The average American spends 1,000 hours per year in the kitchen. Regardless of how small or spacious yours might be, it’s still the focal point of your home.
If you’re looking for ways to help yours appear as large and airy as possible, there are simple design tricks that can help. Today, we’re sharing how to optimize your small house mini kitchen design and create a space you love!
Embrace Light and Bright Color Schemes
To begin your kitchen design, think about the color of the walls. Darker tones can make a room look smaller while lighter shades have the opposite effect. Bright colors can also make your kitchen feel more inviting and give you an instant mood lift!
One of the easiest and most economical ways to make over any space is to give it a new wash of color, and the kitchen is no exception. If you’re not sure where to start, this gallery is full of happy paint colors to inspire you.
Maximize Natural Light and Connect to the Outdoors
When you think of your dream kitchen, is it full of natural sunlight? If you’re smiling just thinking about it, there’s a scientific reason why. Studies show that natural light can enhance your mood and make you feel happy!
As the light bounces off the surfaces in your kitchen, it also helps it appear bigger. If you have windows in this space, look for ways to let as much light in as possible. This might mean removing heavy draperies altogether or swapping them out for cafe-sized sheers.
Other ways to allow in more light include:
- Using glass doors on cabinets and pantries
- Placing mirrors throughout to reflect the outdoor scenery
- Adding new windows where feasible and affordable
Innovative Storage Solutions for Clutter-Free Counters
A small kitchen looks smaller when there’s clutter everywhere. A tidy space is not only cleaner, but it also appears larger. If you’re staring at multiple piles throughout the room, it’s time to invest in innovative storage solutions such as:
- Bins, crates, and containers
- Shelving and drawers
- Under-shelf baskets
- Magnetic knife strips above the range
- Hidden appliance garages
By implementing a few of these ideas, you can still keep your important kitchen items within reach. They’ll just be out of sight!
Opt for Sleek, Multi-Functional Furniture
The furniture you select for your kitchen is incredibly important. These are items you and your loved ones will be using for years to come and you want to make sure they’ll last. At the same time, you also want them to be beautiful!
The best way to achieve this is to invest in pieces that you can easily store when not in use. For instance, instead of bulky dining chairs, look for foldable tables and stools that can tuck neatly under a kitchen island when you’re finished eating.
By opting for sleekly designed, multi-functional furniture, you can maintain a modern, uncluttered look throughout your kitchen.
Enhance Space with Reflective and Glass Surfaces
Reflective surfaces allow light to bounce beautifully throughout a space. From mirrors and glass windows to polished metal hardware, there are many items you can add to your kitchen to achieve this effect.
Even something as simple as a small glass-top cafe table can make a stunning impression while still helping the room look spacious and welcoming.
Streamline with Open Shelving and Hidden Appliances
In a small kitchen, open shelving can be a game-changer. Instead of filling up your cabinets and pantry with dry goods such as cereal, pasta, and nuts, consider decanting these items into beautiful glass jars that you can display instead. When placed strategically, these jars can even serve as artwork in your kitchen, giving it a warm, streamlined look.
However, it’s important to think carefully about what you want to display on your shelves, and which items would look best stored away. You can store oversized appliances such as blenders, slow cookers, and toaster ovens in appliance garages or large cabinets to avoid taking up precious counter space.
Hidden appliances not only give you more room but they also reduce visible clutter and help your kitchen look roomier.
Expand Visual Space with Strategic Lines and Patterns
Long lines and simple, repetitive patterns lend an elegant appearance to any kitchen. If you’re looking for a simple way to liven up your space and help it appear a little bigger, don’t be afraid to play around with these designs!
From striped kitchen towels to paisley curtains, these capture the eye and add visual interest to the space. Conversely, some of the patterns to avoid include anything too heavy or dark, such as deep plaids.
Smart Layouts: Making the Most of Every Inch
If you can change the layout of your current kitchen, consider a design that will help you maximize every square inch. In most homes, U-shaped or gallery-style kitchens offer smart layouts with the most efficiency.
It’s also helpful to organize your space around the kitchen triangle design theory. This helps you create a smooth pathway between your sink, oven/stovetop, and refrigerator.
Choose Low-Contrast Colors for a Unified Look
High-contrast colors are shades located opposite of one another on the color wheel. These tones might look appealing in certain applications but they can also be jarring to the eye and break up an interior space.
To enhance your kitchen, choose low-contrast colors that will give it a peaceful and unified color. Some examples include:
- Red and orange
- Black and gray
- Yellow and green
Integrating Technology and Lighting for a Modern Touch
Today’s kitchens are sleeker and more tech-savvy than ever before. One way to achieve technology integration throughout your space is to enhance the lighting!
Modern lighting systems come in a variety of different formats. You can find lights that come on when you walk into the room, lights that dim when the sun goes down, and lights you can control from your smartphone. Look for ways to incorporate smart lighting throughout your room to upgrade and visually enhance it.
Clever Tricks to Visually Enlarge Your Kitchen
Sometimes, the easiest way to approach a kitchen remodeling project is to focus on minor changes that have a big impact. A few of our top tricks to visually enlarge the space include:
- Sticking with a light color scheme
- Installing tile horizontally for a streamlined look
- Swapping cabinets for open shelves
- Replacing cabinet fronts with glass
- Using the same material on your counters and backsplash
If you’re looking for a material that blends beautifully on your countertops and backsplash, Viatera quartz comes in an array of light, neutral tones. Installed in a modern kitchen, it’s the perfect way to maximize space while staying on-trend.
Implement Under-Cabinet Lighting for Ambiance and Function
One of the neatest space-saving tricks in the kitchen is to switch bulky lamps and low-hanging fixtures for under-cabinet lighting. This frees up counter space and helps the room appear bigger.
It can also enhance the ambiance throughout the room, adding a warm and welcoming glow as the sun goes down.
Create a Focal Point to Draw the Eye Upward
Tall ceilings in a kitchen naturally help it appear bigger. Yet, that doesn’t mean you have to worry if your ceilings aren’t sky-high. Simply create a focal point that can draw the eye upward and add the illusion of height, such as:
- A tall piece of art
- Decorative vases on top of cabinetry
- Tall mirrors
- Painted ceiling
Use Mirrors to Reflect Light and Create the Illusion of Space
We’ve talked about the importance of incorporating reflective materials within your kitchen, and mirrors are the easiest and most beautiful way to do so! Some of the best places to add mirrors in your kitchen include:
- Mirrored tiles on the backsplash
- Decorative mirrors propped against the wall or on top of the counter
- Mirrored cabinet doors with an antique, patinaed finish
- A full-height mirror on the wall
- A mirror above the sink in place of a window
Tips for Selecting Space-Enhancing Kitchen Materials
When choosing space-saving materials for your kitchen, you want items that will fit your personal style aesthetic and blend seamlessly with the rest of your decor. However, remember not to sacrifice quality for style.
The best kitchen materials are those that not only look great but are designed to be rugged and durable, too. The kitchen is one of the most used areas in your home and you want to make sure it can hold up against wear and tear. Products like our HFLOR luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) offer the perfect balance of form and function.
Contact Us for a Small House Mini Kitchen Design
Your kitchen might be small, but it doesn’t have to be short on style or service. If you’re looking for ways to maximize your small house mini kitchen design, the above tips can help you get there!
When it’s time to start your project, let us know. We offer a range of premium home products that can transform your space, from gorgeous floor tiles to quartz, porcelain, and solid surface materials. Contact us today to learn more about our products and the services we offer.