When space is at a premium, itâs only natural to want to maximize it however you can. Thatâs especially true for functional areas such as kitchens. Fortunately, knocking out a wall and physically enlarging your kitchen isnât necessary. You can make a small space, even a highly specialized one like a kitchen, feel airy and roomy with a few critical design choices.
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Kitchen Remodeling Ideas for Optimal Space Utilization
1. Appliances That Handle Multiple Tasks
Multifunctional appliances can be remarkable space- and time-savers in a small kitchen. Ovens or hoods with built-in microwaves, a refrigerator with a space-saving deep freezer on the bottom, or even a combination coffee maker/espresso machine can all help you make a small kitchen seem a little larger.
2. Go White or At Least âLightâ
Basic color theory teaches us that while dark colors can make a space feel closed off, light colorsâespecially shades of white like vanilla, cream, latte, and Navajo whiteâhave the opposite effect, making a room feel more spacious and expansive. If youâre not keen on stark, all-white decor in your kitchenâand truthfully, it can look a little industrial or institutional if youâre not carefulâthen a layered tone-on-tone set works well in small kitchens. Look for pale shades near each other on the paint strips and have similar underlying tones.
3. High-Contrast Color Schemes
A high degree of contrast between two major groups of elements in your kitchen can make the space seem larger by making part of it recede a bit and the other seem more expansive. Dark-hued cabinets against white or light-toned walls and appliances help create a lot of visual interest.
4. Reconfigured Kitchen Cabinets
Are your kitchen cabinets arrayed to maximize the available space in your small kitchen, or are they simply taking up space? As rentals shrink, especially in urban areas, designers and manufacturers have begun to pay attention to creating new, more efficient designs and layouts. Talk with your contractor or designer about cabinet configurations that will help make more room.
5. Add Mirrors
Mirrored surfaces reflect light and space at the viewer, creating a less cluttered feel for a small room. Kitchens can benefit, too. Add a round wall mirror to an available wall space positioned well for people in the room to use functionally and appreciate as a decor item. Itâll help open the room considerably, even if it doesnât technically add an extra inch of space.
6. Go Big With a Statement Piece
This might seem counterintuitive, but as many big-city apartment dwellers will attest, sometimes the best way to make a small space seem bigger is to create a huge design statement with a critical element. For example, if you have a window in your small kitchen, why not experiment with a dramatic, eye-catching window treatment? Or choose large-scale dining furniture for an adjacent dining nook or room. Avoid fussy bows and intricate trims, but try large-scale prints, bold mirrors, and art frames.
7. Turn Up Your Flooring
Itâs not necessarily the first thing youâd think of when it comes to making a small space seem more significant, but the simple truth is that creating some visual interest in your flooring can open up small kitchens. Alternating tile or wooden flooring designs can create herringbone, starburst, and other engaging graphic patterns. This provides a more âluxeâ feel without taking up a single inch of additional space and makes your whole kitchen feel like itâs got a bit of breathing room.
Bonus: Upgraded Kitchens Attract Home Buyers
While it shouldnât be the only reason you undertake a kitchen remodel, it should be noted that if youâre looking to sell your home at any point in the next several months, home shoppers respond positively to upgraded kitchens. Whether youâre looking to sell your home in the usual way, with agents and listings and showings, or prefer to find a home-buying company, make the most of your small kitchen, and youâll be more likely to recoup the costs and attract motivated buyers.
