Small kitchens can often come across as cramped and uninviting. On some nights, your tight little kitchen makes you want to order take-out before dragging your feet to the stove to cook. But did you know that no matter how compact it feels, there are ways to improve your prep space and cabinets to make it appear larger?
Through design elements, finishes and clever tricks, you can make a small kitchen look bigger. Whether it’s a galley or corridor kitchen that can only accommodate one cook or an L-shaped kitchen with minimal counter space and elbow room, there are many wonderful design tips to make your space more inviting. Discover how to make a small kitchen look bigger with these nine handy tips and tricks.
1. Use Open Shelving
One of the best ways to make a small kitchen look bigger is to use open shelving structures. Add a row or stack of vintage floating shelves to an empty wall space or swap them out with a section of your kitchen cabinets. Removing the block-like structure of cabinets tricks the eye and lengthens the room, providing a more airy look. Open shelving also invites you to showcase your favorite dishes, mugs and appliances, or simply allows easy access to frequently used cookware.
However, this trick only works if you are a tidy person and can keep the shelves from looking messy and cluttered. If your cabinets are filled to the brim, it’s best to stick with full upper cabinets with concealing doors. Kitchen cabinet hardware can also provide helpful organization fixtures, from lazy Susans to drawer dividers and stemware racks.
2. Incorporate Glass Elements
Suppose you’re not too keen on replacing entire upper cabinets for floating shelves. In that case, there’s another way you can make cabinets appear spacious – with glass-paneled doors. Glass-paneled doors can make a room look deeper, especially if you add some accent lighting inside.
In general, glass is a fantastic material to open up any space in your kitchen. If you have a breakfast nook with a solid wood table, replace it with a beveled glass tabletop. Replace large pendant lights with glass globes, too. The same goes for the windows! Not only do your kitchen windows provide an extended view to the backyard, but they let in natural light, which can make any small room look bigger.
3. Stick with a Light Color Palette
Much the same way natural sunlight makes a room appear bigger, a light color palette can as well. An affordable weekend project, painting your kitchen in a light neutral shade or off-white can make it appear more spacious. Overall, stick to pale, muted colors for the walls, such as serene greens or blues. If you have dark finished cabinets, you could consider replacing those with a lighter wood tone, such as a honey maple or whitewashed pine.
4. Add Reflective Polished Surfaces
Bathrooms and bedrooms are perfect for standing mirrors or vanity mirrors, opening up the space by reflecting light and making a space appear deeper. However, when it comes to a kitchen, you can add mirrors along cabinet interiors or install a polished backsplash.
To make a small kitchen look bigger, you can also add reflective mirror-like surfaces. Glass tiles, polished floors and high-gloss paint can provide a reflective finish that mimics the same illusion. Large appliances, like the fridge and dishwasher, can also be chosen with stainless steel fronts.
5. Minimize the Personal Clutter
One of the easiest and most efficient ways to make a small kitchen look bigger is by merely reducing the clutter. When it comes to your kitchen, think minimal and avoid overly ornate decorations and personal items that distract from the sleek aesthetic or break up the line of sight.
While it’s lovely to have a few personal, homey touches here and there, be sure to keep them in a designated space. An overcrowded magnet-filled fridge door might invoke memories, but it does nothing for a cramped kitchen space. Instead, save some favorites, tucking away others in a nearby drawer and rotating them every so often. The same goes for windowsills filled with trinkets and other fussy areas. While it’s okay to have decor, keep it more uniform and minimal.
6. Choose Appliances Wisely
Appliances take up a good portion of your kitchen. But when you downsize them, it can make a small kitchen look bigger. Selecting smaller appliances, from a compact dishwasher to a slimline refrigerator, can give an optical illusion and avoid hogging lots of space.
If swapping your larger appliances out for a more compact version just won’t work for your family’s size or cooking habits, you still have options! You could also choose integrated appliances that are disguised, blending into the cabinets with matching door fronts.
7. Install Slimline Cabinets
In the same way you can choose compact appliances, you can install slimline base cabinets. Slightly more shallow than the standard variety, slimline cabinets can open up your kitchen floor, offering more square footage. While this reduces the space for bulky appliances and cookware, you can instead keep those items in a nearby cupboard or display them on the countertop. You can install a hanging pot rack above a kitchen island or sink for large pots and pans.
8. Knock Down a Wall (If Possible)
If you have an oddly placed wall that doesn’t serve much purpose, consider knocking it down. Creating an open concept kitchen and living space can certainly make a small kitchen look bigger, while also providing a more family-friendly atmosphere and entertaining space. However, if you need all the functional cabinet space you can get, turn it into a half wall with an extended peninsula, complete with an extra surface to work. You could also turn the space into a small breakfast bar where you can serve quick snacks and offer bar stool seating.
9. Free Up Counter Space
Free up your counter space and prep areas to make a small kitchen look bigger. Look around your prep spaces and remove any cluttered areas. For instance, if you keep a running grocery list on the counter, consider using a magnetic paper pad on the fridge instead. Keep the toaster and the blender in an appliance garage, plugged in but out of sight, clearing space for prep work and other activities until they’re needed.
