How to Start Remodeling Your Kitchen

At some point, most homeowners think about remodeling their kitchens or at least giving them makeovers with new kitchen cabinets. But, how do you get started? Kitchen remodeling is a big project, and one many people are reluctant to tackle because they don’t know where to begin or think their kitchen cabinet remodeling ideas will be too expensive.

The good news is that remodeling your kitchen doesn’t have to be overwhelming—or come with an eye-popping price tag. Although it’s true that buying kitchen cabinets from a big box home improvement store or ordering custom cabinetry can cost tens of thousands of dollars, there are more affordable options. A successful kitchen makeover just takes a little planning, and cost-effectiveness is one of the benefits of choosing ready-to-assemble (RTA) cabinets.

Kitchen cabinet makeover or new kitchen remodel: Begin with a plan

Redoing your kitchen or kitchen cabinets starts with a basic plan. Here’s the gist, and we go into more detail below.

1. Evaluate the current design: What works? What doesn’t? Where would you like more space?
2. Choose a kitchen layout, if necessary: There are six main kitchen layouts, and if you’re completely remodeling, this is the time for a kitchen redesign. If you like your current layout, skip this step.
3. Create a sketch or draft of your new kitchen: If you’re changing the kitchen layout with your remodel, you need to have a visual of the space (to scale, for accurate measurements). This “map” of the kitchen includes locations of electrical outlets and water lines, as well as where everything is going to go: cabinets, appliances (including vent hoods), sink, etc. This is also a great time to think about organization and cabinet/drawer inserts, such as waste pull-outs, utensil organizers & more! Use a reliable online kitchen design tool for this step or a professional.
4. Get help from professionals, if necessary: An extensive remodel that involves electrical, plumbing, or any skilled trade work that is beyond your DIY level will likely require professional input. A standard kitchen cabinet update—replacing outdated cabinets with new RTA ones—is simple enough if you have some DIY home improvement experience.
5. Pick your cabinets and hardware: We have plenty of options organized by category (brand, color, style, etc.) to help you narrow your search. Triple check your measurements to make sure the cabinets you’re ordering will fit. This is also the time to choose your appliances, flooring, backsplash, and any other additions if you’re going for the full remodel.
6. Buy your materials.

When you buy your new kitchen cabinets from us, we’ll help you with your plan, and our team can be with you through each step. From assisting with your layout to ordering the right cabinets and accessories, our cabinet representatives walk you through the whole process. They’ll answer any questions you may have and help you place your order!

Choose your kitchen cabinet style

The next step for your kitchen remodel project is to choose your RTA cabinet style. From modern frameless cabinets to classic shaker cabinets and trending dark cabinets, we have it all. You’ll be able to find the look and function that fits both your budget and your design vision because we offer more than 60 different cabinet lines, complete with base cabinets, wall cabinets, and corner cabinets. If you need specialty kitchen cabinets like a pantry or oven cabinet, we offer lines that include those, and in ready-to-assemble cabinets as well.

Pro Tip: For a cohesive look to your home, make sure the kitchen cabinet set you choose matches the decorative vibe of the rest of the house. If you need inspiration, browse our photo gallery of completed kitchen cabinet installations.

Shaker cabinets are one of the most popular, versatile, and timeless cabinet styles available today. Their clean, simple design makes them a perfect fit for a wide range of interior styles, and their enduring appeal means you won't have to worry about updating your kitchen to keep up with trends. Our top-selling cabinets are the classic white shaker style, with customer favorites including the Essex and Galaxy Frost lines. These cabinets are a great choice for those seeking both beauty and long-lasting style in their homes. White is a popular cabinet choice because they make spaces feel larger, and they can make your kitchen feel brighter and cleaner, especially if you’re transitioning away from a dark kitchen. For a more luxe feel to your kitchen, dark wood cabinets provide depth, richness, and sophisticated appeal. Your cabinet choice depends on your vision for the space, so take the time to look through our cabinet style choices or use our search tool to narrow down your kitchen cabinet options to exactly what you want.

Contact us to talk to our cabinet representatives. Our team would be happy to help make suggestions based on your design style.

Plan your kitchen cabinet layout

Remember that kitchen remodeling is not intimidating as long as your appliances aren’t moving. If you’re redesigning the layout of your kitchen including appliances, you will want to do more advanced research for appliance layout considerations (do you need a building permit, are the outlets where you need them, how do you move the plumbing and gas lines, etc.?). However, if the appliances are staying put, you have a lot less to consider.

1. First, measure and note the layout of each wall in your kitchen space including doors, windows, and appliances. Measuring allows you to know exactly how much room you have to work with.
2. Once you’ve measured and noted the kitchen wall spaces as a whole, mark the door, window and appliance widths and how much remaining space you have for cabinets.
3. Do this for each wall for both upper and lower cabinets, double-checking your measurements and noting your layout carefully.

A kitchen remodel is a great time to consider adding extra storage space. Tall pantry cabinets, utility cabinets, cabinets with roll-out shelves, and simply adding kitchen wall cabinets where there were none give you more storage space for your kitchen tools, cookware, and dishes.

A tip from our team: Avoid ordering 12 inch wide cabinets if you can. There isn’t a whole lot that can fit properly in a 12 inch cabinet. The 12” width refers to the overall outside dimension. Actual inside measurement of the cabinet of course will depend on the line you go with. But typically, you will find that by the time you subtract the 1 ½” face frame surround that the door sits on, it leaves you with only a 9” width opening. So, it would be better to order one 24 inch cabinet versus two side-by-side 12 inch cabinets.

While planning your layout and choosing your cabinets, you may have questions or want to hear from a professional. Remember that you have access to our cabinet experts! Call (800) 882-0009 to talk with them about layouts, measurements, assembly, installation, and whatever else you need to know to make your kitchen remodel a success.

Add decorative finishing touches to your new kitchen cabinets

Finishing your brand new kitchen cabinets with optional decorative accents adds depth and charm to the space. Accents can also make your kitchen look more upscale and elegant: Glass doors, crown molding, pilasters, and decorative end panels can all be ordered with the cabinet series you choose.

Not only do you want your kitchen details to look beautiful, more importantly, you also want your kitchen to fit your practical needs. Our innovative kitchen accessories increase your storage space and give you the greatest efficiency while working in the kitchen. In-cabinet trash pullouts hide the garbage and reduce the smell. Drawer inserts organize your utensils, knives, and spices. Adding under-cabinet lighting provides both ambiance and illumination while you cook.

Place your RTA or Fully Assembled kitchen cabinet order with Custom Service Hardware

All that is left to do now, is place your order for your brand new RTA or Fully Assembled kitchen cabinets, we offer both! Should you have questions once your cabinet order arrives, we are happy to help. We also offer short videos on RTA cabinet assembly on our site, and easy-to-follow instructions come with your order.

Remember, your dream kitchen is achievable. You just have to take the first step, and we’re here to help you do it. So contact a cabinet representative to get started today!