Homeowners approach kitchen designers all the time with those three familiar words: “it’s too small.” Since it’s not always in the budget to knock out the walls, cut the living room square footage in half, and create a massive dream kitchen from scratch, designers usually have to come up with a few other ideas.
Listed below are solutions for tackling that too-small kitchen. Let me know if I missed any in the comments!
Paint Lightly: Rooms painted with a lighter color will feel more open. Try to gravitate toward colors like light blue, white, yellow, or beige. This applies not only to walls but also to cabinets, countertops, and appliances. Dark colors have a way of visually closing in your space.
Downsize: When choosing the essentials (refrigerators, cabinets, table and chairs, etc.), choose slim models that won’t eat up your space. Try using ceiling racks to hang pots and pans from – it will cut back on the cabinet storage space you need. Do make sure to keep cookbooks and small appliances stashed away when you’re not using them to clear the countertop.
Be Transparent: Glass-front cabinets always help expand your kitchen visually. If you can handle keeping your shelves organized, consider using transparent cabinet doors. Adding recessed shelf lights inside the cabinets heightens the effect of glass-front cabinets. A mirrored backsplash can also create the illusion of a larger room.
Remove the Shadows: Adding extra lighting to your kitchen has a huge impact on perception of space. Under cabinet lighting will showcase your backsplash and countertops while making your kitchen look more open. Over cabinet lighting will make your ceiling seem higher. Shadows are your enemy in a small kitchen: lighting up the room will add depth and improve the ambiance.