Have you been swooning over large kitchens on show across Instagram or Pinterest and are feeling a bit deflated with your own kitchen space, wondering how you can still have your dream kitchen? I know the feeling. Like millions of people throughout the country, I live in a terrace house with a fairly small kitchen (just under 8 sqm) which ruled out things like a large island, American size fridge freezer and long rows of cupboard space.
But here's the thing, with small kitchens you have an opportunity to make the space extra special. Because of the reduced size, you can splurge on more luxurious finishes or be more adventurous with your choices. It is also easier to make a smaller space cosier and full of character, so do embrace it!
Below are my top tips to strike the right balance between function and style when designing a small kitchen.
Tip #1 Go integrated!
By having your appliances behind doors, you'll create continuity in the design and give the illusion of having more cupboards. Free standing appliances tend to stick out and feature a lot of unsightly plastic finishes so if you can, hide them! There are many high performing integrated models around and all you'll need is an extra kitchen door to screw onto the front of the appliance. The longer uninterrupted row of units and plinth you can have, the more spacious your kitchen will feel.
You can also consider moving some appliances out of the room. If you have the space in a bathroom or utility cupboard, it might not be a difficult or costly task to amend the plumbing so that you can relocate your washing machine and/or tumble dryer to another room. You can stack both appliances in a tall unit and enjoy the extra cupboard space you've just gained in the kitchen.
Tip #2 Free up some wall space!
Space comes at a premium in small kitchens. However, unless you have very tall ceilings, wall units can quickly close the space, especially if you go for a darker finish. Consider introducing open shelving or glass-fronted cabinets on at least one side of the room. You can use these to store dinnerware, dry goods in glass jars, potted plants etc. Having items on display also encourages tidiness and as long as you use an extractor fan whilst cooking, you won't need to clean those items too regularly.
Tip #3 Declutter!
We all do this. We hold onto too many cake tins, trays, and random utensils that we only use occasionally. When designing your kitchen, think of how much stuff you actually use on a daily basis and allocate cupboards or drawers to these everyday items. Get rid of objects that have been gathering dust for years and move occasional things outside of the kitchen, for example in an under-stairs cupboard or a sideboard in your dining room.
You could also consider moving your nicer wine and cocktail glasses to a drinks cabinet in the lounge or dining room. Anything you do not need to prepare your meals can find a place outside of the kitchen!
Tip#4 Connect the space to the outside
Keep window treatment to a minimum so that you can maximise natural light and views to the outside. If you can sacrifice a cupboard or two, you could consider converting an existing window to a patio door or picture window. This would visually (and physically) elongate the space. You can also increase the feeling of space by removing internal doors (check building regulations as you might not be able to do this if you have had your loft converted for example) or replacing them with sliding doors.
Tip#5 Introduce reflective surfaces
Worktops, wall tiles, upstands, flooring are perfect opportunities to add some reflective surfaces to the design and increase the sense of space. Lighter finishes will help too. You don't want to overdo it though, keep higher light reflectance values to one or two surfaces only!
Check my tips on choosing tiles if you haven't done so already https://www.delphinebouvetinteriors.co.uk/post/what-tiles-should-i-choose-for-my-project
Tip#6 Invest in a good quality worktop
Worktops are pretty much the larger surfaces you'll have in the kitchen so you don't want to scrimp on it too much. Natural stones and other solid surfaces such as quartzite cost more but are extremely durable, making them sustainable, and they add an instant feeling of luxury. Light finishes such as white marble will brighten the room and have reflective properties too. And as per all other design elements, beware of trends! Large veined patterns are very in at the moment, but be mindful of how you'll have to live with wide gold lines or dark blue worktops for years to come. If in doubt, opt for a more timeless look.
Tip#7 Keep it interesting!
In a small kitchen, you can take more risks. Pick a joyful colour, eye-catching items, statement lighting. In a few words, make the eye travel!
Pay attention to details and choose interesting handles and knobs. Replace your plastic socket plates with ones with metal finishes. Replace the flex of pendant lighting with fabric one. Every little touch will make a difference and elevate the design.
Tip#8 Layer lighting
Make sure you position lights where tasks take place rather than in the centre of the ceiling. Bear in mind the levels of reflection on shiny surfaces, such as worktops, which could make chopping vegetables rather uncomfortable (if not dangerous!). Introduce different layers of lighting to avoid dark corners.
Tip#9 Optimise cupboard space
Make the most of the space available when planning your kitchen units. Include kidney storage in your corner units, consider drawer base cabinets not only to store saucepans but also dry food stuff and dinner ware. Use bespoke joinery where necessary to make the most of the space.
Tip#10 Don't forget plants!
I couldn't write a blog post about design tips without mentioning plants! Plants immediately inject life, texture and colour to a design and the kitchen is no exception. Use the ceiling if you want to avoid using worktop space. Suspended planters will bring the eye up.
I hope you find the above tips useful and are eager to give your smaller kitchen a lot of TLC and personality! I would love to hear about it so do share your ideas in the comment box below. And as always, if you're feeling overwhelmed and need some handholding, I'm here to help.
Until next time,
Delphine
Comments