In the past if you wished to have a kitchen designed you needed to rely on interior designers or architects who would take your ideas and put them into a design.  Today it is not necessary to hire an expert as there are many programmes online that can help you design your own kitchen or even remodel your entire home.

There are some very expensive kitchen design software packages available, but if you look carefully you will find some that are inexpensive.  There are also some free options which might be adequate although limited in some aspects.  Paid options will obviously offer more choices and have tools that work smarter.

Here are some options to look at...

Google Sketchup

This software is a free and simple 3D modelling software package where you simply “push” and “pull” flat objects into 3D space. The initial learning curve maybe considered somewhat steep, however, once you start to get the hang of it, you can create almost anything, and to the exact measurements you require. Additionally, there is, what is called, the “3D warehouse”, where you can download and import pre-made 3D models of almost anything. There are also many plugins available which allow you render your 3D model as a photorealistic rendition of your design. As with anything, an initial outlay of time is required...but not that much. You can download a copy of Sketchup here.

AutoCAD® Freestyle by AutoDesk

This software bridges a cap between professional and non-professional, it is an all-purpose CAD product that allows you to be creative by being able to do drawings for any part of the house, and it has a good kitchen drawing section with pre-selected samples or if you wish you can begin from scratch. What you produce from this program will not be laughed at by a professional architect or designer. It does not have all the pretty pictures that you can find in an expensive programme, but you can design credible projects with it.

SmartDraw

SmartDraw is a good program that bridges the gap between the very expensive and the mediocre, cheaper software. It is quite a powerful software package which will give you the opportunity to create some good designs. The book even comes with its own “Dummies” book.  It’s worth taking a look at.

HomeStyler by AutoDesk

The HomeStyler is a free home design software by the same makers as AutoCad@ Freestyle.  This software works in your browser instead of downloading a programme.  It is geared towards the home kitchen design.  Since its free its worth trying it out to see if it’s suitable for your personal use.

This software is a free download from http://www.smartdraw.com/downloads/ which allows you to easily and quickly design different types of kitchen layouts with SmartDraw. It has templates you can start with instead of beginning from scratch and you will be able to customize the templates to fit your personal needs with thousands of symbols that you will be able to stamp into the image you wish to create.