With urban apartments getting more compact by the day, floor space is often at a premium. If your home comes with a less-than-generous kitchen, you don’t need to worry—quite often, small spaces can turn out to be surprisingly efficient! Especially so, if you have the help of a talented interior designer who knows how to make every inch of space count.
To help you along, we’ve covered all the things you should keep in mind when doing up a compact kitchen. Here are some tiny kitchen ideas you’d love to steal!
Opt for Light Colours
The lighter the shade, the larger your space will look. White cabinets tend to lighten up your space, adding the perception of greater depth. You can also choose to have glass shutters in the upper level, as the added transparency will visually ‘open’ up the room. Again, using high-gloss laminates or acrylic on the shutters helps to reflect light and make a dark, small kitchen look bright.
In the kitchen below, the use of painted glass for the backsplash adds another reflective layer, which is just perfect for a small space.
Maximise Natural Light
If at all possible, maximise the window space by installing floor-to-ceiling windows. This tiny galley kitchen doesn’t appear to be small, because of the ample light that’s streaming in from the far end. Also note the use of light curtains that don’t block the light but still allow for visual privacy. If your kitchen is on a higher floor and you are not likely to have anyone looking in, then you should consider doing away with curtains altogether.
Pick Accessories that Suit Your Needs
Take your time and choose accessories that are functional and suit your style of cooking. Just because every other kitchen features a cutlery tray with compartments, you don’t have to fall in line. If you prefer to corral cutlery in a spoon stand, and to hang ladles on the wall, then that’s what will work for you! Remember, your space is small, so pick your accessories with care.
Eke Out Every Bit of Space
There are plenty of space-saving accessories that will help to maximise every little inch of space in your kitchen. Magic corner units, incredibly efficient pantry units and under-the counter deep drawer pull-outs are multifunctional and very useful to have. Ahead of time, plan what will go into each of the drawers and cabinets in your kitchen, and pick the most appropriate accessory. You might find that in many cases, you will be able to store more items in simple adjustable shelves rather than in drawers, which look stylish but might be less functional!
Add a Loft Near the Ceiling
An easy way to double up on storage space is by adding a second layer of upper-level cabinets, all the way till the ceiling. This extra loft space can be used to store utensils and appliances that you don’t need often. Opt to use lift-up hinges that make it easy to access heavy items, without having to hold on to the shutter with one hand.
In the kitchen here, the loft shutters are fitted with glass panels, helping to keep things light.
Use Horizontal Tiles
Horizontal lines create the illusion of greater length, while vertical lines make an object look taller. This kitchen uses white subway tiles, laid with black grouting to emphasize the horizontal lines—making the space appear wider than it really is.
Declutter and Downsize!
Even as you try to maximise the space in your tiny kitchen, it makes sense to downsize and give away all the things that you don’t need. This includes duplicate items, broken appliances, chipped mugs and anything that you don’t use regularly. Purge your pantry every week and throw out all the stuff that’s past its expiry date. And stop buying groceries in bulk; you simply don’t have place to keep jumbo-sized packets of cereal anymore!
Add Floating Shelves for Most-Used Items
Small jars of spices, frequently used plates and glasses can be arranged on floating shelves rather than inside cabinets. Not only is this the more practical approach, you’ll be surprised at how much space you can save inside cabinets and drawers.
Add Task Lighting
Small kitchens could appear dark and dreary, especially if the window is on the smaller side too. Add LED strips below the counters to throw much-needed light on the countertops, exactly where you need it most! Ambient light on the ceiling and stylish pendant lights above a breakfast counter will play up the level of illumination in the room.
Stick with One Colour
Too many colours will throw a small kitchen off balance. If white is not your style, opt for monochrome shutters, preferable in lighter colours as we have already mentioned. You can always choose to add complementary shades or patterns in the backsplash.
This small kitchen gets it just right, with Shaker-style light grey shutters and a lively Moroccan patterned tile backsplash. The open shelving above the sink keeps the upper-level clutter-free.
Install a Pegboard
A pegboard is always a good idea in any kitchen, and more so when the space is small. You can add hooks and load it up with cups, pans, ladles and even cutting boards, aprons and towels. By hanging up small items on the wall, you can keep the countertops free of clutter.
Need help with creating a small kitchen space you love? It’s time to call in the experts. Get in touch with HomeLane today!
