Small kitchen ideas
With a little design savvy, a small kitchen can easily be made to look and feel much larger than it actually is.
This guide explores the different tricks of the design trade to help you transform your small kitchen into an airy and comfortable space that you'll love to spend time in.
Keep colours light, bright and consistent
The colour scheme of your kitchen will have a big impact on the impression of the space available. Light colours with plenty of white tint will naturally reflect light, which helps to avoid the room feeling cramped and dark.
Bright white or cream is an obvious choice, but don't feel limited. Light greens, yellows, blues and even greys can work well too.
Whatever colour you choose, try to make the cabinet doors and walls one consistent colour. This removes any visual barriers that cause the eye to stop short, thus making the room appear much larger than it actually is.
Choose open wall storage
When storage space is of the essence, you'll want to optimise wall space. However, rather than choose solid cabinets – which can make the room feel smaller – consider open storage options.
Shelves offer plenty of space for lighter kitchen accessories and appliances. Meanwhile, glass-panelled cabinet doors provide the benefits of a normal cabinet while maintaining the open design.
Soft lights within the cabinets or beneath the shelving will further open the room and keep this area looking and feeling bright.
Glossy features throughout the room
Mirrors are often recommended for hallways and bedrooms to help make the space feel larger. The same can be said for kitchens through glossy features.
Gloss finish cabinets and worktops, as well as stainless steel accents across taps, handles and appliances will reflect the light and make the room feel much larger than it actually is.
To enhance this look, make the most of your natural light by keeping your window design very simple with little to no treatments on the glass, or ornaments on windowsills. This will help to maximise the amount of natural light in the room, and therefore the amount of light available to bounce from the gloss surfaces.
Store away clutter
Whether it's on your shelves, in the cabinets or on the worktop – clutter is the enemy of a small kitchen space.
Drawers and a narrow larder can help to maximise the amount of storage space available, which allows you to hide away ingredients, utensils and crockery, keeping worktops and shelving clean and clear.
That's not to say nothing should be on display. Statement pieces like freestanding mixers will add to the design of the room; daily essentials such as kettles and toasters are impractical to pack away, and fresh flowers, herbs and other small decorative items will keep the room feeling homely, so display them all sparingly.
Make lighting bright and simple
If you have a small kitchen with a high ceiling, a statement light shade can be a beautiful addition to a kitchen design. However, if you have a standard or even low ceiling, avoid cluttering the room with unnecessary light fittings.
Integrated lighting can be a design-saver when it comes to small kitchens. These lights barely feature in the overall room design, but can be used to flood the room with bright light, which makes the kitchen feel airier at any time of day.
Ceiling lights are a must, but there's no need to stop there. Add them beneath cabinets and as spotlights on your worktop to add a soft glow to your prep space.
Small kitchens don't have to feel cramped, and can be just as beautiful as larger, more spacious rooms. Following these small design tips will help you to make the most of the room, and create an area you'll love to spend time in.
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