Saturday, 30 November 2013

Big Ideas For Small Kitchens

By Kathy M. Paris


Have you always wanted a big kitchen? The dream of having plenty of counter space or entertaining friends while you cook might be an elusive one. Short of knocking down walls and taking space from an adjoining room, you're stuck with the space you have. What can you do to make the most of what you have? How can you make your small kitchen bigger than life?

Acceptance that your kitchen is the size that it is should be your first step in your kitchen remodel. While you might envy other big kitchens with a center island, big stainless steel range hoods and room enough to dance, small kitchens can be pretty stylish. Small kitchens are cute, cozy and unique. Packing everything into a small space means that everything is handy. Also, think about how much quicker it is to clean a small kitchen!

Spend as much time as possible planning and thinking things through before you undertake the groundbreaking of your remodeling project. The planning phase can be just as much fun as doing the actual work. There are materials that need to be picked out, colors that need to be chosen and you will find that have more options than you thought thanks to the size of your kitchen. A kitchen remodel can be expensive but thanks to the small size, you can outfit the space with finer quality materials than if you were bedecking a grander space. Cheating yourself by cutting costs with cheaper materials will show in the end product and we're talking about what is often considered the center of your home. This calls for some nice quality counter tops, fine flooring and exquisite cabinetry. Take your time finding the perfect materials for your project. You won't regret it.

Lighting can make a big difference in your kitchen. Little things like accent lights, under cabinet lights and nice lighting fixtures can make a big difference in your petite kitchen. Having two lighting designs might be a good idea. You can have one lighting design for when you're in the kitchen and another ambient design for night. Accent lights above or under cabinets and some inexpensive track lighting can make your midnight snack more romantic and more pleasant.

When choosing patterns for floor tile, wallpaper and fixtures, remember that a small pattern will feel more natural in a small area. Small floor tiles and small patters for wallpaper won't overwhelm a room. The same holds true for fixtures and appliances. Smaller fixtures, such as light fixtures, will blend in more easily. A smaller refrigerator, mixer or coffee maker will seem more in scale with the kitchen than it's giant stainless steel counterpart.

Storage is always a problem in any kitchen and having appliances lined up on the counter top is how most of us showcase our smaller appliances. Under cabinet appliances, such as coffee makers, can openers and microwave ovens can save counter space. Another option is to find storage space for those appliances that we don't use every day such as mixers and blenders. It might take a few moments to retrieve these appliances from under a counter or in a closet but less clutter means more space in your small kitchen.

While these are only a few ideas to enhance your small kitchen, there are no hard and fast rules for kitchen remodeling. Break the rules if you want and see how you feel. After all, it's your kitchen and you should feel happy when you walk into your own kitchen. Cooking in a small kitchen can be enjoyable so let your instincts dictate what you surround yourself with as well as where everything needs to be. A small kitchen doesn't have to bring shame upon your home. A small kitchen can be cozy and quaint if you show it the attention it deserves as one of the focal points of you home.




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