50 Best Kitchen Design Ideas for 2021

Creating a kitchen design that is functional, beautiful and comfortable can be a challenge. Check out our gallery of fifty original and unique design ideas, tips and inspirations to help you construct a plan to revamp your kitchen! Whether you are looking for simple decoration changes or motivation for a full renovation, we’ve provided a variety of looks, styles and combinations to ponder and peruse. If you rent or own, are urban or rural, happy to craft or prefer ready made, we’ve brought you kitchen inspirations to boost those kitchen dreams into design realities.

Check Out 50 Inspiring Ideas to Design Your Kitchen for 2018

The kitchen is the heartbeat of your home – whether entertaining large groups or brewing a cup of tea, your kitchen is where precious memories are made. This is the space where meals are created, new tastes and cooking methods are explored, and special conversations are had. The epicenter of your home should be comfortable and functional, but it can be difficult to create a kitchen design idea that perfectly blends practicality with the style you are searching for. Transforming this vital room in your home does not require a pricey professional interior designer – it’s just a matter of discovering unique solutions and fun aesthetic touches to make your kitchen more usable and beautiful. There are even a myriad amount of kitchen design ideas that can easily be utilized in your rented house or apartment, to help add a touch of individuality and personalization to your space. The following kitchen design photos are collected to introduce you to some delightful designs to inspire your internal designer. That inspiration and a few unique kitchen design tips will help you to create a welcoming space for food prep, entertainment and more.

1. Bright Colors Add Great Impact

Bright colors don’t have to be restricted to your garden. Bring the cheery yellow of a fresh daisy into your kitchen and be wowed by the glowing difference it creates. As you can see, simply painting the lower cabinets a bright shade adds a great new dynamic to this kitchen, especially against the grey background. Keeping the upper cabinetry a similar shade as the walls and ceiling places even greater focus on the sunshine-esque accent and makes the kitchen seem much taller. This is a great technique to use in kitchens where not all the fixtures quite blend – the yellow, even sized cabinets draw the eye away from the mismatched, grey wall storage.

2. Hidden Touches for Sleek Style

Make preparing meals practically effortless with a style that tucks away all your gadgets with ease. This kitchen design in this picture features recessed lighting to make sure you cuts are clear and your measurements are accurate. Storage underneath the table utilizes the space effectively while keeping the room tidy. The deep matte black of the cabinets and surfaces provides a sleek backdrop to the beautifully detailed wood grain. It would be easy to switch out accents such as hand towels and serving bowls for whatever color fits your mood or the season. Matching appliances that are either perfectly aligned with the cabinets or set into the wall present a polished kitchen any host or hostess would be proud of.

3. Minty Fresh Appeal Kitchen Design

There’s a reason that mint green has been frequently appearing up in fashion lately. This lovely pastel is fresh, fun and flattering. This particular kitchen design picture shows a space that has utilized many shades of the mint green for a sweet and homey feel. A closer look shows some simple touches add to the overall effect, such as replacing the drawer pulls with funk mint hardware and towels that match the wall art. Are you renting and aren’t able to paint your walls? Or love the look of colored wainscot but don’t want to commit to that large of a renovation project? There are wainscot panels you can purchase, paint to your desired color and then affix to your walls in a manner that can easily be removed.

4. Black That Is Anything But Basic

This stunning kitchen design image perfectly examples how a small space doesn’t limit you to small options. While most people don’t think of utilizing black in their kitchen, the black tile wall creates stunning texture while the black counters and toe kick form striking lines to best display the golden wood drawers and doors. The asymmetrical sizing and placement of the drawers add interest and functionality – imagine having drawers that perfectly fit that silverware tray, or a pullout shelf that would contain those miscellaneous lids? Choosing a dark finish for the faucet and storing rack helps keep the memorable contrast between the black base and gold highlights.

5. Quirky Touches for a Fresh Look

Sometimes, the simplest way to revamp a kitchen is to think outside of the box. For example, when replacing bar stools, seek out comfortable scoop shape seats instead of the more common round stools. Replacing your refrigerator? A rounded, retro look fridge is a fun and interesting divergence from the stainless steel norms. In this adorable kitchen, unusual shapes are still featured in white, allowing the contrasting juicy colors of melon and clover to brightly pop. Simple white floating shelves and pegs on the wall allow for additional storage without adding bulk. A crisp white counter/eating area combination makes great use of the space while providing a canvas for further decorating.

6. Tiny Space Can’t Hold You Back

Are you working with restricted space and can’t seem to find furniture that will fit? This image is unique among the other kitchen design pictures, as the tiny kitchen area has been perfectly planned to maximize the available space while maintaining effortless function. Notice how even the cabinets and drawers are without excess hardware, keeping clean lines and an overall minimalist presentation. The light grey color used throughout the walls, ceiling and floor add depth without creating too much background noise. Vivid yellow punctuates the orderly shelves and the innovative table, showcasing the unique way this tiny space has solved the need for a table and storage. Softly accenting this miniature masterpiece, the wooden back splash and seating flow with the gentle pattern in the floor, keeping the overall impression from appearing too industrial.

7. Mixing Materials Makes Magic

It can be easy to revert to common combinations while planning your new kitchen, but let yourself dare to dream of the unexpected. These gorgeous navy cabinets look right at home next to the marble counters, while not overwhelming the limited space this galley style layout provides. An underutilized kitchen design idea, this border tile in a eye catching pattern is a simple way to ramp up the interest without tearing out and replacing your entire floor. Another novel piece that blends in beautifully here is the stunning hood, made of marble and mirror and nestled among the upper cabinets seamlessly. Switching out curtains and towels can be a simple fix, but switching up an item like this hood is memorably magnificent.

8. Let Your Personality Shine!

Personalizing your space doesn’t have to be relegated to decorating a bedroom. There are no set rules for how a kitchen has to look, so use pieces that will catch your eye and admiration. In this expressive example, the whimsical chandelier is just one of a variety of conversation pieces to feast your eyes on. The geometric print rug complements the colored pixel print tile on the walls without clashing with the neutral island. Pinks and purples on the upper cabinets flow with the flourishes of the border tile and a lovely arch window opens the room with natural lighting.

9. Seek Out Local Options

There are a number of big box home improvement stores that sell a variety of inexpensive and pre-made options for your kitchen remodel. However, consider this kitchen design tip – research local options first! This will provide you with a truly personal touch of your community within your home. The kitchen design in this image, for instance, is absolutely one-of-a-kind! Cabinets crafted from a single elm tree placed in waxed iron, offset by traditional rustic tiles tell the tale of this Dutch homes’ origin. The undulating golden lines of the wood are perfectly showcased against the dark metal – which matches well with the kitchen gadgets hanging along the wall. Oftentimes craftsman can create gorgeous custom pieces using local products.

10. Neutral Tones Create Classic Elegance

This timeless kitchen has many of the most desired kitchen necessities – plentiful counter room, generous storage space and even a wine refrigerator! What sets this apart from other dream kitchens, however, is the use of light and neutral tones to craft a timelessly elegant space. The subway tile wall detail is comprised of multiple tones combining the appealing cream of the island surfaces and the deeper neutral beige of the cabinets. Recessed lighting in the ceilings adds to the crystalline lighting in the middle of the kitchen, which is all accentuated by a bank of windows above the spacious sink. This stunning room would be worthy of hosting even the fanciest of feasts.

11. Gilded Glamour Kitchen Decoration

The image above combines several common kitchen design ideas – bar seating in front of classic marble surfaces, unobtrusive lighting and clean lines. What escalates this room from familiar to fabulous, however, are the unexpected metallic gold cabinets. It just takes one such statement piece to give your kitchen an air of opulence. Simple gold accessories help tie the room together, and styling the remainder of the kitchen in contrasting black and white keep this glamour from going gaudy. Adding a focal point such as this shimmering storage is certain to grasp the attention of your guests, without costing its’ weight in gold.

12. Farmhouse Familiarity, Revamped

Many of the most precious memories are forged in kitchens, with traditions that date back generations. Farmhouse style structures are visual reminders of generous portions of comfort food, enjoyed with large groups of family and loved ones. Bring that traditional aesthetic into your home by mixing the familiar feel of worn wood and exposed beams with modern conveniences such as a stainless steel rack for cooking pots and crisp lighting. Clean white cabinetry and neutral subway tile allow for the character pieces to proudly stand out. Accenting the counters with live plants helps provide the feel of farm fresh ingredients, even if you’re residing in the middle of the big city.

13. Make a Statement

Inspirational messages and brightly colored graphics are certain to add an extra smile to that morning cup of coffee. With so many options available for home decor stickers, rub-on decals and inexpensive prints, you can easily incorporate lively quotes and exciting illustrations into your home. Many traditional kitchen design images depict simplicity in a small space, but this example showcases how bolder can be better! Keeping the cabinets and walls white morphs this kitchen into a blank canvas ready for that creative touch. Lovely orchids in the window and soft, comfortable seating keep this area comforting, and the multitude of colors ensures this design will never get boring.

14. Hints of an Island Paradise

Rustic wood grain, wicker baskets and lush foliage bring to mind relaxing vacations in gorgeous tropical locations. Bring touches of that enriching environment into your home and recondition your bustling kitchen into a calming getaway. The large overhead pendant lighting with wicker covers bring attention to the fibrous texture above the functional island and smooth stone floors. Clutter is tucked away behind the striking natural wood cabinets while stainless steel appliances subtly blend in. The simple pots with verdant foliage lend to the impression that a tropic paradise is waiting for you just outside the door.

21 Kitchen Design Software Programs (Free & Paid)

Here are the best kitchen design software programs to help you create or remodel your floor-plan.

In the past if you wanted to redesign and remodel your kitchen you had to rely on interior designers and architects to create a plan at a considerable cost. Thankfully, nowadays there is kitchen design software available to help you create your ideal dream kitchen remodel on your own.

Why use kitchen design software? Kitchen design software is one of the essential pieces to creating a functional and aesthetically pleasing kitchen. Whether completing a new build, remodel, or just minor updates using a design software will save money and enhance the outcome of the project. By first visualizing your project on your own you can get a much better feel for your likes and dislikes regarding colors, finishes appliance placement, flooring, cabinetry and backsplash materials.

Most design software allows you to build a visual 3D mock up of the space. Typically, these programs will allow for material changes, custom options and adding or removing different pieces. This will help you visualize the space and different ideas before you spend a cent on the wrong materials or colors.

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Some design software even offers features that will create materials list, after completing the mock up of the project, letting you know each of the materials you will need to complete the project. Not only will kitchen design software give you a good idea for what colors and additions you want to add to a space without bringing home and testing out tons of samples, but it also will make physical plans.

When building or remodeling there are required permits needed in order to begin work. This will mean that when turning in permits, or request for approval you will need plans, or drawings. These can be fabricated with design software, you will draw out all the things you need and want, dimension them out, and submit. Plus that is how you, if it is a do it yourself project, or the person hired to do the work, will know where items belong and how big everything is.

Free Kitchen Design Software

Here are some of the best kitchen software programs currently available:

Designing Idea Room Layout App by Planner 5D

With this in browser software you can quickly create a personalized room layout, add colors, choose furniture, drop-in lighting, and select from different materials to create your plan. The paid version offers over 3000 different home interior items to give you a wide range of remodeling options. The program lets you perform a 3D walk through of your creations to get an up close look of your design.

Planner5D

Planner 5D will allow even an amateur to create a variety of different project, especially kitchens. This software includes an idea library for anyone struggling to begin their project as well as many different templates. This software allows the creation of both 2D and 3d design.

With visualizing and rendering tools it will turn the kitchen of your dreams into an easy project that you can create. This software is free and available in the app store google play store or on windows 10.

Pros:
– Free
– Easy to use
– Has templates and ideas to get a project started quickly
Cons:
– Can be touchy to work with at times

Autodesk HomeStyler

Homestyler by Autodesk is a free online app that runs from your browser. It lets you create a kitchen design and then take a 360° walkthrough to see your room from a different perspective. To help you get the style you want there are 10,000 items and furnishings you can import to your design. After you are finished with your creation you can take a picture of the design to save to your computer.

Home styles will give inspiration and ideas when remodeling any room. This program allows for realistic 3D images as well as professional 2D drawings. Home Styler uses real furniture products to make for realistic designs to the items that will actually be purchased and placed in the home and kitchen.Visit – Autodesk Homestyler

Watch the Video Demo

Pros:
– Nothing to download
– Free to use
– Live 3D walk through features
– Geared toward kitchen designing
Cons:
– Limited and basic rendering
– Requires internet access

Easy Planner 3D

Free to use, this handy programs lets you design any room in your house. You can browse through hundreds of products to add to your plan and even follow the parts list to a retailers website for purchase. After your design is complete you can conduct a panoramic 360 degree view for a new perspective. Visit – Easy Planner 3D

Pros:
– Free
– User friendly
Cons:
– Requires Java to run

Roomstyler

Roomstyler is a 3D planner that will help you add your favorite brands object to your room. This software will allow you to take a camera shot of any angle of the space and render it out into an image. The items you place in the space such as furniture pieces and accessories are items that can actually be purchased as well online.

Room Styler is a free program that can be found at – https://roomstyler.com

Pros:
– Free
– Easy to use and purchase items
– 3D renderings from all angles
Cons:
– 3D views are not the best available

Floor Planner

Floor planner offers designs that are great for floorplans and for marketing purposes. With an easy to use program like floor planner investigating the massive library of furniture, cabinetry and accessories, your kitchen will come to life instantly. The program will allow placement of walls, windows and other structures as well as text features to show dimensions.

Floor planner offers the first design for free and can be found at – https://floorplanner.com/

Pros:
– Large Library
– Great 3D visualization
Cons:
– Only the first design is free

Prodboard Online Kitchen Planner

Prodboard online kitchen planner is and easy to use software that can accurately calculate a project with just a few steps. This program has tips and tricks for new users. This program also can create any space as its own individual project offering selections for different shapes, sizes, materials, and any appliances that may be needed in the kitchen design.

In addition to that prodboard online kitchen planner will calculate the cost, base prices and all product prices. They base the prices off the catalogues they have and that are uploaded. This is a free program that can be found at – https://prodboard.com/online_kitchen_planner/

Pros:
– Cost Calculation
– Free
Cons:
– Only has so many items and catalogues loaded in

Online Backsplash Designer

Online backsplash designer is great when the focus of the kitchen is on the backsplash. The backsplash will be one of the best blank spaces to get creative and this program will allow visualization before purchasing the final materials.

Online backsplash designer will allow you to choose colors and designs for the cabinets, countertops and backsplash to properly pair the items. The items included will be from reputable brands that are available for purchase.

If you are feeling stuck online backsplash designer also offers ideas and inspiration based on the material, color, or style. This program is and online program that can be found at – https://backsplash.com/designer

Pros:
– Free
– Uses real products
Cons:
– Only for kitchen backsplash designs

Home Hardware Kitchen Design Software

Home Hardware Kitchen design is a program that will include the options of using a pre designed room or starting completely from scratch. This program will allow you to add everything from pipes, windows, and appliances to furniture, accessories and cabinetry.

After all items are selected the program will also create a shopping list to help bring the design to reality.

This is a free program that can be used online and found at – https://homehardware-en.2020.net/planner/UI/Pages/VPUI.htm

Pros:
– Creates shopping list
– Free
Cons:
– Requires internet access

RoomToDo Software

RoomToDo is a simple but mighty program. The program allows to quickly create walls in any shape, and will even let you draw over an existing floor plan picture. RoomToDo has both 2D and 3D views and even a walk through view for the kitchen you create.

With decorative materials and furniture customization this program will allow the space to truly look like your home. For ease the program has easy snap tools and quick sharing buttons to get feedback on your newest ideas and designs.

This is a free program that can be found at – https://roomtodo.com

Pros:
– Free
– Easy to use
– Many custom options
Cons:
– For best features you must upgrade to a paid version

Planning Wiz

Planning wiz has a free version and a business edition, this review will be for the free version. This program will include tutorials to give a rundown of how it works. Planning wiz will allow you to draw rooms, walls, add backgrounds, windows and doors, etc.

This program does not require any downloads but will require internet access for use.

This is a program that can be found online and used with the creation of an account at – https://planningwiz.com

Pros:
– Free or a paid upgrade
– Doesn’t require hard drive space
Cons:
– Requires internet access

Kitchen Planner

Kitchen planner is an easy to use design program that allows you to create spaces in any location due to its mult-language functions. The program takes the user through a tutorial with notes to guide the user through the features available. Kitchen planner has a variety of kitchen furniture including but not limited to: cabinets, cupboards, refrigerators, and sinks.

This program also allows access to 3D views as well as a birds eye view. Kitchen planner is a free program that can be found at – https://www.kitchenplanner.net

Pros:
– Free
– Doesn’t take space on your computer.
Cons:
– Requires internet access
– Has a limited amount of items to be placed in the space

Lowe’s Virtual Room Designer

This free kitchen design software from Lowe’s can be used to design a kitchen using a template or create a room from your own specifications. Customization options such as cooking appliances, colors, and materials for the floor, walls and ceiling can be added to get the style you want.

Once complete you can print your room or save it. The software app will also generate a list of items that you can use to purchase the necessary materials to bring your design to reality.

Pros:
– Free to use
– Can use different paint colors, finishes and materials
Can provide an estimate on material costs
Cons:
– May not look exactly like what you see in real life

IKEA Home Planner

This kitchen design software by Ikea is created especially for kitchen designs and is completely free to use making it a great choice. You won’t even need an account to get started and will only need to register if you decide to save your plans.

One of the programs standout features is its kitchen cabinet placements which keep the cabinetry from overlapping which is constantly a problem on many other software programs. In addition the Ikea planner has a wide array of furniture and decor selections and even keeps a tally of the cost of each item for you. Once complete your plans can be viewed in in either 2D or 3D. Another helpful feature is the ability to print your design so you can bring it in to your nearest store. Visit – Ikea Home Planner

Information About Ikea Home Planner:

Pros:
– Free to use
Cons:
– May be too basic

Best Free Kitchen Design Software

After discussing multiple different free design software and going through their pros and cons there will always be one that each person likes best. While some users need an easy to work with program and have a simple project, others may be experts with many larger projects. Based on the needs of the user will decide which program is the ‘best’. That is why there are so many options, because each software will have its own pros and cons based on the project and user.

Online Backsplash designer will be the best software for someone who is just trying to test out backsplashes with their existing cabinets and counters, while someone who is doing an entire kitchen renovation will not benefit from a program like that.

When it comes to generally the best program, or the one that I would personally use for most projects, I would recommend Planner 5D or Prodboard. I think cost is a huge thing when it comes to completing a project and while it is easy for beginners or do it your-selfers to pick out colors and finishes, deciding what building materials and how much it will cost is a lot more difficult a task.

As mentioned previously though not every program is for everyone, maybe cost is not important to you, or maybe you are still in the planning stage so cost and materials are not yet on the priority list. For kitchens, and form of remodel will most likely require the moving of some lumber or built in pieces which will drive costs while living room changes could only involve moving furniture and art around.

Paid Kitchen Design Software

Here is the list of the top kitchen software that has a one time cost or monthly membership fee:

Chief Architect – Home Designer Suite

Chief Architect is one of the leading developers and publishers of 3D Architectural home design. This is often used by architects, interior designers, landscape designers, and even Do it your-selfers. As this is a large program it requires a PC or Mac with at least 4GB of memory and 5 GB of available hard disk space as well as internet access. This program can be rented for $49/mo.

This program is also available as a trial version as well as for purchase. Prices range depending on which version you choose Pro being $495.00. Decks and Landscaping can be done in the versions Suite, Architectural and Professional, professional and architectural being rated better. They have many versions of the program with each year offering additional features, media and usability improvements.

For more information follow this link – Chief Architect

Pros:
– One of the leading programs
Cons:
– Takes up a lot of space on the computer
– Costly

ProKitchen Software

ProKitchen software does offer a 14 day free trial as well as a handy chat assistance that will help start up any new project. This program has over 500 catalogs filled with products to add to the kitchen you are designing.

This program will need to be downloaded. Prokitchen also offers an online version that can be found here – http://www.prokitchensoftware.com/prokitchen-online/

Watch a tutorial on how to use Pro Kitchen Software:

Pros:
– Has online chat assistance
Cons:
– Costly

HGTV Kitchen Design Software

HGTV Kitchen design software requires no prior experience and is great for small project, or complete kitchen renovations. Starting by importing current pictures of your kitchen or sketching the space out you will be able to see the entire things before spending a cent. After that you will be able to customize materials on walls, counters, cabinets, etc.

Once all is customized you will be able to create realistic 3D renderings to decide if that is what you would you’re your kitchen to look like.

This program can be found at HGTV Home, it also has a 90 day money back guarantee on the purchase price.

Pros:
– 3D renderings
– Custom materials
– Drag and drop interface
Cons:
– Steep learning curve

Punch! Software

Punch! Interior Design Suite version 20 can be used to create and design indoor living spaces with a complete set of tools to plan, design, and visualize the desired space.

This program has some new features including high quality rendering for 2D geometry and text, custom drawing styles, the ability to import and export from AUTOCAD 2018, custom rich text options and a modify tool bar.

This software requires 1GB of RAM and 3GB of hard disk space. Internet service is required to use the program. Punch! Interior Design software will run you about $39.99 and can be found at this link.

Pros:
– Large Media Library
– Great 2D and 3D Visualizations
Cons:
– Costly (but less compared to other paid options)

SmartDraw Design Software

The SmartDraw Interior Design Software is a paid software program that offers a free demo. The program can be used to design a kitchen and offers customization templates with a wide array of objects such as cabinetry, fixtures, countertops and decor to get the look you want. There is also an import image feature if you want to bring in materials or object for your design. Visit – SmartDraw

How to Use Smartdraw

Pros:
– Full features design software
– Free demo to try it out
Cons:
– Expensive

Room Sketcher

The Room Sketcher kitchen planner is an online software that allows you to create your own kitchen layouts and floor plans. You can create your plans using different finishes, furniture, and finishes and then see it in a 2D or 3D view.In 3D view you can view the room in 360 degrees to get a feel for exactly how it will look.

When you are finishes you can create high quality 3D photos of your design to save and share your ideas. Read more about this product here.

Pros:
– Free for minimal funcationality
– Create 2d and 3D floorplans with 360 view with paid plan
Cons:
– Ongoing yearly fee to use
– Must buy credits to use more features

Google SketchUp

Google SketchUp is a basic tool used for drawing and creating a variety of designs. While it is free to use it is too basic to highly recommend. Some of the standout features of the software is the ability to browse the designs that other users have created in the 3D warehouse. To get a more robust amount of design features users must upgrade to the pro version at a cost of $695. Visit – Google Sketch Up

Creating a Cabinet in Google Sketch up:

Pros:
– Free
Cons:
– Expensive to upgrade for full features
– Can be difficult to learn how to use