Generating Kitchen Remodel Ideas
Before you make any choices, get inspired and do your research. Start out by taking our style quiz to pinpoint your aesthetic then do some additional research. Pinterest, design books and magazines are great places to start to figure out what you like and what you don’t. Beyond aesthetics, there are logistics to think about too. What’s your budget? If you have no idea what the price range might be, our kitchen estimator asks all the right questions to give you a rough idea of cost.
As you collect ideas for a kitchen remodel, pay attention to more than colors and finishes. Think about how you use the kitchen every day. Do you need better food storage? More room for prep? Easier access to cookware? A place for people to sit without getting in the cook’s way? The best design choices solve those problems while creating a kitchen you enjoy spending time in.
What’s your budget? If you have no idea what the price range might be, our kitchen estimator asks all the right questions to give you a rough idea of cost.
Another list to make? One that details all your gripes with your current kitchen setup. The best way to problem-solve is to start by addressing all of the challenges your current kitchen presents. Cabinet placement, lack of organization or awkward shelf heights are just a few examples to think through. A kitchen remodel offers you the chance to realize your dream design from a creative and practical angle, so it pays to invest in quality materials, premium finishes and a layout that you truly love.
Small Kitchen Remodel Ideas
A small kitchen remodel makes every inch work harder. Before assuming you need more square footage, look at where storage and workspace are being lost. Cabinets that make better use of vertical space, interior organizers and a more efficient layout can improve function without expanding the room. Keep visual clutter in mind, too. A consistent palette and thoughtfully scaled fixtures can help a compact kitchen feel less crowded. In a smaller space, every design choice is more noticeable, so prioritize the changes that solve a functional problem first.
Kitchen Remodel Checklist: Plan Before You Purchase
Knowing how to prepare for a kitchen remodel can save you from making expensive decisions out of order. Before you begin demolition or place major orders, work through a basic kitchen remodel checklist:
- Set a realistic project budget.
- Identify what isn’t working in your existing kitchen.
- Decide whether you’re keeping or changing the current layout.
- Take accurate measurements.
- Choose your cabinet, countertop and appliance priorities.
- Determine which jobs you can reasonably DIY and which need a professional.
- Check local permit requirements.
- Confirm product availability and installation timing before demolition begins.
Think of these as the first kitchen remodel steps, not paperwork to rush through. Cabinets, appliances, electrical locations and countertops often depend on decisions made earlier in the process.
Do You Need a Permit to Remodel a Kitchen?
Whether you need a kitchen remodel permit depends on your location and the scope of the project. Cosmetic changes may be treated differently than work that affects plumbing, electrical systems, mechanical systems or the structure of the home. Check with your local building department before work begins. If you’re hiring a contractor, discuss who is responsible for obtaining required permits and scheduling inspections. Getting this sorted out early helps prevent an avoidable delay once construction is underway.
Don’t Forget the Kitchen Measurements
Another important tool is measurements. Knowing what to measure and the best way to get precise measurements is an important part of the planning process. It gives a more accurate price estimate and design plan. We offer two ways to work with a designer, so choose from an in-store or online experience—either way, our design services are completely free. Beyond planning the kitchen layout, our experts can also suggest colors, styles, finishes and any other design element you might have questions about.
If you’re worried about measuring yourself, Lowe’s offers cabinet measurement services as part of our installation quoting process.
DIY Kitchen Remodel: Decide What You Can Do Yourself
A DIY kitchen remodel doesn’t necessarily mean doing every part of the project yourself. Painting, installing some hardware and completing certain finish work may be approachable for experienced DIYers. Moving plumbing, changing electrical circuits or altering walls can require specialized knowledge, permits or licensed professionals.
Be realistic about your skills and the consequences of a mistake. Saving on labor for an approachable project can stretch your budget, but correcting poorly executed plumbing, electrical or cabinet installation can quickly erase those savings.
Before demolition, understand where electrical, plumbing and gas lines are located. Follow local requirements and bring in qualified professionals for work outside your experience or licensing requirements.
How to Choose Kitchen Cabinets
Always start by considering your storage needs. What’s working to keep pots, pans, small appliances and kitchen tools organized now? What isn’t? From built-in drawer organizers and Lazy Susans to pull-out storage for pots and pans to an in-drawer charging station, your needs can help dictate your cabinet design since most of our cabinets are made-to-order. We’ll work with you to ensure that your storage needs are met and perfectly fit the dimensions of your kitchen.
Kitchen Cabinet Styles and Trends
Lowe’s offers full overlay and partial overlay cabinets. Full overlay means that the door sits over the entire cabinet frame while partial overlay shows off the cabinet frame, putting room between the doors.
In terms of style, a modern Shaker-style is still incredibly popular. The cabinet offers enough classic appeal and versatility, while still feeling elevated and interesting. Choose from a variety of colors and styles; white will always be a kitchen staple but there’s a real movement back toward more stripped-down, organic wood tones and warmer neutrals.
If you’re looking for more colorful kitchen cabinets, make a statement with black or navy. They add drama while still remaining versatile. Another paint color that’s trending upwards is sage green. People love its connection to nature and how versatile it is with a variety of colors and finishes.
Kitchen Cabinet Hardware
Don’t forget about cabinet hardware, it’s a finishing touch for your kitchen. The beauty of the kitchen is that you have more freedom to mix and match metals and finishes than you do in a small room like a bathroom. A pairing that’s trending up is matte black hardware and gold. With so many options to choose from, keep the finish temperature in mind. Cool metals work well with other cool metals, while warm metals pair nicely with other warm metals. Black hardware can mix and match with either.
How to Choose Kitchen Countertops
Meet one of the hardest working surfaces in the kitchen — your kitchen countertops. Beyond looking good, your kitchen counters need to be functional and durable. Investing more in a durable surface is worth it when you spend a lot of time cooking and entertaining. Here are some of the surfaces that are trending today. Choose your favorite and use our custom countertop design tool to get an idea of the cost for your own remodel.
Quartz Kitchen Countertops
Unlike surfaces like granite or marble, quartz is considered a man-made material. But this surface offers the beauty that natural stone offers with much better durability. It’s heat, stain and scratch resistant: great for the heavy use that the kitchen receives. It’s also a nonporous surface, which helps protect against bacteria and germs.
Butcher Block Kitchen Countertops
Butcher block is having a renaissance thanks in part to the rise of biophilic design and the return of warm wood tones to the kitchen. It offers good heat and stain resistance but can be prone to scratches. The great news is that the counter can be sanded down and refinished, allowing you to start over if needed after being used for a few years.
Porcelain Kitchen Countertops
Another option if you like the look of natural stone but need more durability is porcelain. Don’t be fooled by the name, it’s so tough it’s even recommended for use outside. Not only is it nonporous, but it’s also water, heat, scratch, stain and impact resistant. Available in solid colors like white, black and gray, it’s manufactured to look like stone with beautiful veining and striations throughout.
Create a Plan Using Your Kitchen Remodel Ideas
The best kitchen remodel ideas balance the way you want the room to look with the way you actually live. Start with the problems you need to solve, build a realistic budget and make major layout and material decisions before demolition begins. Whether you’re tackling part of a DIY kitchen remodel or working with professionals from start to finish, thoughtful planning can make each decision easier. Lowe’s kitchen design tools, products and services can help you move from your first idea to a kitchen that works better for your home.