The kitchen is the heart of the home. But even if it is a bit smaller than you would like, there’s no need to feel down about it. Small kitchens have their advantages, and if you know how to work it well, you can make yours feel like a cooking paradise.
Lighten it up
Dark colors create the illusion that a room is much smaller than it actually is. Instead, opt for light colored cabinets and a lighter colored backsplash. White reflects light and is your best friend if you’re trying to make a small area look larger. To keep the kitchen from looking too sterile, use various shades of white and combine different textures. Similarly, open shelves and glass front doors make the room look larger and more open.
Take your cabinets to the ceiling
The area above the cabinets does nothing but collect dust (and often can look pretty bad). If possible, get cabinets that go all the way to the ceiling, or extend the ones you’ve currently got. If you can’t dish out the cash for a new set of cabinets, you can apply some decorative molding to the top of your cabinets. Not only will it add aesthetic appeal, but it will make it appear as if they reach the ceiling.
Keep your countertops free of clutter
A piece or two is okay, but try to keep your countertops as clear as possible. This includes small appliances and decorative pieces. Use a corner appliance garage to house some of those devices while still keeping your countertops organized.
Downsize your furnishings
Full-sized appliances might be a little too overbearing for smaller kitchens. Also, choose bar stools, work islands, and other pieces that are visually lightweight as bulky items can be visually distracting. Lightweight furnishings allow you to see the floor and walls beyond, and that makes the room look larger.
Consider recessed shelving
Cabinets jut out and take up valuable kitchen real estate. Add storage to a tiny kitchen by recessing a shelving unit into the wall space between studs. Recessed shelving blends well with the architecture, creates extra space, and looks super slick. And if you don’t have room in the actual kitchen, you can create some recessed shelving in a breakfast nook, hallway, or any other space near the kitchen.
Get a new hood
Since over-the-stove vents must be integrated into cabinetry, they take up tons of space. If you can afford to forfeit some storage space, remove the cabinets with the built-in vent and get a sleek, wall-mounted hood. Not only do these hoods look better but they open up your kitchen, creating a lighter and airier feel.
Let your light shine
Natural light can make any space appear bigger. While you don’t have an option about the number of windows and their placement in your kitchen, you can keep window treatments to a minimum. There are two particularly effective ways to approach this trick: thick blinds add a classy and chic look, collect less dust, and can help you dictate how much light you allow in. Or, go for an opaque shade.
Choose the proper design elements
If space is tight, draw the eye upward by implementing vertical lines on the wall. Similarly, vertical lines on the ceiling boards lend the impression of greater height. Ornate cabinetry and intricate details can make an area look choppy. Instead, keep things sleek by designing with clean lines. Finally, stretch the floor space with some floor coverings. Oversized diamonds and chevrons make the floor look larger by creating diagonal lines that draw the gaze from one side of the room to the other.
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