Even with limited space, you can make small kitchen look bigger and feel inviting and homey. Turning a small kitchen into a space that feels open and welcoming can be a bit of a challenge. However, with a little creativity and some clever design tricks, it’s absolutely possible to make the most of your kitchen while keeping it stylish and functional.
From utilizing light and airy colors to incorporating reflective materials, countless innovative ideas cater to diverse tastes, whether you lean toward a minimalist modern aesthetic or a cozy classic vibe.
In this post, we’ll explore 21 creative ways to make your small kitchen look bigger, brighter, and more welcoming—proving that even the tiniest kitchens can pack a big punch!
How Do I Make A Small Kitchen Look Bigger?
Here are 21 creative kitchen designs from our designers and artists to open your small kitchen.
1. Light Colors and Monochromatic Palette:
By reflecting light, kitchens with light-colored walls, cabinets, and countertops seem more open and airy. Staying with a monochromatic color palette can help make a tiny kitchen feel more expansive and prevent eye fatigue. Painting the upper cabinets the same color as the walls will create a more cohesive look in the kitchen.
Moreover, to accentuate specific characteristics and create the impression of depth, you can also apply subtle blue tints. You may paint the ceiling of a tiny kitchen a light blue to make it look bigger. This will draw attention to the ceiling height and create the illusion of more space.
2. Low Contrast Color Schemes:
Using the same colors on walls, tables, cabinets, and woodwork prevents strong differences and makes the space feel larger. By using colors that are close in tone, you can create a balanced and calming look. Furthermore, you can create depth and interest by using light, medium, and dark shades of the same color instead of different colors. Light colors make a room look larger and brighter, while dark colors add depth and help things fade into the background.
3. Mirrored Surfaces and Reflective Materials:
Glossy surfaces, glass tiles, stainless steel appliances, and shining cabinetry are reflective materials that may make a kitchen look brighter and more spacious. Mirrored backsplashes are a great way to make a tiny kitchen seem more open and airy.
Mirrored surfaces also provide a contemporary and chic aesthetic for interior design. While giving a calming ambiance to your kitchen, the strategically placed mirrors will also reflect the outside view, bridging the gap between the indoors and the outside.
4. Transparent Furniture:
Incorporating transparent elements in kitchen design effectively enhances the perception of space and openness. Transparent objects, such as clear chairs, floating islands, backless bar stools, and glass pendant lighting, enhance visibility and foster a perception of spaciousness. Cabinets featuring glass doors enhance spatial depth, creating an illusion of a larger kitchen. Utilizing translucent materials can convert your kitchen into a more contemporary, expansive, and welcoming environment.
5. Increase Natural Light:
Adding large windows or skylights to your kitchen can let in plenty of natural light and make it feel more spacious. Simple window treatments, free of heavy drapes, will allow more natural light to enter your space. A skylight may be a great addition to a small kitchen since it lets light shine up and gives the illusion of more height and space.
If you would like the light to pour in freely from the window, keep the cabinets out of the way. To enhance natural light, think about adding glass doors between your kitchen and the outdoors. French doors, in particular, are an excellent choice.
6. Vertical Lines:
Incorporating vertical lines in the kitchen creates the illusion of increased width and height. Wall tiles are installed vertically to direct the eye upward, giving the impression of a larger ceiling and more room. By bringing the kitchen cabinets all the way to the ceiling, you create the illusion of more height by drawing a vertical line. Backsplash tiles arranged vertically elevate this style to the next level.
7. Horizontal Lines:
Horizontal patterns effectively enhance the perception of space in a kitchen by drawing the eye across the room’s width. To make a room seem larger, try laying down parquet or horizontal flooring stripes. Another way to achieve this appearance is to use carpets or rugs with horizontal stripes. A small space might look considerably larger with the shelves laid horizontally. Horizontal stripe wallpapers are another great choice for creating the illusion of more space. This effect is emphasized, particularly when the stripes are narrow and pale in tone.
8. Open Shelves or Glass Cabinets:
Installing open shelves or glass cabinets in lieu of higher cabinets in the kitchen can enhance the perception of airiness and spaciousness. The upper cabinets don’t seem as heavy with open shelves, creating the illusion of greater space, and floating shelves give the kitchen a modern, airy feel.
Additionally, open shelving allows natural light to enter the room, making it feel brighter. Putting things on open shelves is another way to make your kitchen feel more like home. However, remember that items displayed on open shelves are prone to dust accumulation and require more frequent cleaning.
9. Minimalist Approach:
To make your kitchen look more organized and spacious, you can start by choosing the right countertops materials and keeping them free of unnecessary items. Having a minimalist kitchen means storing everything in its designated spot, leaving plenty of vacant wall space, and making excellent use of concealed storage alternatives.
Additional elements that support this minimalist style include integrated appliances and basic designs. Keep things basic when decorating a tiny kitchen by avoiding busy patterns and colors. If you want to live more simply in the kitchen, one piece of advice is to keep only the things you need out of sight.
10. Combined Devices:
Multi-purpose appliances help you optimize your kitchen space. Kitchen plans and backsplash decisions are often made without considering combination appliances. Still, the kitchen’s usefulness and functionality must always be prioritized. Choose practical and functional solutions to make the most of your living space.
11. Built-in Appliances:
Built-in appliances that match the cabinets give small kitchens a more stylish and organized look. Since built-in appliances are flush with cabinets or countertops, they are easy on the eyes and make the kitchen look more spacious. Counter-depth models are ideal for saving space, especially in small kitchens. Built-in appliances help make the kitchen look larger by providing integrity.
12. Thin Cabinets:
Thinner base cabinets save floor space in your kitchen and make it feel larger. Because these cabinets have less depth than standard cabinets, they allow for more movement in the kitchen and make the space feel larger. It’s also very important that everything in your kitchen fits the scale. Even small details can make a big difference.
13. Extending cabinets to the ceiling:
In the kitchen, extending the cabinets up to the ceiling provides more storage space and makes the space appear higher and wider. Especially in small kitchens or kitchens with low ceilings, leaving no space between the cabinets and the ceiling makes the kitchen feel complete and modern.
Adding slats to the top of the cabinets to make the ceiling look higher and direct the eye upwards is also very effective. You can also add depth to the space by placing decorative objects on top of the cabinets, making your kitchen more stylish, spacious, and useful.
14. Lighting Layers:
Proper, multi-layered kitchen lighting is crucial for creating the illusion of greater light and space. Spotlights, under-counter lighting, pendant lights, and sconces are all great ways to light up your kitchen. Lighting up your kitchen equally is as easy as recessed lights, also known as pot lighting and other fixtures. On the other hand, if you want the room to seem more open and inviting, you should avoid big and elaborate lights.
15. Single Sink:
Using single-sink is a great space-saving tip for smaller kitchens. Single kitchen sinks provide extra room and are often deeper in design, making them easier to use for bigger kitchen jobs like cleaning pots. Butler (open-front) sink types, in particular, are a beautiful and modern addition to any kitchen.
16. Movable Island:
A mobile kitchen island’s portability and compact storage make it ideal for busy cooks on the go. Open sight lines, which give more space, can still be achieved in a kitchen with movable islands. Even in the most cramped kitchens, a moveable island may provide much-needed storage and worktop space. Mobile islands in an industrial style are both functional and visually beautiful. They allow you to make the most of your kitchen’s limited space while enhancing its organization and openness.
17. Patterned Floors:
Large patterned tiles or diagonal lines on the floor make the kitchen look bigger. Light-colored and large-format floor tiles can create the illusion of space in small kitchens. Geometric patterns, especially triangular grout lines, direct the eye through the gallery kitchen, enhancing perspective and increasing the width of the space. Hexagonal grout lines also achieve this effect. Chessboard-patterned tiles placed diagonally help make the room appear more spacious, while a green-patterned floor creates a relaxing feeling connected to nature.
18. High Backsplash:
A backsplash that reaches all the way to the ceiling can provide the illusion of a higher ceiling by drawing the viewer’s gaze upwards from the countertop. Your kitchen will provide the impression of more space and light when you use this technique. More and more people are opting to use countertop material as their backsplash. Backsplashes can also be made of mirror glass, stainless steel, or glass. If you have decent lighting and a high backsplash, you can make this effect much stronger.
19. Combining Kitchen and Adjacent Areas:
One way to make a smaller kitchen seem larger is to knock down the wall that separates it from the adjacent room. Retaining a portion of the wall rather than demolishing it creates a breakfast bar or half-wall. Before tearing down the wall, it is important to ensure it does not support any weight. Arranging furniture and appliances to make the most efficient use of the available space is also important.
20. Using Bold Colors:
Even in a tiny kitchen, vivid colors can make a statement. A room might seem livelier and more expansive when decorated with vibrant colors. Yet, utilize colors in a balanced manner. Bright colors like yellow can also be employed in kitchens, even if white is one of the greatest colors for opening space. Kitchens adorned with various green and blue hues, not only white, can be quite breathtaking.
Several interior designers have suggested using contrasting hues in addition to using a single color throughout to provide the impression of more space. Through the creation of a visual rhythm, the utilization of contrasting hues imparts an energetic and captivating atmosphere to the space.
21. Functional Shelves:
A functional shelf can add storage space and display space to your kitchen above the backsplash. In order to get a more harmonious look and avoid visual clutter, you might mix open shelves with closed cabinets. Remember that a more open layout gives the impression of more space and airiness than a closed-off one when you are looking for cabinets. So, if you want a more modern look for your kitchen, try rearranging the shelves.
FAQs
Below, you can find frequently asked questions and their answers regarding how to make a small kitchen look bigger.
What color makes a small kitchen look bigger?
Because of its reflective properties, white is an excellent color choice for cramped kitchens. Similar effects are produced by light shades of gray, beige, and pastels. Using these colors, you may create a serene and airy ambiance in your kitchen. Vibrant hues, such as pale yellow, are perfect for when you want to make a statement. The room exudes an upbeat and positive energy, thanks to these colors.
How do I make a small kitchen look bigger?
Open recesses and strategically placed windows let an abundance of natural light into a tiny kitchen, giving the illusion of more space and light. Open shelving or glass cabinets can also provide the illusion of depth, while mirrors and glossy surfaces can reflect light and make a room seem larger. You can also raise the ceiling using vertical lines.
What backsplash makes a kitchen look bigger?
You may make your kitchen appear more open and airy by installing a mirrored backsplash or glossy tiles that reflect light. Lay ceramic tiles horizontally or use long, thin tiles to provide the illusion of more space. Conversely, tiling the kitchen in a vertical pattern gives the impression of a taller ceiling and more depth. Pairing your countertops with a monochrome or patternless backsplash will make your kitchen look simple and unadorned.
What color floor makes a kitchen look bigger?
A kitchen with light-colored floors, particularly glossy ones, gives the illusion of a larger space because light reflects off of them. The floor will appear larger and more seamless with oversized tiles since there will be fewer grout lines. Additionally, flooring with horizontal striped patterns or light-colored parquets creates the illusion of more space.
What Color Countertops Make a Kitchen Look Bigger?
Because they reflect light, kitchens with light-colored countertops—such as white, beige, or light gray—give the impression of more space and light. Glossy countertops amplify this reflected effect and give the impression of more space. Since they prevent clutter, your kitchen will appear more serene and orderly with homogenous counters.
What Color Appliances are Best for Small Kitchens?
If you want your kitchen to appear plain and tidy, try using a monochromatic or patternless backsplash that matches the countertop. Glossy tiles or a mirrored backsplash can reflect light, creating the illusion of extra space in your kitchen. In addition, colors like yellow and blue can energize and liven up a kitchen while also giving it dimension.
Should the Countertop be Lighter or Darker than the Backsplash?
The countertop’s relative darkness to the backsplash is a matter of taste and kitchen layout. The room appears more open and airy with a black countertop and a light backsplash, and the colors work well together. A dramatic and daring design is created by contrasting a light countertop with a black backsplash.
Conclusion
For a small kitchen renovation, holistic planning consistently yields the greatest outcomes. The right planning and design can make minor things work and bring you joy. When it comes to a complete kitchen makeover, be extremely specific about your preferences throughout the planning phase and follow through on your plan.
