I’d be prepared to wager that if you consider your dream kitchen, it does not include the word “little” Yet that is the reality that many of us live with: lean counter space, a cramped work triangle and precious little space for the appliances. If you’re not ready — or willing — to knock a kitchen wall, you can at least do the next best thing: Create the impression of a larger space with a couple strategic decorating suggestions.
1. Replace cabinet doors with glass ones. Glass fronts lighten the look of cabinetry and allow the eye to travel through to the trunk, which helps the kitchen seem more expansive. Just don’t clutter the interiors with bric-a-brac — you’ll defeat the goal.
Jeanne Finnerty Interior Design
2. Paint cabinets exactly the same colour as the walls. Limiting the cabinetry and the wall colour to a single color erases visual borders which may stop the eye. The conventional school of thought is that pale colors will reflect light and make the space feel larger, and that is certainly a secure approach. But don’t be afraid to go dark, either. Deep tones like black, navy, charcoal and chocolate recede visually and also make the belief that the walls are farther back than they really are.
Andre Rothblatt Architecture
3. Pick furnishings with a small footprint. Select petite islands, slender chairs, streamlined stools and narrow tables that don’t eat up valuable floor space. Avoid chunky furniture legs or thick foundations, which include visual bulk.
Aidan Design
4. Recess storage. Tuck a cabinet, shelving or cabinets flush with the walls to keep from obstructing the kitchen’s flow. It is rather simple to retrofit a recessed niche, particularly in the event that you orient it between wall studs.
Boor Bridges Architecture
5. Layout with lines. Big corbels, elaborate cabinetry and fussy details may make a kitchen feel chopped up. Instead, keep the elements tailored and glossy to smooth out the look and make a roomier feel.
Lisa Borgnes Giramonti
6. Merge into a bigger space. This breakfast area, separated from the kitchen with a very low half wall, feels just like a natural expansion of the cooking place.
Justrich Design
7. Incorporate shelving. Open shelves decrease visual weight and lend the illusion of a more expansive space. For an even sleeker look, select floating shelves over versions with mounts.
Watch more of this 90-square-foot kitchen
8. Winnow down. Do not crowd counters, cabinets and shelves with clutter, which makes the space look as though it is bursting at the seams. Instead, focus on a few standout items and requirements and hide the rest away.
Whitten Architects
9. Direct the eye upward. Pick patterns and visual elements that help to direct the gaze toward the ceiling. The vertical lines of the ceiling and wall boards within this kitchen lend the impression of greater height.
Aidan Design
10. Flood the distance with light. Whether your kitchen is done in pale colors or dark ones, light shining in will allow it to feel as big as possible. Keep window treatments very simple, or eliminate them entirely, in order not to obstruct the sun.
More: 17 Space-Saving Solutions for Small Kitchens