6 Ways To Make a Small Kitchen Sizzle
Not everyone has the budget for a designer kitchen or the space for a large, open-plan kitchen, but we can all employ some of the clever tricks designers use to make any space look bigger and better.
It’s about stretching both your budget and imagination to make the most of all the inventive products and ideas at your disposal. Here are 6 ways to make a small kitchen sizzle.
1. Maximise wall space
You might like the minimalist look of a kitchen with virtually no wall cabinets to clutter the space, but when you’re trying to maximise space and storage in a small kitchen, you simply can’t afford the luxury of bare walls. Mixing up open shelves with top cabinets visually lightens a space, while still giving you plenty of room to store cups, glasses, recipe books, jars of food, etc.
2. Get smart with built-in storage
These days, companies have got super clever with storage solutions that make sure there’s no dead space in your kitchen cabinets. There’s slide-out slimline pantries, carousels for a corner cabinet, deep drawers with special compartments, inventive ideas for rubbish and recyclables… It’s worth spending the extra dollars to get tailored solutions that ensure every bit of space is functional and utilised.
3. Let it shine
It’s not just mirrors that give the illusion of space; any glossy surface will bounce around the light. A mirrored splashback is a surefire way to instantly add a third dimension, especially if you can use it to reflect a leafy garden or courtyard view. Otherwise think about glossy wall tiles, a glass splashback, gloss cabinetry, a polished stone benchtop or polished floorboards – basically any surface that will capture and reflect light.
4. Keep it light and white
Dark-coloured cabinetry and benchtops look fantastic in the right setting, but can visually close in a space. In a small kitchen, think light, neutral colours and ways to inject as much natural light as possible, whether it’s a window, glass doors or skylight. When in doubt, take your cue from popular Hamptons kitchens, which favour blonde timbers and a pale colour scheme.
5. Keep it compact
In the same way there are plenty of inventive storage ideas out there, appliance manufacturers have come up with compact solutions for just about everything, from single-drawer or slimline dishwashers to 300mm wide cooktops and 550mm wide fridges. You can also choose single-bowl sinks and multi-functional appliances.
6. Make it clutter-free
Nothing makes a small space feel claustrophobic like loads of unnecessary clutter, especially if there’s not much bench space to start with. So think about an appliance cupboard to stash away things like your kettle, toaster and blender. Go for a small stove-top espresso maker that you can pack away, rather than a fixed benchtop machine.
