19 Clever Design Tricks to Make a Small Kitchen Look Larger

Make a plastered kitchen look and feel spacious with these tips for cabinetwork , color schemes , and countertops .

James Nathan Schroder

unfold a small kitchen spacewithout a major remodelby employing our beneficial designing , vividness , and layout tip . With the right materials and color schemes , even the tiny of kitchen can appear big and bright . To help you freshen up your space , we ’re share our bestsmall kitchen ideasfor cabinetry , coloration scheme , countertops , and more .

blue kitchen with glass cabinets

Credit:James Nathan Schroder

Make a tight kitchen look and feel spacious with these cleverdecorating tipsand intention tricks .

Use a Low-Contrast Color Scheme

Robert Peterson

create a kitchen colouration scheme withlittle conflict between the color of wall , countertop , cabinetwork , and woodworking make a outer space appear larger than it really is . Here , the cabinet , countertop , and backsplash are stuffy in color time value — a soft gray - green — so the eye does n’t trip up over sudden shifts from dark to light . The small outer space is unagitated and expansive .

Lead the Eye Up

yield the eye a upright way to stick with increase the ostensible height of the ceiling , thus lifting the hat off a boxy little kitchen . Here , vertical accents on the wood storage locker draws the oculus upward . Using framed prints , decorative plate , or large ceramic tiles reach a similar effect .

Small Kitchen Ideas for Open Plans

Lincoln Barbour

Depending on your home ’s layout , you might be able to remove part of a wall separating the kitchen from an adjoining livelihood or dining way . It wo n’t increase the solid footage of the kitchen , but it can immensely enlarge the mother wit of space , bringing in more light and a feeling of openness . A half - bulwark turned into a board or small kitchen peninsula is a peachy result for small category or empty nester .

Best Finishes for a Small Kitchen

Meredith Corporation

The best small kitchen ideas use materials to an advantage . Reflective Earth’s surface , such as ceramic tile , marble countertops , or stainless sword , subtly amplify the effects of natural and artificial twinkle , thereby making small kitchen seem larger . In addition , adequate lighting ameliorate functionality . Under cabinet lightscome in handy while cooking , and pendant spark sum ambiance to meals service at an island or peninsula .

Eliminate Clutter

Countertops crowded with cooking utensil and collectible overwhelm a small kitchen and steal workspace . To enlarge the room , clear off counters , windowsill , and cabinet tops , then stash as much as you could behind closed doors . To take decluttering further , choose for minimalist European - style cabinetwork with flowing , bland - panel doors .

Place Tiles Horizontally

To visually expatiate a tiny kitchen , set up tile in a horizontal arranging . This small kitchen backsplash features ahorizontal stacked James Bond pattern , which makes the kitchen seem wider than its actual step . unfastened shelving and butcher pulley countertops mimic the tone for cohesiveness .

Paint It White

White is your best friend in a small kitchen . It reflects light , enhancing the sense of blank space and making the walls recede . When youinclude white on cabinetry , countertops , walls , and the ceiling , you produce a seamless space without edges or boundaries . Useseveral nicety of whitein your small kitchen design , and combine contrasting textures to keep an all - ashen elbow room from feel unfertile . Recessed - dialog box cabinets and crown molding create subtle shadows that can add pursuit .

Connect to the Outdoors

A small kitchen for one is no problem , but when you add guests , it can begin to get crowded . Double Gallic doorsleading to your back porch can open up a small galley kitchen . If your dining outer space is tight , moot prefer for a bistro set or pocket-sized kitchen mesa with benches to keep the layout open .

Add Accessible Storage

An easy path to keep welter off limited countertop space is with storage that ’s well-heeled to access . For small kitchen ideas , we loveopen put over . Here , the top ledge is longer to accommodate occasional drinkware while glasses that see day-after-day employment go at a lower place . A magnetic strip on the fridge holds cutter within reach of the prep space .

Stretch the Floor Space

Some model rampart and storey coverings add visual clutter that makes a distance sense smaller , but others have the opposite force . Oversize adamant or stripes create diagonal line that reap the eye from one side of the elbow room to the other , making it finger wider than it really is . Combine this technique with low - contrast color for heavy event in a small kitchen .

Replace Cabinet Doors with Glass

Nathan Schroder

One way to make a small kitchen appear larger is to take some cabinet doors orreplace the solid front end with glass . This pulls the oculus past the cabinet shape , into the depths of the cabinets , so the bulwark feel farther away . This trick is most in effect if you’re able to keep what ’s in the cabinets orderly and color - organise . Clutter tend to make a room experience crowd .

Carve Out Storage Space

Add storage to a small kitchen remodel without consuming valuable base place byrecessing a shelving unitinto the wall space between studs . you could also work up your own DIY plate rack to tally the woodwork in the rest of your space . If you do n’t have place in your kitchen , look for a fleck nearby , a breakfast corner or hallway , for representative , to create recessed shelf .

Consider a Minimalist Hood

A sleek , wall - mounted vent hoodover the stovetop pare the visual adipose tissue from a wall of storage locker , giving the room a peachy feeling of receptivity . Minimalist volcano hoods , like this one , require 30 inches between cabinet , about the same as an undercabinet hood , but give a sportsmanlike , lighter look — a asset in a small kitchen .

Embrace Natural Light

Natural light source enlarges any space and should be incorporated into your small kitchen ideas . You might have no option about the number or placement of windows in your kitchen , but you could maximise the brightness you do have by keepingkitchen window treatmentsminimal . Here , blinds summate privacy without blocking the light . If you want more privateness , try an opaque shade that allow visible light in .

Small Kitchen Ideas with Slender Furnishings

A small kitchen dictates minuscule - scale leaf furnishings , but take it a gradation further by select a kitchen island , legal community chair , or potty that are visually lightweight , such as this narrow industrialkitchen island . Clean argumentation do n’t disquiet the eye , and these piece of furniture pieces set aside you to see the floor and walls beyond , making the elbow room feel big .

Widen a Small Kitchen with Stripes

Just as wearable with horizontal stripes can make a person look wider , rifle shock that tend from side to side across a way , rather than along the distance , will stretch the apparent story space in your small kitchen . These broad stripes were make by flip light- and intermediate - tone laminate floor tiles . accomplish a alike effect bypainting existing wooden or vinyl radical flooringor by cover the base with a large striped rug .

Blend Surfaces

Connecting your small kitchen backsplash and countertop creates a cohesive look . In this space , black and white granite countertops extend up the walls for a seamless visual aspect . Agray and white color schemedraws from the natural stone to prevent the small kitchen from looking too busy .

Get Creative with Small Pantry Storage

No designated pantry ? No trouble . Utilize cunning cabinet add - ons forsmall kitchen pantry storage . Gallic door on this upper console jive open to reveal built - in spicery rack that take vantage of deep cabinets hiding snacks and staple fiber . A countertop draftsman stay fresh day-after-day cooking essentials close at mitt .

Appliance Garage for Small Kitchen

Kimberly Gavin

little kitchens present tough depot challenges . countertop often become crowded with gismo , but annihilate clutter can help any distance sense large . Use acorner appliance garagein your kitchen and reclaim lost memory distance . The cabinet conceals coffeemakers , toasters , and other little kitchen gadget , while keeping them easy to access for food preparation .

pull out cutting board