use, and it comes with plenty of options. It has instructive written and video tutorials and a variety of furniture choices. You can choose a two- or three-dimensional view, place items wherever you want, and export your designs to PDF files. There’s an extensive menu of choices, and you can hide it when you want a full-screen view of your work.
The app works with any computer or smartphone, and it’s free. However, you’ll need to create an account, and you can only export files once every 10 minutes. You can pay a fee to eliminate the limits on exporting files and add the option to export three-dimensional or photorealistic images.
RoomSketcher Kitchen Planner
This app lets you draw the kitchen of your dreams with a simple cursor. You can move walls; choose windows, doors, and other items from the library of fixtures and furniture; resize items; and experiment with different finishes. Built-in measurement tools make it easy to create an accurate two-dimensional floor plan to show your builder. Using Kitchen Planner is free, and a subscription lets you add realistic photos and first-person, 360-degree views of your design.
If you want to create a new kitchen, an app is an excellent place to start. It’s a great way to make sure that your builder knows exactly what you want. It also gives you easy access to a variety of options. Instead of searching for appliances, finishes, paint colors, and other design elements at retail stores, you can save time by looking at them and trying them out online.
Contact Steiner Homes!
When you’re ready to start the process of building your dream kitchen, give Steiner Homes a call! Our team of professionals is ready to help tackle any challenge and give you the space you deserve. Contact us online or give us a call at (219) 255-4418.
