Have a small kitchen? Don’t sweat it -
there are plenty of design ideas to maximize square footage for small kitchens. Here
are some helpful tips.
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Maximize
Function
- Small kitchens can lack the space to accommodate typical daily tasks like homework,
mail storage and laundry. Make the main
focus meal prep, by making sure you have the appliances in the areas you need
it. Save space with scaled-down or innovative appliances, including
refrigerator and freezer drawers and pint-sized microwaves and single sinks. If
workspace is at a premium, consider a counter-topped cart that can be rolled
into a closet when not in use.
Realize the Focal Point – The key item that the room
works around. For living rooms, it could be a fireplace, but for small
kitchens, it's typically the entire space. So look at your kitchen as one solid
unit. Use either a neutral tone or one continuous color throughout the space to
keep the eye moving and for the kitchen to feel like one complete unit. One
easy solution for creating this look is to make sure your back splash pattern is
uninterrupted and even have the outlets blend into the design.
Consider Opening Up the Cabinets - Small
kitchens can benefit from open shelves or cabinetry. Consider removing top
cabinets and add open shelving – it can provide a clean and contemporary look,
but also gives the illusion of a larger space since it encourages the eye to continue
all the way to the wall. Keep your dishware and glassware neat and tidy, while
also adding color to some of the dishes to give the look a personal touch. The
shelves themselves can add a clean and modern look and often can be found in a
variety of colors and styles.
Cabinet Considerations - Allow the eye to move through
the space uninterrupted by using one neutral tone for the entire space - the
cabinets, appliances and floor coverings. Use simple flat cabinets without a
lot of detail or replace solid cabinet doors with glass ones (making sure the
inside of the cabinets are painted the same color).
Color Tips - Cooler colors, like blues, tend
to recede and make a space appear bigger. Warm colors, like deep reds, tend to
close in a space and make it feel more intimate. Small kitchens tend to be
better served by using neutral or cool tones to make the space feel open.
Make an Accent Wall - If you are going with open
shelves, you may want to consider making the wall behind the shelves the accent
wall while leaving the rest of the kitchen neutral. This will provide balance
in the space and a little pop of color.
Go
for Glass - One of the easiest ways to expand a kitchen visually is
to incorporate glass. Try a glass table top or cabinet doors.
Floors - Small kitchens can really benefit from adding a few extra
touches to the floor. The eye often goes down as you walk into a room, making
flooring an important element to consider. Adding a rug or floor covering that provides
texture and color to the space can help your design aesthetic. Since the space
is smaller so you may be able to upgrade the flooring material used.
Ceilings & lighting – Review both task and accent
lighting. Consider countering the
fluorescent lighting with pendant lights in the eating area and some under
cabinet lighting. Add dimension to the ceiling with spot lighting above the
cabinets, it will draw the eye up giving some vertical depth. Keep the ceiling
white or a light color so the eye will continue moving up.
Design Elements – add some interesting
architectural details to give your kitchen a bit of luxury. Maybe it’s the
floor material, light fixtures or back splash. Create a personal touch that
draws the eye, adds some color or interest, yet still affordable.