Tools
How to measure for kitchen cabinets.
Our world got hit pretty hard with a thousand uncertainties but having access to the internet has been the one constant and it given us a little bit of a safe place. It’s made us realize that we can accomplish anything with a simple virtual connection.
Since we’re all sitting here staring at our dated kitchens, we might as well be dreaming them up in between homeschool “Recess” and snack break. I’m going to quickly show you how to take accurate measurements of your space.
ONE
Draw your walls first and then I like to start with what designers call “Overalls” [not the kind that you wear]. This refers to the overall measurements of your space, a simple length X width. Even if you only plan on redesigning a section of the space, I personally like to consider the entire room in order to make sure that I’m making the right choices.
Don’t worry about any of the finer details just yet, we want to start with the basic architectural details.
TWO
Look at doorways, windows and obstacles and there are a few different way to go about this. The most important with doorways is going to be height and if there’s trim you need to take into consideration. With windows you want to make sure to note where it’s located on the wall. The easiest way is to measure from the closest corner to the outside of the trim and then I want to know how far off the ground any windows are, just to properly advice on the design.
Obstacles can include bulkheads, fireplaces, chimneys and you’re better off to have more measurements than not enough.
THREE
Ceiling height. Getting this accurate isn’t as crucial as others but still very important to get as accurate as possible. You don’t need to worry if you have an existing bulkhead that’s going to be removed.
The most important thing to remember when taking measurements is that everything should be in reference to an adjacent object. For example: If we have the Length and Width of a window but we don’t know how far away it is from the wall then it’s not a very accurate dimension
FOUR
Appliance sizes & placement. More often then not, in a Kitchen Renovation there is going to be some sort of the existing space that is going to dictate the direction of the design. Unless the kitchen is extremely non-function with the existing placement, the appliances and sink will normally stay in their respective locations. From here, you’re going to measure WxHxD of all appliances. There are no standard anything(s) anymore, just measure them to cover your bases. Also be sure to note whether it is a gas or electric stove.
FIVE
That’s it ya’ll! If you have any unique features be sure to capture the measurements but otherwise,
this is all we need to get started designing your kitchen!
Below here is a visual guide you can follow also.
Things to keep in mind...
- If you’re not keep your existing cabinets, don’t bother measuring them
- Be sure to jot down any info regarding things that cannot move and must be designed around (water heaters, electrical panels, etc.)
- Be on the look out for electrical switches, central vacuum outlets, etc. If the location can be moved/altered, it’s not necessary
Need some advice?
Let me help you get started.