If you have a small kitchen to design, the problem of designing a large kitchen comes down to what can fit where. There are many different cabinet designs and surface patterns that can help give your small kitchen design a sense of space.
To create a small yet efficient kitchen design, you need to work on three main areas of small kitchen design: storage, lighting, and appliances.
Small kitchens can seem like a very difficult design challenge, but they can also be functional, beautiful, and efficient. Even with a small budget and building restrictions, you may find that there are many options available to transform your kitchen into something more ideal for your needs.
To create a more spacious look for your small kitchen design, the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) recommends designing more upscale storage solutions, mixing natural and ambient lighting, taking advantage of more energy-efficient appliances space and adding custom touches.
Designing a small kitchen requires creativity in finding storage solutions. Some ideas to try include:
Putting an island in the center of the kitchen can provide freestanding storage that is also convenient from anywhere in the kitchen.
· Using a galley kitchen layout where cabinets and appliances line both sides of an aisle can work very well for a small kitchen space.
· Today’s appliance manufacturers have devised more compact appliances that save space and make it easier to design small kitchens, such as refrigerators that are 24 inches deep instead of 30 inches deep, as well as appliances that can be hung under cabinets like microwaves.
Other small kitchen design tricks to create a kitchen eating area include using a drop top table or a small round table with two small chairs that can be placed in one corner. Or a built-in counter along the wall with chairs to provide a dining nook.
Another interesting challenge in small kitchen design is creating an illusion of space with under-cabinet or under-counter lighting. With the right kind of lighting, the kitchen can appear larger and more pleasant.
The use of light colored cabinets with glass doors.
· Install deeper counters that can accommodate more appliances and increase work space.
· Floor tiles can be laid diagonally, and in a galley-style kitchen, hardwood flooring can be laid across the length of the kitchen.
· For storage you can hang pots and pans. This is a perfect way to free up cabinet space, and adds some charm and character to your small kitchen design. The inside of cabinet doors can be used to hang everything from utensils, oven mitts, and other sundries. Pantry storage with units that reach the ceiling with the upper cabinets to provide more space for infrequently used items, while the lower cabinets are more accessible with pull-out shelves, fold-out trays and tilt-out bins.
Install a large kitchen sink, as larger sinks are considered more practical than small sinks when it comes to cleaning pots and pans.
Remember that most kitchens are small. When you look at kitchen design magazines, you naturally realize that the kitchens shown are large, so you might think that your small kitchen is inadequate. But a good small kitchen design means being able to create space and incorporate ample storage facilities and being able to fit all the necessary appliances.