Of all the rooms in a house, one that sees a lot of activity is the kitchen. The longer a family lives in a house and the larger the family is, the more stuff will be bought for the kitchen. This takes up a lot of the available space in it, making it seem less and less spacious every year.
Here are some simple ways to make the kitchen feel bigger, without remodeling it:
Of all the rooms in a house, one that sees a lot of activity is the kitchen. The longer a family lives in a house and the larger the family is, the more stuff will be bought for the kitchen. This takes up a lot of the available space in it, making it seem less and less spacious every year.
Here are some simple ways to make the kitchen feel bigger, without remodeling it:
Lighting
Theresa Street Residence by Sonelo Design Studio combines natural light with simple but feature pendant lighting. Image: SDS
Anything that is well lit will always look more spacious than it is. Think about a typical electronics store or the model kitchens you see in furniture stores. A combination of natural light and bright, modern lighting in the kitchen makes it look more open and spacious right away.
Color Scheme
2014 Dulux Colour Awards Single Residential Interior Refurbishment winner, 15 Ridley St, Blairgowrie by Austin Design Associates. Image: Supplied.
Dark colors have a tendency to make almost everything seem smaller, so change the color scheme to softer and brighter hues. The best options to use are light blue, white, yellow, rose or even warm gray, and colors to avoid are pretty much any dark shade, like maroon and navy.
Tiles
As with the color of the walls, ceiling and floor, the tiles also have to reflect softer colors. It would be even better if you use metallic or glass tiles, since these materials reflect available light, creating the visual illusion of a brighter and larger space.
Size of Furniture
The furniture for a kitchen is not the same the rest of the home, since cooking happens while you’re on your feet. A standard kitchen would just need a breakfast table and a couple of chairs or stools, unless you have enough spare room for a dining table. Furniture with thin but sturdy metallic or wooden legs occupies less space. Avoid chairs with arm rests if you’re strained for space.
Furniture Placement
'Kerferd' by Whiting Architects. Photography by Sharyn Cairns
Where you place your furniture matters a great deal. If it keeps blocking your movement to and fro, you would feel like your kitchen is cramped and small. Place your furniture in such a way that you have free movement through the room. For instance, the path between the refrigerator and the cooking area should be clear of any furniture.
Cabinets
Image: Effeti Cucine, Italy.
Cabinets located on the floor can take up lot of useful space. Get rid of those and replace them with cabinets that are attached to the wall. You could also consider using cabinets located outside the kitchen for stuff that you don’t use very often. As with the walls, paint the cabinets to match the lighter color that is chosen for the walls and tiles.
Flooring
By now, it is clear that dark tiles need to be avoided, which holds true even for floor tiles. It is a good idea to match the floor tiles with those on the wall, to create a seamless look, making the kitchen look bigger. If a rug or carpeting occupies the floor, change from dark to light colors.
Ceiling and Walls
The ceiling as well as walls provide endless opportunities to hang things such as storage cabinets, hooks or magnetic strips for objects like pots, pans, knives, strainers and ladles. Except for the furniture and refrigerator, it is possible to get almost everything else off the floor and onto the walls.
Storage Space
Image: Effeti Cucine, Italy.
Food and utensil storage can take up a lot of space, so make sure it’s well organized. Cabinets that hang on the wall or those with pull-out drawers are the best option for storage. Hanging spice holders and multi-purpose hooks will also help you make the most of the space you have.
About Louisa Johnson:
Louisa Johnson consults for Retreat Design as a kitchen and bathroom designer. Retreat Design is a boutique kitchen and bathroom company in Subiaco, WA. Louisa has a passion for kitchen renovating, home improvement strategies, interior decorating, and enjoys blogging on these topics. If you have any questions for Louisa, contact her at [email protected]
