Small Kitchen Remodeling Ideas

Just because you have a small kitchen doesn’t mean you can’t revitalize it with a remodel. Whether your kitchen is in need of repairs or you simply want a new look, focusing on specific goals for your kitchen remodel will help you determine the best strategies to accomplish those goals and make the most of your small kitchen, while avoiding unnecessary kitchen renovation costs.

Create The Illusion Of Space

You can create the illusion of space in a small kitchen by using paint colors strategically and playing around light distribution in your kitchen through windows and doors.

If part of your kitchen remodel includes repainting cabinets and cupboards, you may want to take the opportunity to choose a paint color like robin’s-egg blue that will make your space appear larger by being bright without being loud. You could also paint your cabinets white, painting your walls a pastel color for a pleasing contrast that maintains an element of simplicity so your kitchen won’t look too crowded.

If you are making structural changes to the walls, separating your kitchen from the outside of your house, installing large windows, glass doors or doors with glass panels will allow the most natural light possible into your kitchen, making it feel airy and spacious. You can always include curtains for times when you want less light or the choice to utilize other lighting options.

Make the Most of Storage Space

Even with less available space you can still store your kitchen necessities as long as you are creative with the way that you use that space. If you are open to different storage alternatives, replace your cabinets with open space where you can incorporate unique ways to store your kitchen necessities, including not just shelves for dishes but also magnets or hooks for cooking utensils, cutlery, pots and pans, and pot holders. Pots and pans can look elegant when hung on hooks above your kitchen island if you don’t have a lot of extra wall space.

Think outside the box of normal storage solutions. Narrow spaces in between lower cabinets can be designed to pull out and store small necessities like spices or baking extracts, leaving more room inside other cabinets for dishes other foods and condiments that don’t need to be refrigerated. You can also use a narrow pull-out space like this to store trash or recyclables out of sight, opening up more floor space.

A kitchen island also provides extra storage space that can be built into the island. If you want a kitchen nook by the window, space under the nook can also be designed for storage. No matter which features you will be incorporating into your kitchen remodel, if storage is your focus, think about how those features could do double-duty to provide more storage space for you.

Unite Form and Function

Whether your kitchen is the place where you primarily cook, bake, eat or entertain, the qualities of your kitchen should serve those goals. Incorporate features in your kitchen that have dual purposes as much as possible, too.

Instead of flooding your kitchen with overhead lighting, situate small hanging lights for lighting in the areas where you will be preparing food. If your dining area is in your kitchen, you may want some atmospheric lighting placed there. In general, focus lighting in areas of the kitchen where it will serve your needs best.

If you cook or bake a lot, a kitchen island will come in handy when you need space to spread out appliances and bowls with pre-measured ingredients when you want everything mise en place. A kitchen island can function as both a work space and dining area if you leave room for some stools where a few people can gather around for dinner, drinks or socializing. Stools can be tucked into a space under the island when not in use, giving you room to prepare food before your guests arrive.

If you are an avid collector and have occasional dinner parties, floating shelves or open shelving built into the walls can come in handy to display your collectibles to guests without taking up a lot of space. This kind of shelving also allows easy access for holding collectibles or passing them around the room. Open shelving can multi-task as storage for dishes as well as collectible display, giving your kitchen a charming yet functional personality.

Want to learn more about the cost of a kitchen renovation? See our article, Cost Of A Kitchen Remodel: A Guide To Help You Save

To get started on your small kitchen renovation find a qualified kitchen remodeling contractor in your area.