Six Ways To Make A Small Kitchen Appear Bigger
A small kitchen does not have to feel cramped. With careful design, many kitchens of this size can feel much bigger than they actually are, often without having to move any walls. This article describes six ways to create the illusion of more space in your kitchen whether or not you are planning a refit.
1. Keep your surfaces clutter-free
Remove appliances, jars and utensil pots from your work surfaces to create the illusion of more space. This can be the quickest way to create the feeling of more space in a small kitchen: select the few items you use daily and find a home for the rest in a cupboard. A clear work surface gives you more room to cook in your kitchen, which is often what people lack in a small kitchen.
2. Use vertical storage
Make the most of your walls in your kitchen refurbishment by using taller wall units, such as wall units that go up to the ceiling of your kitchen. Use the upper shelves to store items that you only use from time to time throughout the year. Use additional shelves, door racks and pull-out organisers inside your cabinets to get the most out of the space available to you.
Open shelving can help to create the feeling of more space in a small kitchen compared with solid wall units. However, the space must be kept organised with a few plates and glasses neatly stacked on each shelf to be used on a daily basis. If too much is stored on open shelving, it can rapidly make the area seem cramped.
3. Use reflective finishes
Features such as glossy cabinet doors, glass splashbacks and metallic accents reflect light throughout the space to create a feeling of brightness and space.
If you’re doing a full kitchen refurbishment this can provide a solution for your cabinets that allows you to keep your existing carcass and just update the doors.
Updating the doors, handles and work surfaces of your existing cabinet boxes can often be a much cheaper and quicker option than a full new kitchen, and can offer a light and reflective update to your kitchen.
4. Choose compact appliances
Built-in, slimline appliances can form part of a continuous run of units, avoiding visual breaks and keeping the kitchen looking streamlined. A slimline dishwasher, integrated fridge freezer or even a combination microwave oven can free up space for an extra cupboard or long surface. With metallic or glass finishes, appliances reflect light throughout the room.
5. Let in more natural light
Maximising natural light makes a noticeable difference in spatial design.
Clear windows of clutter and tall items. Choose light blinds or no window covering where privacy allows. Good artificial lighting also helps. Under-cabinet lighting in particular removes shadows from the work surfaces and creates the perception of greater brightness and depth at the back of the room.
6. Use light colours
Using dark colours in a room can make it appear to be smaller than it really is. Light and neutral coloured walls, cabinets and splashbacks create the perception of greater space by appearing to retreat from view. Using the same colour or colours on walls, cabinets and splashbacks also minimises visual breaks, creating a single area or space as opposed to several individual areas or blocks.
Quick wins compared
| Idea | Cost | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Clear the worktops | Free | An afternoon |
| Add under-cabinet lighting | Low | A day, may need an electrician |
| Paint walls a lighter colour | Low | A weekend |
| Replace cabinet doors | Medium | A few days |
| Taller wall units and slimline appliances | Higher | Part of a refit |
Common mistakes in small kitchens
- Choosing a large, bulky island that blocks the walkway.
- Filling open shelves until they look cluttered.
- Relying on one central ceiling light, which leaves the worktops in shadow.
- Mixing too many colours and materials in a small space.
- Buying full-size appliances you do not really need.
Frequently asked questions
Are white kitchens the only way to make a small kitchen look bigger?
No. You can use white but other colours like soft greys, pale greens, light wood and cream also work well and feel warmer. On lower cabinets a darker colour can also work as long as the walls, wall units and worktops are light, because the eye is drawn up to the lighter part of the room.
Is open shelving a good idea in a small kitchen?
Yes, as long as you keep it tidy. Open shelves have the advantage of feeling lighter than rows of wall units, but everything is on display. This type of storage is best for items you use daily and keep neatly, with less used items stored in cupboards.
Where to go next
If clutter is the main problem, our six tips for decluttering a small kitchen are a good place to start.
