The kitchen has always been the engine of the home. It's where we cook and wash up, and it's our number one destination as we get up out of bed and make our morning coffee. Modern-day kitchens have evolved into large, shiny, and sociable spaces, but if you're frustrated by the lack of space in yours, you're certainly not alone.
The constraints of a petite kitchen just require us to be more inventive with our small kitchen ideas. Plus, we think you can definitely afford to be more daring in a small space than a huge kitchen complete with a kitchen island and American-style fridge. Small kitchens also mean less money spent on cabinetry, potentially allowing more budget to go on lighting and appliances.
1. Lead the eye up with a painted ceiling
A ceiling painted in an unexpected colour will lead the eye up and create the illusion that your small kitchen is taller than it really is. Marianne Shillingford, Creative Director at Dulux(opens in new tab) recommends this trick: ‘Colour in the kitchen is like seasoning in food – walls and units can appear bland without it. If you have a small kitchen, consider adding a dollop of colour to the ceiling rather than the walls, and if you can paint them, add a splash of colour to the units too.
2. Think practically about how you use the space
Whether it's big or small, we all want our kitchen to look beautiful. However, as the most dynamic room in the home, functionality is just as important as looks. Think about how you use your kitchen day to day and what works and doesn't work.
3. Select tiles in soothing natural tones
Carefully selected tiles are your secret weapon when designing or updating a small kitchen. 'Matt tiles in light, muted and natural tones or highly reflective gloss tiles are great ways of creating a sense of space.
4. Create depth with textured walls
If you're tight on space, why not let the walls do the talking? Lisa Slack, Head of Product at Thomas Sanderson suggests using a limewash finish on your walls. 'The stone-like effect allows your kitchen to adopt some texture and project some warmth. Then, you could always add a bookshelf to your kitchen wall and fill it with cookbooks, pots and pans. The open shelves against the textured wall will give a rustic feel to the kitchen and distract from the lack of space.
5. Add a touch of luxury with small details
Whatever type of cook you are the aesthetic is important. Unfussy designs with clean lines tend to work best in these types of spaces, however, you can add a touch of luxury and style by specifying more decorative handles or a statement backsplash and good lighting.