Image Source: StadshemThese days, contemporary built houses often have large kitchens. But if you've bought an old property, you'll know that the kitchens can be small, like really small. Here are ten ways to make your small kitchen look bigger. And what's more fun than DIY and decoration, whether you've just bought a new home, or you're re-decorating.
1. Paint your walls white. If you really don't like white or it's not practical for your home, paint it a really light pastel colour instead. The lighter and brighter the room is, the more spacious and airy it will feel.
Image Source: Jolie Maison Decoration2. Let in as much light as possible and natural lighting is always best. You can do this with windows, roof lights or with artificial lighting such as lamps, spotlights and daylight bulbs. If you have a small window and limited natural light, you can bounce the light around with mirrors, glass cabinet doors and glass framed pictures.
Image Source: BeylaBlue Design3. Go for shiny surface finishes. These will reflect light and distribute it all around the room, making it feel much larger than it actually is. Opt for shiny splash backs, counter tops and high gloss cupboard doors and shelving.
Image Source: Casa Tres Chic4. When choosing your flooring, whether it's tiles, wood or patterned, make sure it's laid length-ways down the kitchen. This will draw the eye and elongate the room. If you lay it sideways, the eye will naturally be drawn sideways and it will make the room feel much shorter and smaller.
Image Source: Homes & Antiques5. When selecting your paint, flooring and fitted kitchen, try to keep everything in the same tone or colour family. Bold, bright contrasting colours work best in large kitchens, whereas subtle differences in tone work best in small to make the most of the space and make it appear larger.
Image Source: BOSTHLM6. Sleek, modern appliances will make the kitchen feel less clunky. Think about the size too, if you don't need a double-dishwasher or American sized fridge, then don't buy them. The smaller sized Smeg fridges will give a kitchen an elegant, sleek sense of style without being too over powering, especially in a small space.
Image Source: Kate La Vie7. A trick of great kitchen designers to use shallow cabinets. You're still getting a key part of a kitchen which is essential to the look, without compromising on space. An added trick of installing lighting underneath the top cabinets and just above the kick board will bring more light to this area.
Image Source: Frukleppa8. Curves in the kitchen really can be your best friend. Curved cabinets and surfaces create soft lines and can open up small, tight spaces more. It might seem like only a few inches, but the difference it will make will seem much more.
Image Source: Schuller Kitchens9. Open shelving is another great way to make the most of a small kitchen. However, it must be kept minimal and tidy. Clutter on display is going to make the room feel crowded.
Image Source: Doug Elissa10. There's an old saying of 'a place for everything and everything in it's place.' Storage is essential to small kitchen living. If you can create dedicated space for items and activities it will make the space look, and feel, much bigger and you will be able to better utilise the space.
Image Source: Design Sponge
