5 of the best kitchen design apps for planning your ideal cooking space

Creating the perfect kitchen might sometimes feel overwhelming, but with the right tools, the process is much more manageable and even enjoyable.

Kitchen design apps can be an invaluable resource for those looking at renovating their kitchen, allowing users to experiment with layouts, colours, and furnishings in a virtual space.

Below, we delve into five of the best kitchen design apps, exploring how they work, their strengths and their limitations.

1. Kitchen Design PRO

Kitchen Design PRO is a versatile mobile app designed for homeowners looking to explore various kitchen layouts and styles.

How it works: Users start by selecting a template and customising it through the app’s easy-to-use interface. The 3D view provides a lifelike representation of the final design.

Positives:

• Diverse Templates with Customisation: Kitchen Design PRO offers a wide range of pre-designed layouts, with options to personalise colours, materials, and dimensions. Amy Willis, Web Editor for Homebuilding & Renovating, shared: "Expanding the '+' menu gives you a huge variety of units and other furniture you can plot out into the space, with sizing in cm clearly marked beneath each item."
• 2D and 3D Design Features: The app lets users design kitchens to scale in both 2D and 3D views, helping visualise layouts effectively. Amy noted: "I used the 2D view to plan out my kitchen design, flipping to the 3D view once I was finished to get a feel for what it would be like standing and using the kitchen with this particular setup." She also praised the app's attention to detail, noting the ability to add features like fridge freezers, dishwashers and plug sockets, as well as customising worktops, cabinet colours, and backsplashes to suit personal preferences.
• Mobile Accessibility and Practical Details: The app includes practical tools like customisable worktops, cabinet colours, and backsplashes. Amy highlighted its convenience, adding: "The app allowed me to save my design as well as upload photos and save ideas."

Negatives:

• In-App Purchases: While the base app is free, advanced features and premium templates require payment, which can be a drawback for users on a budget.
• Platform Limitations: Currently available only on iOS, leaving Android users without access.

Amy Willis

Amy Willis has extensive experience in home renovation, having dedicated nearly two years to transforming a period property in rural Suffolk. Taking a hands-on approach, she tackled various tasks such as knocking down walls, restoring oak beams and laying slabs, often with the help of family to reduce costs. Amy prioritised the use of natural materials like limestone, oak, and sisal carpet to restore the character of the home, which had been diminished in the 1980s.

2. AI Room Design

AI Room Design uses artificial intelligence to help users design rooms, including kitchens, by offering intelligent layout and decor suggestions.

How it works: Users provide basic information about their kitchen space and preferences, and the AI generates a design plan, which users can then tweak to their liking.

Positives:

• AI Assistance: The app suggests layouts, colour schemes, and furniture placement based on user inputs, saving time and effort, and also offers suggestions on how to save money, helping those looking to renovate their kitchen on a budget.
• Simple Interface: The app’s clean design makes it easy for users to navigate, even without prior design experience.
• Cross-Room Design: In addition to kitchens, the app works for other spaces, making it versatile for entire home projects.

Negatives:

• Generic Suggestions: While the AI is helpful, its recommendations sometimes lack certain details and can in some suggestions we saw some spaces were left off the design so did not have complete accuracy.
• Frequent Ads: The free version of the app includes advertisements, which can disrupt the design experience.

3. Room Planner

Room Planner offers robust design tools to help users create detailed room layouts and helps with the planning of kitchen designs.

How it works: Users can create a room layout from scratch or use pre-designed templates. Items can be placed within the room and the app’s AI offers suggestions for optimal layout.

Positives:

• Precision Tools: Allows users to input exact room dimensions, ensuring designs are realistic and practical.
• Extensive Catalogue: Features a wide range of furniture, fixtures and decor items, offering almost endless customisation possibilities.
• AI Integration: Provides intelligent recommendations for layout and design elements, even for complicated layouts as we tested it on both an L shaped and U shaped kitchen.

Negatives:

• Subscription Fees: Accessing premium features requires a subscription, which might deter casual users.
• Occasional Glitches: Some users report performance issues, such as app crashes or slow loading times.

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4. ARKitchen

ARKitchen leverages augmented reality to let users visualise kitchen designs in their actual space, making it easier to imagine how a new layout will look.

How it works: Users scan their kitchen space using their device’s camera. Once the space is mapped, they can add and arrange elements in augmented reality to see how they’ll look in real life.

Positives:

• Augmented Reality Feature: Users can superimpose design elements into their physical space for a realistic preview.
• Interactive Experience: Enhances engagement by allowing users to explore designs in real-time. Not many of the kitchen apps we used included this feature.
• Innovative Technology: Combines AR capabilities with traditional design tools, which will be more familiar with those who have designed a kitchen before.

Negatives:

• Requires Subscription Fees: Sarah Harley, Assistant Editor for Homebuilding & Renovating, shared her thoughts on the app, stating: "While at first glance the ARKitchen app seemed to offer plenty of options, once installed it quickly became clear that to really benefit from it, you need to upgrade to a paid-for version."
• Device Dependence: Sarah also noted that some features, like floor plan scanning, are limited to iPhone Pro models.
• Simplified Tools: Sarah added: "Templates and options on the free version are limited to basic designs and finishes, but you can input a room size to tailor your design." While the app is helpful for simple ideas, she concluded:"If you're looking for something more detailed, I'd probably stick with getting a design from a reputable kitchen supplier."

Sarah Harley

Sarah Harley is an experienced homes and interiors writer. She has renovated and extended several properties, including a Grand Designs-featured listed building.

5. Magicplan App

Magicplan is a multi-functional design app that specialises in creating floor plans and layouts, making it a ideal tool for kitchen design.

How it works: Users scan their kitchen space to generate a floor plan. The app then allows users to add cabinets, appliances, and fixtures, visualising the layout in 2D or 3D views.

Positives:

• Easy Floor Plans: Uses your phone’s camera to create accurate floor plans by scanning your space.
• Measurement Integration: Automatically calculates dimensions, making it perfect for precise kitchen layouts.
• Professional Features: Includes tools for estimating the cost of your kitchen renovation and helps generate detailed reports, making it suitable for both homeowners and professionals.

Negatives:

• Learning Curve: The advanced features can be challenging for beginners to master. It took us approximately three hours to test the app and use it properly.
• Subscription Model: Many of the app’s best features are locked behind a paid subscription.

Each of these kitchen design apps offers unique features that cater to different needs.

Whether you prioritise ease of use, advanced customisation, or innovative technology like AI and AR, there’s an app to suit your project.

Consider your goals, budget, and technical requirements to choose the app that will best bring your dream kitchen to life.