Today, people spend more time in their kitchens than they did ten years ago. On average, Americans spend about half an hour a day preparing their food.
Your kitchen doesn’t have to be big to have an impact. Even a small kitchen should feel comfortable and welcoming for family and guests. You can transform your small kitchen into a more functional space with just a few changes.
If you aren’t sure where to start, we’re here to help. Our guide covers the best ideas for remodeling a small kitchen so you can get the kitchen of your dreams.
1. Improving Kitchen Storage
Creative storage is a must when working with a small kitchen. Older kitchens can feel cluttered and cramped if storage is lacking.
When doing your small kitchen remodel, consider adding more cabinets. Base cabinets can add extra storage to kitchen islands. Use these cabinets for plates, platters, and small appliances.
Consider replacing your upper cabinets with ones that have an extended height, especially if you’re dealing with a compact kitchen. You’ll be surprised at how much more you can put in that few extra inches of cabinet space. As a bonus, you’ll add height to your kitchen with these tall cabinets. To help you get exactly what you need, consider working with a supplier of custom cabinets such as Lovech. They’ll be able to build your cabinets to the exact specifications desired, which is particularly helpful if your kitchen does not use traditional dimensions. Take note of any cabinets that are hard to reach or use. Add pull-out shelves or lazy Susan’s to improve their function. Store spices and other small kitchen gadgets here.
Consider adding a pantry to your kitchen remodel. It doesn’t have to be big, but it can offer added customizable storage for many kitchen items.
2. Change the Layout
When remodeling a small kitchen, every inch counts. Some older kitchens have a layout that makes them feel cramped and inefficient. Changing the footprint of your kitchen can make a big difference in how it operates and feels.
First, take stock of any deficiencies your kitchen has. Do you need more storage space? Are the appliances in strange places that limit movement?
You want to consider these problems and fix them in your new kitchen. Make sure to prioritize the floor space between the sink, stove, and fridge. You’ll spend a lot of time moving between these places, so you want them to be easy to access.
Think about what you use your kitchen for most. Do you hang out in your kitchen or love to cook delicious meals? Center your layout around its primary purpose.
3. Update Countertops
Changing the countertops in your kitchen remodel will make a significant final impact. Choose a surface like granite or quartz that can endure daily wear and tear.
These types of countertops are durable, food-safe, and stain-resistant. They come in various colors and patterns so you can find exactly what you’re looking for. Installing these counters will bring a warm, updated look to your small kitchen.
4. Find Multi-Functional Pieces
When you do your kitchen remodel, look for pieces that have several uses. When space is limited, you want every item to have a specific purpose.
If your kitchen has an island, add cabinets that you can get to on both sides. You will gain both storage space and kitchen workspace. In a tiny kitchen, you can use your kitchen island as a dining area or breakfast bar.
5. Add New Finishes
If you want to keep your cabinets, adding new finishes can be an instant update. Consider changing the hardware on your cabinets with a more modern, streamlined version.
Make sure to match the hardware with your appliance finishes. Silver or chrome hardware will look seamless if you have stainless steel appliances.
Are you hoping to jump on the farmhouse bandwagon? If so, give black hardware a try. Black goes with everything and can tie the room together.
6. Open Shelving
Another way to add space to your small kitchen is by removing upper cabinets and adding open shelving. Although you may be nervous about having your dinnerware on display, the result is clean and modern. You may think you won’t have as much space, but you can add as many shelves as you can fit.
Open shelves can open up your kitchen and make it look brighter. Removing the bulk of the cabinets will add more wall space. You will also allow more light to come in from your kitchen windows.
Having open shelving is a fun way to display beautiful dishes. Add baskets for extra storage and paintings for visual interest. This remodeling idea is much more cost-effective than installing brand new cabinets.
7. Bright Colors
You can fake a bigger kitchen with paint! Dark paint and cabinets can make your kitchen seem cluttered and crowded.
Painting your cabinets white will make your kitchen look open and bright. White is a clean color that works well with other textures and finishes.
If you want to add some color, add a fun backsplash or countertop material. Paint your kitchen island a bold color but keep the rest of the cabinets light. Play with the hardware and experiment with different metals and colors.
8. Add a Skylight
During your kitchen remodel, add a skylight to the space. Putting in this feature means less emphasis on artificial light. Natural light makes your kitchen feel more open and airy.
Place your skylight above a kitchen island or countertop. During the day, you’ll never be without natural light to cook from.
The light from a skylight will highlight the elements of your kitchen. Add organic features like wood shelving and plants to keep the kitchen feeling open and airy.
9. Lots of Lights
Extra overhead lights can do the trick if a skylight isn’t in your budget. Putting lights high in your kitchen will draw the eye up and make your room look bigger.
Another trick is to put lights underneath the cabinets. The lighting here will lessen the contrast the shadows the cabinets make. Fewer shadows mean a bigger and brighter-looking kitchen.
Recessed lighting is a popular kitchen light due to its minimalist qualities. Space your recessed lighting three feet apart to illuminate the whole space.
If you have a galley kitchen, add narrow lights to the redesign. Choose flush-mount to keep them out of the way but still bright.
10. Optical Illusions
Even the smallest kitchens can feel larger with a few tricks. Find appliances that have reflective qualities to make your space feel bigger than it is.
Try one of these other reflective surfaces in your kitchen:
- high-gloss paint
- high-shine flooring
- stainless steel appliances
- glass tiles
You can also use transparent surfaces to make your space seem bigger. Add clear plastic chairs to your kitchen island or glass pendants for your lights.
You may think a mirror is better left in a bedroom, but it can be a striking addition to your kitchen. Incorporate one into the decor to make your kitchen feel bigger.
Signs You Need to Remodel Your Kitchen
You spend a lot of time in your kitchen, so you want it to look its best. It can be easy to overlook the signs it’s time for a kitchen facelift. If you are experiencing any of the following, it’s time to remodel your small kitchen.
Not Enough Storage
Do you find yourself stacking your kitchen items in the corners of your counters? If so, it’s time to renovate. Spend time revising the layout and figuring out where you want your extra storage to be.
Kitchen Wear and Tear
Your kitchen sees a lot of traffic each day. It’s normal for it to show its age eventually. Broken cabinets or flooring look unsightly and can be a safety hazard. If your kitchen looks worse for wear, it’s time to renovate.
Outdated Features
Sure, wallpaper and eggshell-colored appliances were once all the rage, but if they’re in your kitchen, it’s time to upgrade. Dated appliances age a kitchen and are energy inefficient. Adding new appliances can save you money over the long run.
How to Remodel Your Small Kitchen
The kitchen is not an inexpensive room to renovate. Having a plan can keep the process smooth and ensure you get the outcome you’re looking for.
Figure Out Your Budget
Before you start, you must know how much money you have to work with. Having a detailed budget will help you stay on track with your renovation.
Start by breaking your budget into categories of what you want to be renovated. Figure out how much money you want to allocate to each category.
When making your budget, be sure to include labor costs and materials. Add in extra money to each line to account for any unexpected charges. A good rule is to save twenty percent of your budget and put it towards emergencies.
This step lets you know how much you can spend on each part of your kitchen renovation. It keeps your budget focused and enables you to see exactly how much you spend as you go.
Use Kitchen Remodeling Services
Most kitchen remodels are not a DIY job. You may be able to do some parts yourself, but other parts you’ll need to leave to the professionals.
Hiring a company like Milan Design Build can help you with everything from the design to the construction. They’ll have expert knowledge on everything that goes into a kitchen renovation.
Decide on the Renovations
Next, you must figure out what areas of your kitchen you will renovate. Your budget will be a big determining factor in how ambitious you can be with your renovation. Adding new lighting will cost significantly less than installing a new skylight.
When planning your renovation, figure out which areas are most inefficient. This will help you pinpoint areas that you want to spend more of your budget on.
What Are Your Priority Items
Figure out which items you can’t live without. You’ll want to tackle those items first to ensure you stay within your budget.
Make a Plan
For your renovation to run with no hiccups, you’ll need to figure out the order in which the renovation should happen. Creating a plan will keep your renovation moving along without annoying stalls.
Nail down the final layout of your new kitchen. Figure out the number of cabinets you need and if you will have an island or not.
Figure out the square footage of your kitchen so you can plan on flooring. You won’t need to put a floor under the island or cabinets, so that can save money.
Make sure you have outlets near any appliances in your new kitchen. You don’t want to put too many large appliances on one circuit, so keep that in mind as you plan.
If you are repainting your kitchen, do that once the layout is in but before appliances and cabinets get installed. You’ll be able to paint much easier than if your kitchen is full.
Figure Out Your Timeline
Without a timeline, your kitchen renovation can feel like it goes on forever. Because you use this part of your house daily, you’ll need to know how long it will be out of commission.
No timeline will be perfect, but it will serve as a helpful guide through your renovation. Factor in extra time to account for any setbacks you may come across.
Create an Amazing Space With These Ideas for Remodeling a Small Kitchen
You don’t have to add an addition to your house to get a kitchen you’ll never want to leave. Use any of these ideas for remodeling a small kitchen to create a gorgeous, modern kitchen you’d love to spend time in.
Once your remodel is finished, you’ll want to show it off! Get ideas for your next gathering in our Lifestyle & Entertainment articles today.