Paint It White
White is your best friend in a small
kitchen.
It reflects light, which enhances the sense of space and makes the walls seem
to recede. When you carry the white from the cabinetry to the countertops,
walls, and ceiling, you create a seamless space without edges or boundaries to
stop the eye. Use several shades of white and combine contrasting textures to
keep an all-white room from feeling sterile. Recessed-panel cabinets
and crown molding create subtle shadows that add
interest, too.
Use a Low-Contrast Color Scheme
When there's little difference
between the colors of the walls, the countertops, the
cabinetry, and the woodwork, your eye glides over the surfaces looking for a
place to rest, and that movement tricks you into thinking the space is larger
than it really is. Here, the cabinets, backsplash, and flooring are close in color value
-- a soft gray-green -- so the eye doesn't trip over sudden shifts from dark to
light. The effect is serene and expansive.
Replace Cabinet Doors with Glass
Making a small kitchen
feel larger is a matter of fooling the eye and tricking the brain into thinking
the space is bigger. One way to do that is to remove some cabinet doors or replace the solid fronts with
glass. This pulls the eye past the cabinet frames into the depths of the cabinets,
so the walls feel farther away. This trick is most effective if you can keep
what's in the cabinets orderly and color-coordinated. Clutter tends to make a
room feel crowded.
Welcome the Light
Lots of natural light enlarges any
space. You may have no choice about the number and placement of windows in your
kitchen,
but maximize the light you do have by keeping window treatments minimal. Here, a valance
softens the architecture and adds a dressy note to the kitchen, but it doesn't
block the light. If you want privacy, an opaque shade like this does the trick
while still letting in light.
Slenderize the Furnishings
A small kitchen
dictates small-scale furnishings, but take it a step further by choosing a work
island, bar chairs, or stools that are visually lightweight, such as these
metal ones. Clean lines don't distract the eye, and the open table and chair
legs let you see the floor and walls beyond, making the room feel bigger.
Streamline Storage
Small kitchens
can have storage challenges. Countertops often become
storage areas, but eliminating clutter can help any space feel larger. Use this
trick in your kitchen and reclaim lost storage space with a corner appliance
garage. The cabinet conceals coffeemakers, toasters, and more but keeps them
easy to access for food prep.
