The best ways to have a big impact on a small cooking space!
Thinking about how best to make the kitchen in your small house/apartment look nice?
Looking for the top design ideas for your small kitchen interior?
Wondering how to design a small cooking space?
Then this is the blog post that you’re looking for!
Tips for decorating and designing a small kitchen space
Just because your kitchen is small doesn’t mean that it has to look cramped or that there is no scope for tastefully decorating it.
By focusing on storage, efficiency, and innovative visual elements, you can create a cooking space to love, despite its limited floor area.
Here are 14 decor tips to help you, whether you’re planning a new interior design, renovating an existing cooking space, or just updating your kitchen.
Choose open shelves over upper cabinets
In a small kitchen, removing upper cabinets and replacing them with open shelving can create a more spacious feel.
Upper cabinets especially don’t make sense when you are working with a room with low ceilings.
However, it’s important to avoid overcrowding the shelves.
Instead, display a mix of attractive dishware or glassware, with a few decorative items such as vases, cutting boards, framed art, or plants.
Go big on colours
A quick and inexpensive way to update a small kitchen is to change the colour.
White is a popular choice as it can make a space appear larger.
For a more vibrant look, yellow creates a warm and inviting atmosphere.
For a more serene feel, pale green or teal shades can be added to a white kitchen, and paired with natural elements such as plants or floral arrangements.
Tip: If there is a pleasant view out of the window, you can try to recreate some elements of that with your palette.
Opt for custom hardware
Custom hardware is a great way to add a unique touch to a small kitchen.
It allows you to tailor the design to your specific needs and preferences, and can help to maximise space and functionality.
Custom drawers and pull-out shelves, for example, can make use of otherwise wasted space, while custom kitchen cabinetry can be designed to fit into tight spaces or around appliances.
Additionally, the hardware can be made to match your existing decor or to complement a new design scheme.
To get custom hardware, especially custom kitchen cabinets, made for your small kitchen, please contact our furniture making team.
Get an area rug
The colour and patterns of an area rug will add a distinctive design character to your kitchen without taking up space on the walls or counters.
Moreover, an area rug can make the room feel like a complete space, which is especially important if your kitchen is part of a larger room.
Place a large rug in the middle of the room, or smaller ones along the main path through it.
Natural colours like that of a jute rug will be easy to clean for certain kinds of messes like a coffee spill.
Add accessories
Accessories can play an important role in a small kitchen. They can add charm and personality to the space, while also being functional and practical.
Some examples of accessories that can be useful in a small kitchen include:
- Shelf organisers: These can help to keep items such as spices, jars, and dry goods organised and easily accessible.
- Hanging pots and pans: This can free up cabinet space and make it easier to get what you need when cooking.
- Over-the-sink cutting board: This can provide an extra food preparation surface when counter space is limited.
- Wall-mounted pot rack: This can keep pots and pans within easy reach while saving cabinet space.
Overall, accessories can help to make a small kitchen more efficient, while also adding a certain style to it.
Use mirrors
Mirrors can make a room feel bigger which can be a big help in making your small kitchen look larger.
However in our experience as interior designers in Bangladesh, people usually associate mirrors with bedrooms, living rooms and bathrooms.
It really is a shame that kitchen mirrors aren’t more popular.
For example, a big mirror on one wall can look really nice, especially when it reflects a table or counter that is next to it.
You can also use mirrors on the wall behind the sink or on the cabinet doors to create the same effect.
Get a kitchen island
Even if you have a small kitchen, you can still have an island.
There are islands available which are slim enough to fit inside small rooms or spaces. Many also have wheels, which means you can move them if required.
You can move it to the side or even in the dining room or living room when you have guests. Another option is to choose an island with thin legs that you can pull up stools to and use it as a bar or for breakfast seating.
Go for bright textiles
Using bright window coverings or textiles in a small kitchen can be a great way to add colour and visual interest to the space.
Bright colours can make a small kitchen feel larger, and draw the eye towards the windows, which can help to create the illusion of more space.
Additionally, window coverings or textiles can be used to add pattern and texture to the space, which can help to create interest and visual depth.
Some examples of window coverings or textiles that could be used in a small kitchen include brightly coloured curtains, or a colourful Roman shade.
Pair those with matching or coordinating objects like bright dish towels, potholders, or place mats.
Declutter
Removing clutter will make your small cooking space one where you are making the best possible use of whatever space is available, and make it more functional.
The first step in decluttering is to get rid of anything that is no longer needed or used, such as expired food, broken appliances, and duplicate utensils.
- This will free up valuable space and make it easier to organise the remaining items.
Next, consider the layout of your kitchen and determine which items are used most frequently.
- These items should be placed in easily accessible locations, such as on countertops or in lower cabinets.
- Items that are used less frequently can be stored in upper cabinets or in a pantry.
Opt for smaller appliances
First things first: Smaller doesn’t mean less useful or low-quality. Especially nowadays, with high-quality small appliances available.
Also, you can specifically shop for multi-purpose appliances which serve two or more functions while taking up space for a single appliance (or a little bit more). Like…
- 2-in-1 toaster ovens: These appliances can act as both a toaster and an oven, making them a great space-saving option for small kitchens.
- Combination microwave-convection ovens: These appliances can be used as a microwave, convection oven, and even as a browning unit, providing multiple functions in a single compact appliance.
- Multi-cookers: These appliances can be used as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, and even as a steamer, making them a versatile option for small kitchens.
- Air fryers: These appliances can be used to fry, bake, roast, and even grill food, using hot air circulation to cook food in a healthy way.
Use light fixtures
Use light fixtures to draw attention to specific areas of the kitchen and make it feel more open and airy.
- One way to achieve this is by using overhead lighting. Recessed or track lighting can be used to create a bright, even light throughout the kitchen. Pendant lights can also be used to draw the eye up and create the illusion of more height.
- Another option is to use under-cabinet lighting to brighten up countertops and work spaces. This can be especially useful for tasks such as food preparation and cooking.
- Using a combination of different light fixtures and sources can also be very effective in a small kitchen. For example, using a combination of ambient, task and accent lighting will create a dynamic and well-lit space.
Overall, using light fixtures in a small kitchen can help to make the space feel larger and more functional, while also adding visual interest and style.
Go for concealed storage
Concealed storage refers to storing items in a way that they are not visible, which can help to create a more streamlined, clutter-free look.
It is an effective way to make the most of a small kitchen’s space.
Some examples of concealed storage solutions include:
- Pull-out shelves: These can be installed in cabinets or the pantry, which can be pulled out to reveal the stored items and pushed back in when not in use.
- Sliding cabinet doors: These can be used to conceal items such as small appliances, dishes or pantry items, which can be slid out when in use and pushed back in when not.
- Concealed storage islands: These are kitchen islands that have hidden storage compartments, which can be used to store items such as pots, pans, and cutting boards, without taking up valuable counter space.
- Built-in organisers: These can be installed in drawers, cabinets or pantry to keep items such as utensils, spices or dishes neatly organised and easily accessible.
By using concealed storage solutions, you can make the most of your small kitchen’s space, while also keeping it organised and free of clutter.
This can make the room feel larger, more functional, and more visually appealing.
Add artwork
Adding artwork to a small kitchen adds colour, pattern, and texture, which can make the space feel larger and more inviting.
Art pieces can also be a great way to personalise the space and make it more visually interesting. Select unique art that reflects your personality.
This might surprise you, but art originally meant for other rooms can look great in your kitchen.
Some things to remember while choosing what you want to add:
Given that you’re working with a small kitchen, it’s crucial to consider scale.
- Too large pieces can overwhelm the space while too small art can get lost and even make the entire room look small.
You can use artwork to create a focal point in the kitchen.
- For example, hanging a large painting above the stove can draw attention to a key cooking space.
- You can also create a gallery wall by mixing and matching different pieces, including paintings, prints, and photographs.
A third option is to incorporate artistic elements into functional objects, like using patterned tiles as a backsplash.
Add plants
Plants are some of the best decorative elements for any room. They will make your kitchen come alive with colours.
They are also known for improving the air quality in a room, and should be able to make the kitchen look less cramped and more airy and inviting.
Here are some ways to add plants to your small kitchen:
- Hanging plants: These can be hung from the ceiling or a wall-mounted planter to save counter space.
- Shelving plants: These can be placed on open shelves to draw the eye upward and create visual interest.
- Vase plants: Use a colourful piece of pottery (a form of artwork) as a vase for plants to be kept on the counter.
- Window-sill plants: These can be placed on a windowsill to take advantage of natural light.
Tip: Please remember to consider how much natural light your kitchen can receive when selecting plants. Some plants do well in low-light rooms; others don’t.
Design tips to make a small kitchen look beautiful – conclusion
In conclusion, small kitchens can be challenging to design, but with the right approach, they can be just as functional and stylish as larger kitchens.
The 14 interior design tips covered in this blog post can help you to make the most of your small kitchen space and create a functional, beautiful, and inviting space that you’ll love to cook and entertain in.
From incorporating bright window coverings and textiles, to adding artwork, plants, and concealed storage, there are many ways to make a small kitchen feel larger and more inviting.
Remember to keep things simple, and make use of every inch of space, and don’t be afraid to get creative.
With these tips, you’ll be on your way to designing a small kitchen that you’ll love for years to come.
