(guest post by Emma Lewis)
If you have a small kitchen, there are ways to make it look and feel better with a few DIY home improvement projects. Give these options a whirl, and you’ll soon feel like you have an empire in a nutshell with your small kitchen! Here are seven tips for making your small kitchen look and feel larger.
- Convert cupboards to smart storage
Storage is often a big problem when you have a little kitchen. Convert your cupboards into smart storage solutions and you’ll find it a lot easier to fit everything in. Sliding bins, racked shelves which open downwards so you can reach them all, and compartmentalizing in large spaces can really help to make your kitchen feel bigger than it is.
- Have less stuff
Since storage is a problem, have you considered simply having less stuff? We all have things we don’t need, like kitchen gadgets that don’t get used often or silverware that only comes out at Christmas. You can easily find storage space with sharing community sites like Spacer, allowing you to drop off unneeded items and then take them back when you have room for them again.
- Paint the walls
If everything in your kitchen is within the same color family, with low contrast, this will make the space feel larger. White is always a great color to go for – but if your cabinets are dark and you can’t go for that much contrast, you might try a soft grey instead. When everything blends together more, the space doesn’t look quite so cramped.
- Add shine
Mirrors are great at making a small space feel larger, but you might not want to have a mirror in your kitchen. That doesn’t mean you can’t use this technique. Use shiny, glossy surfaces on your counters and cupboards, and add glossy tiles to your walls or flooring. Chrome or chrome-effect detailing on your appliances can also help add to the reflections.
- Open your shelving
A great option for creating a lighter feel is to take away your cupboards – or at least the doors. Open shelving feels wider and makes the space feel bigger, rather than lots of closed doors facing you whenever you enter the room. You could also go for glass shelving to increase the effect even more.
- Bring in light
Having more light in your kitchen can make it feel bigger. Open windows that are in the space already, and try keeping the curtains or blinds open to let in as much light as possible. You can also add lots of lighting from artificial sources, so that it feels bright and airy inside the space. Go for white lights instead of yellow tones to make it feel more natural.
- Stretch the floor
Use lines or chevrons, or even diamonds, to make your floor feel elongated. If you can’t replace the actual flooring with a more linear pattern, then you can try laying down a rug to achieve the same effect. This draws the eye forward and therefore makes it seem like the room is longer or wider. Avoid shapes like squares, which, when placed straight-on across the kitchen, will make it feel small and cluttered instead.
Just because you have a small kitchen, doesn’t mean it has to feel cramped and uncomfortable. These tips will really make a difference, allowing you to feel like you have a bigger space to work with even when you don’t. It’s all about making the right impression – and that can add value when it comes time to sell the house on, too.
Author bio: Emma Lewis is a loving mother, a devoted wife and a part of the team supporting Spacer – a company helping you find storage space whenever you need it. Emma is also a staunch supporter of the sharing economy and often mentions its benefits.
