Ditch These 7 Things to Make Your Kitchen Feel Bigger
Is your compact kitchen feeling cramped? One of these small changes might help the space feel roomier
If you want to bring a spacious feel to a bijou kitchen, there are some things you could consider letting go of. From colour schemes to layout planning to cabinet configurations, certain key choices can ensure your small kitchen feels larger.
More in this series: Ditch These 7 Things to Make Your Living Room Feel Bigger l Ditch These 7 Things to Make Your Bedroom Feel Bigger l Ditch These 5 Things to Make Your Bathroom Feel Bigger
More in this series: Ditch These 7 Things to Make Your Living Room Feel Bigger l Ditch These 7 Things to Make Your Bedroom Feel Bigger l Ditch These 5 Things to Make Your Bathroom Feel Bigger
2. Cabinets that don’t reach the ceiling
If you do go for wall cabinets in your small kitchen, there are a couple of tricks to ensure they enhance, rather than hinder, the space. Go for simple designs that don’t overpower the room and, most importantly, make sure they go right up to the top of the wall.
In this scheme created by Natalie Holden Interiors, the cabinets reach right up to the ceiling, pulling the eye up and elongating the room’s proportions. If they’d stopped further down the wall, they might have added visual clutter to the space and made it feel more squat than it actually is.
If you do go for wall cabinets in your small kitchen, there are a couple of tricks to ensure they enhance, rather than hinder, the space. Go for simple designs that don’t overpower the room and, most importantly, make sure they go right up to the top of the wall.
In this scheme created by Natalie Holden Interiors, the cabinets reach right up to the ceiling, pulling the eye up and elongating the room’s proportions. If they’d stopped further down the wall, they might have added visual clutter to the space and made it feel more squat than it actually is.
3. Overbearing colour combos
Some colour in your kitchen adds character and makes the space feel uplifting, but it pays to choose your hues wisely. If you want the room to look bigger, avoid too many different shades, as these could dominate the space.
This kitchen by piqu is a good example of how to use colour effectively. Calm green base units are complemented by off-white wall cabinets to give the space a harmonious look. By going for a paler shade above, designer Adrian Graves has also created a light and open feel to the top half of the room.
Find a reviewed kitchen designer on Houzz today.
Some colour in your kitchen adds character and makes the space feel uplifting, but it pays to choose your hues wisely. If you want the room to look bigger, avoid too many different shades, as these could dominate the space.
This kitchen by piqu is a good example of how to use colour effectively. Calm green base units are complemented by off-white wall cabinets to give the space a harmonious look. By going for a paler shade above, designer Adrian Graves has also created a light and open feel to the top half of the room.
Find a reviewed kitchen designer on Houzz today.
4. Light-absorbing surfaces
Some materials, such as those with dark matt surfaces, tend to absorb light rather than reflect it. To increase the feeling of space in your compact kitchen, add some light-reflecting surfaces instead.
The cabinets in this kitchen, designed by VORBILD Architecture, have a shiny surface that bounces light around the room. It’s particularly effective here, as the rooflight, glazed door and window bring plenty of natural daylight into the room, and the cabinet surfaces help to enhance it.
Some materials, such as those with dark matt surfaces, tend to absorb light rather than reflect it. To increase the feeling of space in your compact kitchen, add some light-reflecting surfaces instead.
The cabinets in this kitchen, designed by VORBILD Architecture, have a shiny surface that bounces light around the room. It’s particularly effective here, as the rooflight, glazed door and window bring plenty of natural daylight into the room, and the cabinet surfaces help to enhance it.
5. Disorganised storage options
If you can’t find a place for all your kitchen kit, the room will always feel too small in terms of functionality. So be clever when designing storage in your tiny kitchen and look out for smart solutions.
An idea like this pull-out cabinet in a kitchen designed by Murray & Ball Furniture is a great example. The designers have made the most of a narrow space at the side of the main cabinetry to slot in a super-useful unit where the owners can store their spices and vegetables.
Discover why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
If you can’t find a place for all your kitchen kit, the room will always feel too small in terms of functionality. So be clever when designing storage in your tiny kitchen and look out for smart solutions.
An idea like this pull-out cabinet in a kitchen designed by Murray & Ball Furniture is a great example. The designers have made the most of a narrow space at the side of the main cabinetry to slot in a super-useful unit where the owners can store their spices and vegetables.
Discover why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
6. Worktop clutter
No matter how well designed your kitchen is, if there’s clutter all over the worktops, it will always feel cramped. So when you plan the storage, make sure there’s room for all of those things that can take up space, such as small appliances you don’t use frequently and tea and coffee canisters that could be stored on a shelf or in a cupboard next to the kettle.
Of course, that doesn’t mean your kitchen needs to feel cold and clinical. You can still add interest simply by choosing some lovely items to display on your worktops. In this kitchen by Crafted Cabinetry, for example, a few curated items, such as the simple vase of eucalyptus, add character to the space without making it feel cluttered.
No matter how well designed your kitchen is, if there’s clutter all over the worktops, it will always feel cramped. So when you plan the storage, make sure there’s room for all of those things that can take up space, such as small appliances you don’t use frequently and tea and coffee canisters that could be stored on a shelf or in a cupboard next to the kettle.
Of course, that doesn’t mean your kitchen needs to feel cold and clinical. You can still add interest simply by choosing some lovely items to display on your worktops. In this kitchen by Crafted Cabinetry, for example, a few curated items, such as the simple vase of eucalyptus, add character to the space without making it feel cluttered.
7. Heavy window dressings
Light is crucial for making a space feel bigger, so avoid anything that blocks it. It’s a good idea to keep windows free of obstructions and, if possible, ditch window treatments completely.
If that’s not an option, swap thick blinds or curtains for something lighter, like the blind in this kitchen designed by Imperfect Interiors. The neutral fabric tones with the units, and is thin enough to let the light through.
Tell us…
Have you ditched any of these things in your small kitchen? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Light is crucial for making a space feel bigger, so avoid anything that blocks it. It’s a good idea to keep windows free of obstructions and, if possible, ditch window treatments completely.
If that’s not an option, swap thick blinds or curtains for something lighter, like the blind in this kitchen designed by Imperfect Interiors. The neutral fabric tones with the units, and is thin enough to let the light through.
Tell us…
Have you ditched any of these things in your small kitchen? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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While storage is essential, too many cabinets can make a small kitchen feel cramped. So when you’re planning the layout, try to find the right balance between functional storage and a feeling of space.
In this kitchen designed by Lydia Allen Interiors, for example, wall units have been replaced with shelves to give a lighter look to the room. To compensate for the lack of upper cabinets, Lydia has instead installed a wide, full-height cupboard to the side. This provides plenty of storage space while allowing the rest of the room to feel airy.