Remodeling a small kitchen and bath can seem like a daunting task, but with some clever design ideas and strategic changes, you can completely transform the look, feel, and functionality of your compact cooking space. If you’re planning to focus first on your kitchen, the key to a small kitchen remodel is working within your existing footprint to maximize every inch and create the illusion of more room.
Table of Contents
From space-saving storage solutions to visual tricks that make a small kitchen appear larger, you’ll find plenty of inspirational tips to make kitchen makeover make your tiny kitchen both beautiful and highly functional.
Maximizing Storage Space
One of the biggest challenges in a small kitchen is the lack of storage and prep space. When renovating your compact kitchen, look for ways to add more cabinets, drawers, shelving, and counters without increasing the footprint. Here are some excellent options:
Wall Cabinets and Shelving
Make use of vertical space by installing wall cabinets and open shelving to the ceiling. Floor-to-ceiling cabinetry instantly adds storage and makes the room feel taller. Mix closed cabinets with open shelves for an airy, modern look.
Two-Tier Island
Add a two-tier island with lower counter space on one side for prep work and bar-height seating on the other side for casual dining. The split levels maximize the island’s functionality.
Slide-Out Storage
Install pull-out shelves, rotating “lazy susans”, and slide-out drawers to fully utilize every inch of existing cabinetry. Don’t forget the toe-kick space – you can add slide-out storage here too.
According to HGTV Remodels, innovative storage solutions like slide-out cabinet drawers, open shelving, and two-tier islands can help maximize every inch in a small kitchen remodel.
Microwave Drawers
Swap the microwave for a built-in drawer microwave to free up counter space. Place it below the oven or low on the wall.
Countertop Depth
For more workspace, have countertops made deeper than the standard 25″. Go up to 30″ deep for ample room for food prep and appliances.
Choosing the Right Cabinetry
With the right cabinetry choices, you can add storage, make the space feel lighter and more open, and create a custom look on a budget.
Two-Tone Cabinets
Go for two-tone cabinets – like white uppers with black lowers – to give the eye more places to land, making the kitchen feel more expansive. The contrast also adds a stylish dimension.
Open Shelving
Incorporate some open shelving into your cabinetry design. Removing upper cabinets and cabinet doors and replacing them with shelves makes the kitchen feel more open. Use for dishes, cookbooks, or plants.
Glass Front Cabinets
Glass front cabinets maintain the streamlined look of no cabinets but still allow you to hide small appliances and other clutter. Place them above the sink or stove.
Shaker Style Doors
For a fresh, timeless look, opt for simple shaker-style cabinet doors. They instantly provide a clean, modern feel. Choose a neutral color palette for versatility.
Creative Countertop Solutions
Choosing the right countertop material, color, and backsplash makes a huge impact on the look and feel of your small kitchen. Get creative with these ideas:
Marble Countertops
Elegant marble countertops, like Carrara or Calacatta, add luxury instantly. The white marble makes the space feel light and airy. Use large-scale marble tiles for the backsplash too.
Wood Countertops
Warm up a small kitchen with wood countertops, like a butcher block. It’s great for prep work and adds natural texture. Use wood shelving for a coordinated look.
Boldly Painted Backsplash
Make a statement and widen the kitchen visually by painting the backsplash wall in a bold, bright color like emerald green or sapphire blue. Use high-gloss paint for easy wiping.
Vintage Tile Backsplash
For a retro cottage look, use vintage-style tiles in soft hues for the backsplash. Subway tiles, fish scale tiles, or hexagon tiles create a charming appeal.
Choosing Appliances for Small Kitchens
Appliance choices make a significant impact in a compact kitchen. Look for smaller-scale appliances designed for tight spaces.
Mini Fridge
Swap the full-sized refrigerator for a slim counter-depth or mini fridge to save inches of space. Choose a style with a bottom freezer.
Compact Dishwasher
A 24″ slim dishwasher tucks perfectly between cabinets. Or, choose an 18″ model – it’s even smaller but still fits 10 place settings.
Small Stove/Oven Combo
Instead of a full stove and oven, go for a 24″ or 27″ stove-oven combo. Some fit in as little as 21″ of space.
Microwave Drawer
As mentioned before, a microwave drawer frees up countertop space of space. Models are available in trim kit sizes as small as 24″.
Brass Fixtures & Accents
Warm up a small kitchen with vintage brass accents or gold accents. Try brass fixtures, cabinet hardware, pendant lights, and barstools for a luxe, yet cozy look.
Clever Layout Ideas and Design Elements
How you arrange the kitchen layout and use other kitchen designs and elements can make a small kitchen much more livable and spacious seeming.
Island with Seating
Even a narrow kitchen can fit a small island, which instantly adds prep space and a dining table with seats. Float it parallel to cabinets or anchor it under a window.
Exposed Ceiling Beams
Exposing ceiling beams adds architectural interest and makes the room feel larger. For a budget option, install faux wood beams.
Large Windows or Skylights
Maximize natural light with an enlarged window over the sink or new skylights. This makes the entire room feel brighter and bigger.
Mirror Backsplash
Use mirror tiles or stainless steel for the backsplash to reflect light and create the illusion of more space. It makes dark corners brighter too.
Glass Wall Cabinets
Up against a window, glass wall cabinets almost seem to disappear, removing visual barriers and opening up the view. Use for dishes or glassware.
Mini-Pendant Lights
Outfit the kitchen with several small, low-hanging pendant lights rather than one large fixture. Breaking up the space with small kitchen ideas this way expands it visually.
As recommended by Good Housekeeping, visually opening up a tiny kitchen is key. They suggest tricks like mirrored backsplashes, lighter colors, and glass cabinetry to make the most of small square footage.
Visual Tricks to Make a Small Kitchen Appear Larger
With some clever visual tricks, you can fool the eye into thinking your compact kitchen is more spacious than it is.
Stick with Neutrals
Monochromatic color schemes are best for small spaces. Stick with neutral whites, beiges, and warm gray tones which recede to create the illusion of more room.
Repeating Colors
Unify the look by repeating the same colors in your cabinetry, countertops, backsplash, and flooring. Matching tones will make the space appear seamless. There are many kitchen cabinet color ideas you can count on if you want to have a nice color scheme for your kitchen.
Add Contrast with Black
The contrast of black instantly slims and modernizes a kitchen. Try black counters, black cabinets throughout, or backsplash against light walls and flooring.
Limit Pattern
Visually busy patterns like bold florals or checkerboards will make a small kitchen to feel cramped and cluttered. Instead, use solid colors, simple subway tiles, or neutral marbles.
Direct Eye Upward
Install a backsplash that draws the eye upward, like marble tiles in a herringbone pattern, to make the ceiling seem higher than it is.
Floating Shelves
Line a wall with floating shelves in place of bulky wall cabinets to reduce visual weight and open up the room. Float shelves above counters too.
Bottomline
With some clever solutions, suddenly a cramped, dated kitchen becomes a contemporary showpiece optimized for storage, flow, and style even within the tight square footage.
Focus on changes that increase accessibility and make the compact space feel open, from exposing clean lines to enlarging windows for natural light. Before you know it, you’ll have a Pinterest-worthy kitchen packed with possibilities, no matter the limited walls or square footage.
