The kitchen is the heart of any home, but what to do when that heart is a small one? These small kitchen design tips can help homeowners to optimize smaller rooms and elevate their existing space. By maximizing space with innovative storage solutions, suitable color schemes and lighting systems, streamlined furniture, and compact appliances, and integrating lighter countertops and hues, small kitchens can pack a punch and become the beating heart of any home.
They say that dynamite comes in small packages. This guide explores some small kitchen design tips to transform your space and deliver big, dynamic results.
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The Magic of Small Kitchens
In the modern world, small kitchens are commonplace for many of us. While we might have dreams of large kitchen spaces built to entertain many guests and house large appliances, big kitchens don’t work for every building or lifestyle. Small kitchens also have many surprising benefits and can be a brilliant canvas on which you bring your kitchen dreams to life.
Smaller kitchens — when expertly curated and designed — allow homeowners to shop smarter, lessen food waste, maximize their existing space, work effectively, organize properly, reduce clutter, and easily access items. They’re also much easier to clean, which is an added bonus in our book!
If you’re ready to make the most of your smaller kitchen, explore these expert small kitchen design tips by our design experts, built to inspire!
Maximizing Space
One of the biggest challenges when it comes to making the most of your small kitchen is maximizing the existing space without changing the layout of the room. Happily, some incredible design hacks can achieve this, including the following tricks:
- Choose multi-functional furniture items: Multi-functional furniture items are an excellent interior design hack for optimizing smaller kitchens. Consider installing a kitchen island (fixed or on wheels) with cupboards along the sides. This works as a dining room table when you add bar stools, a work surface when you’re prepping meals, and a brilliant storage vessel for pots, chopping boards, plates, glasses, and even spices. You might also consider fold-away tables that function as counters or tables when needed and can be easily put away when you don’t.
- Opt for vertical storage solutions: Make the most of unused vertical space by adding additional floating shelves to unused wall spaces and integrating risers into your pantry to store additional goods. Furthermore, you can embrace open shelving on blank stretches of wall and use empty space for storing spices, tea towels, knives, and other everyday kitchen items. When it comes to small kitchens, walls offer ample opportunities to get creative.
- Embrace the inside of cabinet doors: A whole world of possibility exists inside cabinet doors. Add shelving for spices and herbs or small hooks for smaller utensils, measuring cups, and hand towels. Hidden storage solutions keep your small kitchen clutter-free and effectively maximize unused space.
Regarding small kitchen design tips, maximizing your space can be done pretty easily and without having to fork out a fortune.
Lighting and Color Schemes
It’s been said that “Good lighting design can make a space, but great lighting design can transform it.” This can be said for color too. Lighting and color can elevate your kitchen, no matter how small.
When it comes to small kitchen design tips, make the most of natural and artificial light and color. By embracing natural light and choosing clever color palettes that create the feeling of more space, you can enjoy the feeling of a bigger room. Our top design tips include:
- Make the most of natural light: Welcoming natural light is one of the best small kitchen design tips to boost a smaller area. Keep windows clear of clutter so that more natural light can stream in, and avoid the use of heavy curtains or blinds that prohibit natural sunlight. If possible, consider installing an opening skylight in the ceiling. Skylights will increase the overall light in the kitchen without hindering your privacy and improve air freshness and quality when open.
- Choose lighter, brighter wall colors: Light, bright wall shades, including creams, pastel hues, elegant sage greens, canary yellows, and farmhouse blues, can revitalize small kitchens and create the illusion of more space. Monochromatic or two-tone shades can also add extra dimension, making the space look bigger and bolder.
- Select lighter countertops and cabinets: Lighter, natural shades can also be integrated into various parts of the kitchen. Choose lighter palettes, splashbacks, cabinets, and countertops. Our classic granite, marble, and quartz countertops come in a myriad of natural, light tones that can enhance smaller kitchen spaces, all the while adding a touch of sophistication and quality design to the area. We will happily advise if you’re in doubt about the best materials and color scheme for your countertops.
- Integrate more artificial light: While embracing natural light is an excellent way to boost smaller spaces, you can add additional lighting sources to magnify the room. Illuminate cabinets with in-cabinet lights or add a bespoke pendant light to the ceiling. Consider dimmable lights that can be adjusted depending on the mood for extra ambiance. Keep things bright while you’re cooking, and dim them when you have guests. This versatility adds added dimension and diversity to your small space, creating the feeling of a more dynamic room.
The right lighting and color scheme can dramatically transform your kitchen and help you achieve a look you love!
Furnishing and Appliances
Selecting the right furniture and appliances is one of our greatest small kitchen design tips. Opt for clean lines, minimalistic design, and compact appliances that don’t take up too much room. Big, bulky ovens, fridges, and washers can make the space feel incredibly small and cluttered, so select narrow, stylized appliances where possible.
Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and you don’t have to transform your kitchen overnight. Always work within your means and keep an eye out for specials, discounts, and promotions on quality appliances that will suit your smaller space.
- Streamline your furniture selection: Minimalist, elegant designs are ideal for small kitchens. Characterized by clean lines, these pieces avoid cluttering the space and causing visual overcrowding. Opt for chairs or stools with slimmer profiles and pop them under countertops when not in use. You might also consider placing washers and dryers under countertops or integrating gas hobs into counters.
- Invisacook countertops: Our Invisacook countertops are another great solution for small-kitchen living. They offer innovative yet subtle ways of cooking and are perfect for small kitchens since they’re essentially “invisible cooktops”. We install these cooktops underneath your counter so that there’s no sign of them until you press a special button that transforms it from a countertop to a cooktop. This is ideal for smaller areas where every inch of counter space is precious. These systems integrate with our porcelain countertops thanks to the incredible heat-resistant properties of this material. We offer a range of color options to suit all design needs, and since porcelain is completely stainless, thanks to being non-porous, it’s perfect for getting creative in the kitchen. Reach out to us if you’re keen on learning more.
- Choose compact appliances: Compact appliances can save huge amounts of space in small kitchens. Consider slim-profile fridges and stoves or multi-functional appliances that combine several functions at once, such as combined washer/dryer units or combo microwaves with convection ovens. When smaller appliances such as toasters and blenders aren’t in use, consider making use of vertical space or placing them on floating shelves.
- Have a minimalist mindset: Smaller kitchens can’t hold as many items as bigger ones, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Minimalism has been praised as a brilliant way to manage stress, reduce spending, and promote greater levels of well-being. Take stock of the items you love and use often, and consider donating those that no longer serve you or, “spark joy” as suggested by the Queen of decluttering, Marie Kondo.
Small kitchen design tips can help you choose the best appliances and furnishings for your smaller kitchen space.
Decor and Finishing Touches
Just because your kitchen is small doesn’t mean that it has to lack in terms of design. Small kitchens can be as bold and brilliant as you like, and delightful decor and on-trend finishing touches can ensure that they embody your unique style and personality. These design tips for small kitchens add that certain je nai se quoi to the kitchen while keeping space confinements in mind.
- Integrate lighter, reflective surfaces: Bright, reflective surfaces are twofold. They look elegant and enhance the overall design, but they also reflect the light and bounce brighter hues into the space. Explore our gorgeous splashbacks, which are ideal for small kitchen living, or consider reflective cabinets that illuminate your space.
- Keep things clutter-free: Clutter is one of the biggest hindrances to a stylish small kitchen. Clutter can become incredibly overwhelming and make smaller rooms look even more confined. Mindfully declutter your small kitchen space regularly and use innovative storage solutions like stackable containers. Where possible, keep kitchen surfaces clear and wipe them down regularly so they look as good as new.
- Include pops of color, texture, and art: Consider adding statement pops of color in the form of signature walls or colorful cabinets. You can also add vibrant artwork to free wall spaces, pop plants on floating shelves, and intermix diverse textures in the form of marble or stone countertops and textured tiled splashbacks. If you have additional wall space, consider adding a big mirror to further reflect light and create the illusion of a bigger space.
Decor touches can be integrated slowly. Whether it’s a simple pop of color, a stunning hanging plant, or a personalized splashback in tiles that delight you, make your small kitchen space your own!
Enhance Your Kitchen with Chic and Stylish Countertops from Granite & Marble Solutions
We’re committed to helping our clients curate their dream kitchen, no matter how big or small. These small kitchen design tips allow homeowners to make the most of smaller spaces and create a kitchen that inspires them.
Granite, marble, porcelain, and quartz countertops add durability and aesthetic charm to any small kitchen, heightening the space and creating a robust countertop to prepare meals, store appliances, and entertain guests.
If you’re excited by the prospect of transforming your small kitchen, the team at Granite & Marble Solutions is here to offer you expert advice and walk you through every part of your kitchen transformation journey. We love bringing your vision to life, and we’re always ready to go that extra mile.
The process is pretty simple. Visit one of our immaculate showrooms or browse our various products and ranges online. You’re then welcome to schedule a consultation with one of our friendly team members, and we will chat with you about your unique preferences and kitchen goals. Thereafter, we’ll measure the space using precise laser template technology and show you the plans for approval. Once you’re happy with the design, we’ll expertly craft your chosen countertops in your desired material and shade and expertly install them.
We strive to craft and install your premium countertop within 5 days, and all products come with a 1-year warranty for added peace of mind.
Request a FREE, zero-obligation quote today.
