We all know the kitchen is the true heart of the home. Not only is it where we cook and often eat, but it’s also where we gather…and pass through…and set things…and spend oh-so-much time. So don’t we all want our kitchen to feel spacious and functional? But what if your home has a small kitchen? Not to fear. Here we give you seven small kitchen ideas that are sure to make your petite space live and look much larger than its actual footprint.
No matter your kitchen design style, you’re sure to find inspiration for your small cooking area below. Like the look of white cabinets? We’ve got those covered. More partial to a green kitchen or blue kitchen? We have plenty of those too. Now for those small kitchen ideas to help your space live large.
Get Creative with Storage
The limited space in this quaint Cape Cod cottage doesn’t keep it from offering both function and a charming aesthetic. To keep the compact space feeling as open as possible, a wall-mounted dish rack and a brass rail pot hanger offer smart storage solutions that double as decorative touches. You can also tuck away kitchen necessities in furniture and vintage accessories like this kitchen’s dry sink and the basket above the refrigerator. White cabinets and white walls keep the space looking even airier and open too, and the same goes for any neutral paint palette.
Add Horizontal Elements
Horizontal focal points help elongate any space. Here in this Tennessee cottage, a long runner area rug creates that effect, and horizontal shelves and rectangular backsplash tiles further the elongated influence. They all pair well with this eclectic galley kitchen’s subtly moody wallpaper (another focal point that helps the kitchen feel bigger!), Smeg fridge, Gothic window, and antique crystal chandelier.
Opt for an Island
Instead of designing a galley kitchen with cabinets stacked on both sides, lose one of the walls and opt for an island or peninsula to open up sight lines so even a compact space doesn’t feel tight. You can also make the island a hard-working space with plenty of storage in cabinets underneath it too. In this New Hampshire lake cabin, interior designer Jessica Davis also removed one set of upper cabinets to the right of the sink to add a couple of floating shelves that lighten the look all the more and painted them the same bold, saturated green as the cabinetry. Natural textures in the pendant light accent the bold cabinet color too.
Accent with Glossy Surfaces
Another trick to make a small space feel larger is to incorporate surfaces that bounce light, which makes it feel airier. Here in this tiny Ohio cottage, glossy Zellige backsplash tile creates that effect, but you can also achieve it with glass-fronted cabinets, lacquered cabinetry paint, stainless steel appliances, glossy marble countertops, and mirrored surfaces. Incorporating stools or chairs with open backs also fosters more open sight lines that keep the space feeling airy.
Consider Compact Appliances
If your kitchen is extra small and gets little use, consider small-sized appliances to best fit the space to scale. In this Tennessee weekend home, the oven is extra narrow and the refrigerator is smaller than standard (slim models are also available if that best fits your space). Removing cabinet doors also makes a tiny-but-mighty one-wall kitchen live large. Fun fact: this kitchen’s island is wrapped in chippy blue wainscoting reclaimed from the home’s original front porch.
Maximize Vertical Cabinetry
If your compact kitchen features upper cabinetry, go ahead and run it all the way up to the ceiling, leaving no gaps above, to maximize storage space. In this Alabama river cottage, the extra-tall, Shaker-style cabinets draw the eye up in the kitchen, and the owners can store their less frequently used items up high.
Choose Drawers Over Doors
Appliances disguised as cabinetry can make even a tiny kitchen (this one is only 8 by 12 feet!) live large. Here, a dishwasher drawer by the sink looks like a clean white cabinet drawer, while additional drawers around it house plenty of dishware and cookware.
