Having a small kitchen brings many details that challenge your creativity. With the right touches, narrow spaces can be transformed into an eye-catching and spacious atmosphere. In this article, we’ll share 15 practical and innovative tips to make a small kitchen look bigger. From clever color choices to smart storage solutions, these ideas are not only functional but also reflect your personal style and make your cooking area more enjoyable. Whether you’re planning a complete renovation or just looking to make a few adjustments, these insights will set you on the path to a brighter, airier kitchen.
How Do I Make a Small Kitchen Look Bigger?
Here are some quick and effective tips, inspired by design experts, on how to make a small kitchen look bigger and more functional!
1. Choose Light and Bright Wall Colors
To make a small kitchen look more spacious, start by painting the walls in as light and bright colors as possible. Colors like white, cream, light gray, and pastels are excellent light reflectors. Because of this, your kitchen design will appear brighter and more open than it truly is. It is even more helpful to choose paints with a high “LRV” (light reflectance value) for reflecting light.
2. Choose Cabinets in the Same Color as the Wall
Cabinets that are the same color as the walls prevent the eye from getting caught in color transitions, making the kitchen feel more integrated and spacious. Another trick to make the ceiling look higher is to paint the upper cabinets the same color as the wall. Even if you do not want to use matching colors, you can still get the same effect by picking close shades.
3. Apply a Low Contrast Color Scheme
When the eye encounters highly contrastive hue transitions, such as black and white, it is hard not to hesitate. For a more seamless look in your kitchen, choose near-tones and low contrast. This will create the illusion of more room and cohesion.
4. Strategically Place Your Cabinets
When it comes to cramped kitchen renovation, natural light is your best friend. That is why it is highly recommended to keep furniture like tall stools and cabinets away from windows. Placing large cabinets and appliance cabinets at the ends of the kitchen enhances the central area and facilitates easier circulation. If full-height cabinets are not utilized excessively, the kitchen will not appear overly flat.
5. Remove Upper Cabinets or Experiment with Open Shelves
Upper cabinets can overload the eye in small spaces. Removing them altogether, or at least interspersing them with open shelves, makes the walls more visible and brings a sense of openness to the space. Open shelves also allow you to display decorative objects or your favorite dishes. Just be careful not to create clutter, or you might feel “clutter” instead of “spaciousness.”
6. Use Shallow Depth Cabinets
Standard-depth cabinets sometimes take up too much space in narrow kitchens or transitional areas. Shallow kitchen cabinets provide more space for movement and create a less cramped feeling in small kitchens, allowing for spaciousness without losing usability.
7. Try to Increase the Amount of Natural Light
A well-lit kitchen always gives the impression of more space and warmth. One efficient option is to install skylights or, failing that, larger windows. More light can enter the room, letting your kitchen “breathe,” even if you keep the windows open, clean them, and pull back the curtains.
8. Choose Integrated Home Appliances
For a more unified aesthetic, consider installing veneer or aligning the cabinet doors to conceal bulky appliances like dishwashers and refrigerators. To enhance the organization and perceived spaciousness of the small kitchen, select appliances that are flush with the cabinets rather than large and protruding ones.
source: whytile.com
9. Lay Wall Tiles in Vertical Direction
When you place the tiles vertically, the eyes are directed upwards and the ceiling is perceived higher. This is a great effect in small kitchens with low ceilings. If you want to create a more spacious feel, you can also opt for horizontal tiling. So choose the one that will benefit your kitchen the most!
10. Use Oversized Floor Tiles
Large tiles make the floor look more complete and wider because they leave fewer joint lines between them. Light-colored tiles, in particular, enhance this effect. Keeping the flooring the same or similar visually unifies the two spaces and makes the kitchen feel more spacious if the kitchen opens into another room next to it.
11. Use Multilayered Lighting
Combining multiple lighting sources instead of a single ceiling light can make your small kitchen look more functional and spacious. For example, you can use recessed ceiling lights to provide general lighting, while countertop LED strips or wall-mounted sconces illuminate the work area separately. If you have an island worktop, pendant lights create a nice focal point and add depth to the space. In-cabinet or under-counter (toe kick) lighting also adds a nice ambience.
12. Go for Minimalist and Handleless Cabinet Designs
Handleless or flat-front cabinets create a calmer, more streamlined look. Push-open mechanisms or integrated handles offer a more modern, clean style. The smooth surfaces of the cabinets create a feeling of no divisions in the space.
source: atimspa.com
13. Choose Multipurpose and Compact Furniture
Solutions such as folding worktops, trolleys on wheels, or bar stools that can go under the worktop can help you save space and create extra work or seating space when needed. If you’re considering an island countertop designs, make sure there’s enough room to walk around it (at least 1 meter). If space is tight, perhaps a portable work surface would be more useful.
14. Extend Cabinets to the Ceiling
If there is space between the upper cabinets and the ceiling, closing this space or extending the cabinets to the ceiling allows the eye to continue upwards. Thus, the ceiling is perceived as higher and the kitchen feels as if it has grown. Plus, you get extra storage space.
15. Be Selective in Accessories and Decoration
When decorating your small kitchen, avoid overcrowding the countertops or shelves. A few well-chosen accessories, like a lovely faucet or fashionable handles, can bring character and style to the space without overpowering it. You can keep the space spacious by choosing minimalist decor. A couple of works of art or frames on the walls will make the kitchen feel more cozy and warm.
Conclusion
There are many practical and creative solutions to make a small kitchen look larger and more spacious. Light colors, arrangements that increase natural light, and a minimalist approach are very effective in enlarging the perception of the space. Keeping countertops simple, reflective surfaces, and high cabinets to increase storage space also prioritize functionality. All of these suggestions are helpful, but you should not let them overshadow your personal preferences. Having a kitchen that serves your needs and reflects your personality will be much more enjoyable and practical.
FAQs
Here are the most frequently asked questions and their answers on how to make a small kitchen look bigger and create a more spacious feel.
How to Layout a Small Kitchen?
First and foremost, it is crucial to optimize the utilization of your space. If you require a change, it is advisable to investigate options that will enhance the amount of natural light. Managing traffic well and placing appliances in the right places increases functionality and reduces unnecessary movement. Creating a flow in the kitchen where you can work comfortably and providing good lighting and ventilation can make it a much more useful and enjoyable space.
What Color Makes a Small Kitchen Look Bigger?
Whites, light grays, and pastels are great choices; they reflect light and make your kitchen look larger and brighter. One trick is to paint the walls and cabinets the same color. This blurs the boundaries and creates a seamless look. Also, using light-colored and glossy surfaces can reflect light even better, making your kitchen feel much larger and more spacious.
How do I Make a Small Kitchen Look Bigger?
To make a small kitchen look bigger, light-colored paint that reflects light, glossy surfaces, and a layout free of unnecessary items can be very effective. Strategically placing wall cabinets, open shelves, or shallow depths of cabinets can also make the space feel more spacious. You can create visual depth by using mirror mosaic or vertical tiles, making the floor look wide with large tiles.
What Backsplash Makes a Kitchen Look Bigger?
A light-colored backsplash can make a kitchen appear larger. Mirrored mosaics are particularly effective because they reflect light, instantly making the space feel brighter and lighter. They also create an optical illusion that doubles the visual depth of the space, making it appear larger than it actually is.
What Color Floor Makes a Kitchen Look Bigger?
Using a light-colored floor palette in a small kitchen can expand the perception of space. Large-format floor tiles, which contain fewer grout lines, also increase the visual continuity of the floor.
What Color Countertops Make a Kitchen Look Bigger?
For a small kitchen, it is advisable to select countertops that are lighter in color. Glossy surfaces better reflect light, making the space appear brighter and more spacious.
What Do I Do if My Kitchen is Too Small?
If your kitchen is small, clever and useful solutions can help you effectively use your space. Portable furniture, such as folding tables and trolleys, can help you save room. Pay attention to the little things: drawers, pedestal drawers, or corner cabinets that utilize every available space will make your job easier. Maintaining order and taking a minimalist approach—keeping only the things you need—also works wonders.
