Home and Garden Repairs

If you're renovating a small kitchen, there are a number of ways you can create a practical space without compromising on style. You'll want to minimise clutter in your kitchen, so ensuring you have enough storage space and paring back to the essentials are vital when planning your new kitchen, but there are a number of other steps you can take to create a space you enjoy. Here are a few design tips that can help make your small kitchen seem more spacious and provide the functionality you require.

Keep Cabinetry And Colour Schemes Simple

Utilising light tile or paint colours can make your kitchen seem larger, so avoid patterns or solid blocks of dark colours. The same can be said for your cabinetry, as sleek, contemporary cabinets made with reflective materials prevent the space from looking crowded. Opt for glass or white doors and a stainless steel or light stone worktop area, and choose clean lines over decorative designs.

Integrate Your Appliances

Having standalone appliances will simply make your kitchen look cramped and leave you with less floor space to move around. Integrating your appliances into your kitchen cabinets will make your space look modern and can increase the number of options available to you. For example, an integrated combination microwave oven provides you with all the functionality of a conventional oven, microwave and toaster without taking up the space of three standalone appliances. When integrating appliances means giving up valuable cupboard space, consider whether you can use the appliance to store some frequently used kitchen items when it's not in use. For example, you could store some of your larger pots or bakeware in your oven when you're not using it. (Just make sure you take them out before heating things up!)

Opt For Slimline Appliances And Accessories

Where possible, opt for a slimline version of the appliance or kitchen accessory you require. Consider whether the way you use your kitchen really deems it necessary for full-size appliances. Ask yourself if you could manage fine with a slimline fridge, oven or dishwasher. If you'd love a kitchen island or trolley, opting for a slimline version that offers the ability to store foldaway kitchen stools, while providing you with some additional workspace, can enhance the functionality of your kitchen without compromising on style.

Find Alternatives To Wall-Mounted Cabinets

Wall-mounted cabinets protrude into your workspace and can make your kitchen seem smaller. If possible, use your base cabinets for storage and use open shelving and storage rails to hold items you use regularly. You can prevent open shelves looking cluttered by keeping small items, such as utensils, in lidded storage boxes.

These are just a few ways you can make the most of a small kitchen space. When planning your kitchen renovations, your kitchen designer can work with you to ensure your finished space will be both functional and an enjoyable place for you to spend time.