There is a certain joy and satisfaction that comes from undertaking home improvements.
There is a certain joy and satisfaction that comes from undertaking home improvements. From scoping the requirements all the way through to completion, it’s possible to take ownership of projects and achieve fantastic results. In the same way that we are focused on continual self–improvement, our properties are also subject to ongoing upgrades and modernization in line with our changing preferences and lifestyles. Homes are a deeply personal and safe space after all, meaning alterations can have a monumental impact on how we feel.
Of all the home improvement projects, designing a new kitchen is widely considered the one that carries the most impact, and that is often the most anticipated. With the ability to add an estimated average of 4.6% to a property’s overall value, the return is also attractive and the possibilities endless. Whether it’s new cabinetry, upgraded appliances or lighting, consumers have the freedom to tailor the most frequently used room of the house into their perfect place for cooking, dining, relaxing, socializing and more.
And yet, in practice, how enjoyable really is the kitchen design process? How can retailers do more to ensure this experience lives up to expectations and translates into sales?
The psychology of design
Whether in the workplace or at home, by our nature, we all crave space to call our own and fill with personal effects in a manner we choose. The ability to custom design a dream layout down to the tiniest detail is extremely attractive. Many will even purposely buy houses that are prime for entire renovations, with every detail chosen by them, for them. So, when it comes to designing these spaces and purchasing their contents, a personalized experience is key.
All consumers carry with them entirely different requirements and preferences – it’s exactly what makes design so fun; but being faced with a blank canvas and no starting point can also prove daunting. Properties themselves are in no way consistent either, and so consumers need the tools to take a tailored and targeted approach to their kitchen remodeling experience, with relevant content and advice that will aid their purchase journey.
It is Hicks Law that the time taken to make a decision will increase with the number and complexity of the choices available. So it stands to reason that consumers will often feel overwhelmed when faced with large retailer catalogs showcasing thousands of product lines, which is simply too much information to effectively digest. This in turn delays decision making and lengthens the sales cycle. Boredom and doubt start to set in, time ticks by, and the operation risks being abandoned altogether – the reality of the kitchen design process can quickly fall short of the expectation.
Making an idea a reality
To achieve a successful kitchen remodel, the process must maintain momentum and remain enjoyable throughout. Planning is absolutely key – more so than for any other room. Rules and guidelines apply that simply must have the input of a professional to oversee and offer assurances, while spending time on designs only to find they are not possible or affordable can lead to disappointment and frustration. Retailers are investing in a number of solutions and online services to help improve the customer experience, but these siloed systems can create as many problems as they solve.
With a 3D planning solution, however, retailers can simplify and hone in on the fun aspects of the design process for their customers, taking care of a whole host of challenges so that the consumer doesn’t have to. Due to the enhanced visuals within the solution, the consumer can get excited about their designs as they bring them to life from the comfort of their own homes, even downloading realistic 3D renders, in a matter of minutes. It is also incredibly easy for customers to pop in-store to discuss designs with sales professionals, getting the support they need but without repetition for an effortless and seamless customer experience.
A 3D planning solution can:
Provide inspiration
Consumers without predefined ideas or preferences will often struggle to get kitchen design projects off the ground by themselves. The overwhelming amount of information out there results in a paradox of choice, with stress building in line with every unsuccessful scroll or click. This is where retailers can offer extremely valuable resources. Solutions such as 3D planning allow retailers to create entire concept rooms that can act as great sources of inspiration, and be used on websites, social media and marketing. Product set recommendations and auto-generated templates based on the input measurements further aid the customer in a personalized way. 3D planning is a particularly time effective solution, as the customer can browse online at their leisure, leaving sales staff with more availability to provide consultancy and carry the sales through to checkout.
Ensure measurement accuracy
Measurements accuracy is absolutely crucial for consumers to get right, especially when a centimeter can completely jeopardize an entire layout. Every element is measured to fit the exact allocated space, so a gap between worktop surfaces can prove a costly mistake. The further into the project the error is caught, the higher the cost is to fix it – something that can hugely impact the customer experience. For many consumers, this is not a risk they are willing to take, with some shelving their designs altogether or requiring a large amount of reassurance from the retailer. A 3D planning solution takes away this stress, with all design elements built to cater to the exact measurements input by the user. This provides the necessary assurances that the overall layout created is an accurate representation of the reality.
Keep within the rules and guidelines
From cupboard door clearance to family friendly worktop heights, any kitchen design needs to take into account the practicalities, and health and safety considerations. There are not many consumers, for example, who will know to ensure the sink, fridge and cooktop placements form a triangle if they are to optimize efficiency for the three core tasks of the kitchen – cooking, food preparation and food storage. And with high temperatures comes high risk, something it is of course imperative to preempt and address in advance. 3D planning solutions help to minimize this part of the process with pre-populated NKBA and health and safety guidelines that automatically flag up to the user whenever any compliance issues arise. This means that customers can focus on creating beautiful designs, reassured that the relevant safety regulations have been met.
3D planning as a solution that sparks joy
Retailers need a seamless solution that capitalizes on the joy of the kitchen design process by taking care of the elements that are boring or burdensome if they are to increase conversion and encourage sales. By offering a 3D planning solution to consumers, retailers can present an easy and enjoyable end to end design experience, resulting in sales ready renders and plans that can be progressed in-store or online. The HomeByMe solution minimizes the parts of the design process that are not necessarily the most enjoyable, with a highly intuitive platform that is visual, engaging, fully integrated and accurate. Every customer is different, but when it comes to their kitchen design they all want one thing – an enjoyable and operational end-result.
To further explore how you can use a 3D planning solution to make kitchen design an enjoyable experience for your customers, visit our website built specifically to serve kitchen retailers where you can organize a demonstration of the platform with a member of our team of experts.
