Interactive Kitchen Design

Thanks to modern technology, it's now possible to see what your dream kitchen would look like in a realistic, but digital three-dimensional field. This interactive design method lets you see a kitchen design in action before you move ahead on a costly renovation.

You can try out color schemes, materials and even structural elements using virtual and interactive kitchen design. These tools are highly interactive, easy to use and can help you choose the best kitchen faucets, materials, finishes and accessories.

Interactive Design - Why Use It?

Using tools that allow you to do interactive kitchen design is a great way to not only visualize your ideas and concepts, but also communicate them to others. For example, you may be having a hard time expressing a design wish to your contractor, but with an interactive design tool, you can show them.

This kitchen design tool is also useful because most versions come with an interactive kitchen guide that provides you with information and resources on every design element and building material included in the software suite. Ideally, they'll also include price estimates.

Free Interactive Kitchen Design Tools

Many free tools online for kitchen designs are available from the manufacturers websites, and in this case, they focus on products made by the manufacturer. For example, a quick Google search for "design tool free kitchen" will bring up many hits. Sites like Merillat, Lowes and IKEA all have free online and interactive kitchen design tools.

Most of these online kitchen design tools are browser-based planner and quite slow because they are handling the graphical information through your Internet connection. The IKEA Kitchen Planner downloads to your computer and works from there, rather than through your browser, so it's definitely faster.

How Interactive Kitchen Software Works

Most of these online tools work the same way - you choose a basic kitchen layout (galley, L-shape, etc.) and then customize the room size and the locations of doors and windows. Next, you start adding adding appliances and cabinetry.

Some online tools don't offer a full range of products because they're targeted towards a specific manufacturer. HGTV has a tool for virtual kitchen design on their website (which, unfortunately, works only with Internet Explorer or Firefox) and it includes a wide range of products and appliances made by various manufacturers.

Alternative "Free" Kitchen Design Options

If you want try interactive kitchen design for free, but don't want to use a web-based version, try downloading a demo of popular 3D design programs like Home Plan Pro, TurboFloorPlan or the Better Homes and Gardens home design tool.