A small kitchen can seem restricting, especially if you love to cook and bake recipes from scratch, or you live at a small apartment. These things, unfortunately, come hand-in-hand with a need for ample cabinet and worktop space, which can cause a problem if your kitchen’s a little smaller than desired!
But, there are things that can be done. We’ve compiled some of our favourite design ideas that will help combat your small space and have you feeling like Head Chef in no time.
Back to basics
If you’re planning a complete redesign, don’t feel restricted by your kitchen’s current layout. The key to making your small kitchen seem bigger is creating an efficient, clever space with maximum storage. Galley layouts are ideal as long, wall to wall cabinets design will give you optimum storage and worktop space, plus you avoid leaving any dead areas trapped in the corners of your kitchen.
If you’ve got the room, try incorporating a breakfast bar into your design. The beauty of a breakfast bar is that it gives you a dining option that can also double as an extra worktop. However, if you’re desperate to include a proper table in your kitchen, consider investing in a folding or extending model. This means you can have the benefit of a proper dining table when guests are over, whilst still saving on space when it’s not in use.
Styling the space
A neutral colour will help to open out a very small room. Consider painting your table and chairs the same tone as your walls as this will help make your kitchen look spacious and unified.
Open shelving will add interest to your design and is a stylish way of adding extra storage if you’re not keen on using tall cabinets.
When it comes to choosing your cabinet design doors, handleless and gloss designs will keep the room streamlined and make it appear more spacious as they reflect light.
When your apartment floor space is very limited, you can look to your walls to get the most out of your room and towers offer the best use of height. Pull-out and pull-and-swing accessories are available to make storing areas more accessible – even at the back of the cupboard. This is a great addition for on a budget cabinet design.
It’s all about the Accessories
Accessories take up the general bulk of most kitchens, so learning to organise and minimalize your collection will help your small kitchen appear more spacious. When it comes to your electric and hand appliances you need to be realistic.
Choose smaller and more compact options, combinational machines like blenders and mixers are great for this. Try and condense your collection on a budget. If there’s an appliance you hardly ever use then think about storing it elsewhere, perhaps in a loft or cupboard where it’s out of the way, or even donate it to a friend or local charity.
If you’re cupboard and shelves are all full, then hanging pots, mugs and tea towels onto your walls, or the edges of your shelves, is a brilliant ideas to create a simple and effective storage solution that also looks great. Hanging hooks onto open shelves and cupboards is also extremely low cost on a budget and very simple DIY, so what have you got to lose?
A washer-dryer may be a good choice for those that need a dryer at apartment, or you could choose an integrated fridge freezer to relieve the need for two separate units. You could even select a hob with integrated extraction to avoid installing a large cooker hood.
Lighting ideas
Good lighting is a must-have for small kitchens. If possible, make the most of your natural light.
For those putting together small kitchen extension ideas, consider adding a large window to your plans to help your room feel bright and airy, adding to the sense of space.
If you’re not planning to extend, try adding roller or Venetian blinds instead of curtains. Avoid placing ornaments or plants on the windowsills, as these will decrease the amount of natural light emitted into your space.
For artificial lighting, avoid using fussing light fittings unless you have a very high ceiling. Spotlighting is usually your best option, as these ensure an uncluttered feel.
If you need some help to about small modern kitchen ideas on a budget, don’t hesitate to contact 9Creation, as an interior design firm, 9Creation approach to each project renders one of a kind spaces, which distil essence and spirit of the individual.
