This is the site you need to look at before you start your next home improvement project

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships so we may get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

My mom went through a few big home remodeling phases over 10 years ago, and while our house looks great now, I remember it was a period of huge stress and anxiety for her.

This was before Houzz was founded in 2008.

If my mom were to start the remodeling process today, she'd be facing a very different landscape, one that offers many more options to consider but also much more communication, inspiration, and community. 

Houzz is a free platform that connects more than 40 million homeowners, home design enthusiasts, and home improvement professionals together. It's a way to get design inspiration, choose and talk to architects, designers, and contractors, and buy the products needed for your home project. However, as a site that boasts 9 million products sold by more than 20,000 sellers and more than 14 million home design photos, it's also a lot to take in. 

The website is made up of five key sections:

1. Photos
2. Shop by Department
3. Find Professionals
4. Stories and Advice
5. Sale 

Start your home design and improvement journey on Houzz today.

We'll walk you through this popular site and show you how to navigate all that Houzz has to offer.

First, narrow your scope.

After you sign up for an account, you'll choose the styles you're interested in seeing. This will streamline the photos shown to you so you're not flooded and overwhelmed with too many options. 

You can browse photos posted by an interior designer or firm for every room imaginable — not only the expected kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom, but also spaces like the home office, home bar, balcony, entryway, and the oft-neglected basement. 

These are just a few examples of the different filters you can toggle with:

• Style
• Size
• Location
• Budget
• Floor material
• Cabinet style
• Counter material
• Wall tile material
• Color 

Shop the products shown in photos.

If you're feeling inspired and want to recreate this look for your own kitchen, you can click on the tagged items to look at product information. Unlike some other home design websites, Houzz will give you multiple visual matches, not only one. Tagged items are not available on all photos, but you can post questions to the designer on the side such as "Where is the backsplash from?"

Designers are responsive and love to help.

Houzz is all about accessibility, sharing knowledge, and bridging the gap in home design education. You can really dive into the nitty-gritty of a room. 

Start your home design and improvement journey on Houzz today.