Wednesday, 20 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 is the name of the game when you have a small kitchen. Coming to terms with this and embracing it is important. You might wish that you had room for a big island in the middle of your kitchen or a rolling butcher block table or enough room to practice ballroom dancing but small kitchens can be cute. When done right, a small kitchen can be even more attractive than a large kitchen. Your small kitchen can and will turn heads once you're done and you may be surprised to find that your friends and family feel more at home in your tiny kitchen than they would in a large sprawling space.

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.

Your lighting scheme is one aspect of a remodeling job that is often an after-thought for most people. Planning this out ahead of time and including it as a specific category in your design is a must. You have under counter lighting that you can explore, main lighting fixtures as well as accent lighting which can show off different aspects of your kitchen such as cabinets or a focal point. A well thought out lighting plan that's original and granular can be used to set the mood for your kitchen whether you're having a holiday party or sneaky around late at night for a midnight snack. Check out different fixtures and explore all your options including track lighting. It's not just for your living room or den anymore.

Try to keep everything to scale in your small kitchen. Smaller appliances such as refrigerators and microwaves can add space and give the illusion that the room is a little bigger than it actually is. Allow this thinking to come into play when you're choosing flooring and wallpaper, if you want to go in that direction. You can also find small coffee makers, mixers and blenders that won't overwhelm your space. Even your central lighting fixtures should be smaller as well as your hardware for you sink. Try to keep this in mind when your choosing these elements for your remodeling project.

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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