THE ILLUSION OF SPACE: SMALL KITCHEN IDEAS

It seems not all of us are fortunate enough to be blessed with large expansive kitchens. If you are building on a smaller block of land or are renovating your home (and aren’t in the position to knock down a few walls to increase your kitchen space), it means you might very well be looking for some small kitchen design ideas to really maximise the area you are working with.

Well, you’re not alone! The great news is through innovative modern kitchen design we have become fantastically adept at creating beautiful kitchens for these tighter spaces. We make sure this ever-important room is no less functional due to size, and you still get all the bench & cupboard space you need to cook for large families and entertain at home.

What you might be wondering however is, what can we do to make these rooms feel larger?

Luckily for the spatially challenged amongst us, by leaning on a couple of key design ideas during our small kitchen inspiration and planning process, a once-claustrophobic room can be transformed into something that feels and looks much more spacious than it really is. Read on for ideas on how you can create the illusion of space in your small kitchen design.

Natural Light

Walk into any room of your house, open the curtains wide and step back to soak up the stunning difference a flood of natural light can make to that room – and your kitchen is not immune to wondrous powers of a little sunlight either! A well-placed window (or several!) can really open up even the smallest of spaces, as inviting the brightness and ambience of nature into your home always results in making the room appear larger, warmer and homier. If you have a home where windows aren’t a possibility, adding some strategically placed under cabinet lighting can also help a room feel larger.

Integrated Appliances

When designing for any kitchen, the fluid lines and continuity of the cabinetry play a major part in enhancing both the look and feel of the space, and it is no different when we use this method to boost the spatial feel of even the smallest kitchen.
When you peek into a room, your eye is immediately drawn to the items that stand out – which in a kitchen can quite often be the large double door fridge, or stainless-steel dishwasher. These items are such a stark contrast to the seamless cabinetry surrounding them that in a modest space they can work against you, disrupting the harmony and flow. Instead we recommend looking at integrating these major appliances, to allow them to blend in with your cabinetry for a touch of luxury that ticks all the boxes for creating the illusion of extra space.

Neutral Tones

If you have a small kitchen, a white and neutral colour palette can be the hero you are looking for.
To avoid making the room feel too white, use different shades of white or add different textures with timber accents, moulding and recessed-panel cabinets which add interest and depth to the room and in turn prevent it from becoming too washed out.

Experiment with Cabinet Styles

One way to make a small kitchen appear larger is to remove some overhead cabinets to make way for open shelving or replace the solid fronts of your cabinetry with glass. This pulls the eye past the cabinet frames, into the depths of the cabinets, so the walls feel farther away. Alternatively, if there is a soffit above your cabinets you can use that space to display framed prints, decorative plates, or large ceramic tiles to achieve a similar effect.
These tricks are most effective if you can keep what’s in the cabinets orderly and colour-coordinated as clutter tends to make a room feel crowded.

Mirrored or Window Splashback

Selecting a mirrored splashback for your small kitchen can really take your room to the next level. Unlike regular mirrors, the glass used for the splashback is toughened through a rigorous heating and cooling process. The toughened glass ensures the splashback will withstand high heat and moisture, even from gas cooktops, meaning there’s no need to worry about warping, cracking or shattering – which makes it perfect for the kitchen. The use of a mirrored splashback creates the impression of extra space and depth, both valuable traits when looking to make your room feel less boxy and in turn, much more expansive than it really is.

If you have a small space and want to make sure you are getting the most out of it, we can help!

The Maker’s team of award-winning designers are renowned for their design expertise, professionalism and customer service. We would love to assist with your kitchen design in Perth and our showroom is a great place to have an initial discussion with one of our friendly team. Visit us today at 12 Dyer Road in Bassendean or give us a call on 1300 270 000.