If you have problems with the design of the kitchen, since the house has little space and you have to think about how and where to put the appliances, crockery and other implements in this space, we invite you to see some solutions for small kitchen design and decoration. You should think very well about the planning of the kitchen before buying furniture and appliances.
Take the measurements and try to make everything fit in each place perfectly. Each space must be used, maintaining comfort and free space to move and cook.
modern small kitchen design
As for the sink, it doesn’t have to be very small. On the contrary, a large sink that allows you to deposit dirty crockery while you cook will make it more practical and functional. Also, a small sink doesn’t allow you to clean oversized pots and pans. Think first of all about practicality.
L shaped kitchen
In the image below, we see an L-shaped worktop, where the small space has been used to the maximum, achieving a very functional place to cook.
There is even space left to place a small table and chairs.
C-shaped
It is common to believe that the most suitable for kitchens is an L shape to make the most of the space, but this does not have to be the case. As the image below shows us, if space permits, a C-shape can be formed, where a space between the countertops is also very comfortable.
parallel countertops
Or like the ones we see below, in which an island has been used parallel to the main countertop. This island can also be used as a table.
Everything is very relative to each home and its physiognomy, but for example, in this case, a good solution was found using two parallel countertops.
Some small homes have resulted in some solutions, such as implementing a kitchen with a central corridor, placing shelves, countertops and everything else on both sides. A very functional and comfortable kitchen is achieved.
We can also place the countertop on one wall, and the refrigerator and other cabinets on the opposite wall. In this way we create a practical corridor and we can make the kitchen look bigger, if only visually.
The entire kitchen on one wall
Sometimes, for space design reasons, we can only use a single wall. In this case, integral kitchens are the best option. If necessary, compress the kitchen along one wall. 0.8 meters is the minimum width that can fit a compact but useful kitchen, say architects specialized in the field. This size allows not having to leave all the necessary elements of the kitchen outside, such as: an under-counter fridge, oven, sink with a hidden tank, an extra-flat dishwasher and storage.
Kitchen dining room and living room, all together
Some kitchens can be open, and form a whole with the dining room or living room. In this way, we managed to make the space look larger, without dividing walls.
cozy corner
If your kitchen allows it, and if you want to have breakfast in the kitchen, it doesn’t take much space to set up a small corner, which will add interest to the kitchen and make it seem more spacious.
Kitchen bars or islands
You can also use an island for this purpose.
Building the kitchen next to another room, without a wall, only with a small island as a division, can be a good way to hide the lack of space. Consider knocking down a wall, if the design of your house allows it, to apply this trick. The change can be noticeable.
bar against the wall
This is another trick to make the most of the space. A table as a breakfast bar against a window or wall, can be used as a side table for cooking, and also for eating.
covered deck
If you have the possibility to enlarge towards the patio, you can create a small covered deck to “enlarge” it during the warm seasons. Without a doubt, this will give you a feeling of greater amplitude and lots of light.
multifunctional appliances
One of the biggest problems in small kitchens lies in details, such as where the oven, microwave, and refrigerator will go, among other things. If you don’t have space, try to be practical, that is, don’t buy an oven on the one hand and a microwave on the other, look for models that cover both functions, and that are generally of an intermediate size. If the refrigerator does not fit in the kitchen, perhaps you should, subtly, seek to place it in a corner of the dining room.
If space allows it, you can place the washing machine. This can be placed inside a cabinet with a sliding door, which hides being part of the shelves.
Furniture in modern small kitchens
Certainly many people believe that small kitchens can hardly be used for cooking and nothing else, since space does not help, and therefore decorate it less than less. But that is not true, small kitchens can be used 100% by following good design advice, in order to make the most of all the space and be able to afford to decorate it as you always wanted, so that that much used space of the house has the same life or the same elegance as any other.
cabinets in the walls
Small kitchens usually have the disadvantage of lack of space when it comes to ordering all the utensils that are part of it. That is why you should get the most out of the walls for cabinets and countertops. Take into account the possibility of placing shelves and appliances, from the floor to the ceiling. Perhaps this will create spaces of no more than 3 or 4 square meters, but at least whoever is in the kitchen will feel comfortable.
Many pieces of furniture or appliances end up well below the ceiling, which is a loss of valuable inches. Choose full-height storage, all the way up to the ceiling, and try to store less-used items in higher cabinets.
In a small kitchen cabinets should be placed on both sides of the walkway or on one side only if the kitchen is extremely small. The cabinets that extend to the ceiling are the most suitable for this type of kitchen, since the space is used to the maximum, and generally nothing is stored on top of the cabinets.
A small kitchen should be very tidy as clutter will make it seem smaller.
Cabinets under islands
If you already have a kitchen island, make sure you are making the most of the space below it and above it as well, creating more storage space.
open shelves
Open shelves are an option that works very well for small spaces, since, by revealing the walls, they make spaces seem larger.
transparent cabinet doors
Glass gives the feeling of more space on the shelves, it gives an idea of depth, so it is an excellent idea that you can apply to cabinets. Instead of glass, you can use some semi-transparent polycarbonate, which is more resistant to shocks, and you will achieve the same result. Also, transparent shelves are one of the latest trends.
Modular functional furniture
If you want to decorate a small kitchen, you have to be very careful with the items that adorn and compose it. You need furniture and decoration that look elegant, consume little space and are totally functional and practical.
You have to make the most of the space, that is “sizing” the furniture so that the space allows us to have everything we need. We can take advantage of the use of modular furniture that brings together in a single area, the countertop to prepare food, to eat and to store appliances.
Acquiring modular furniture that fits together, you can create a work center with the cooking area, the sink and the refrigerator. But you will be thinking that although practical, it may not be very decorative. Then you can incorporate some decorative elements, for example, flower pots in the window, thus imposing the decorative touch. Take advantage of the air space by also placing shelves or hooks for pans and pots.
Some of the ideas that we present here include the incorporation of furniture or tables with extensible pieces that allow us to enjoy a comfortable surface at the time of the family meal, while during the rest of the day it presents a small surface that does not affect the circulation in the kitchen.
Keep cleaning supplies, cutting boards, and spices close at hand.
Colors for small kitchens
Neutral colors
Undoubtedly, neutral colors such as white, light gray or cream, being bright, give the feeling of more space, since they provide the optical illusion of moving away. So that the color scheme does not look boring, you can use different shades of the same color, as in the photo below, where different shades and shades of gray have been used.
splashes of color
If you think, like most people, that painting it all white will make it look bigger, you’re not right. It is convenient to create different luminosities with the color. For example, you can paint the cabinets in a strong color and the rest of the kitchen in a lighter tone. This type of combination gives depth. Cold colors give the feeling of moving away, so it is convenient to use them in these cases. Grays also achieve the same effect. But nothing prevents you from using warm colors, as long as you combine them with bright colors such as white or pale yellow.
It can be mostly white, but with details in color, as we see in this photo.
By using a bright color palette and lots of natural light you can enlarge the space.
Lighting in small kitchens
Maximizing the arrival of light in every corner of the kitchen, either with reflective surfaces, such as high-gloss lacquer, a glass countertop, chrome or even a mirror, help to expand the space.
Small kitchens are often filled with the wrong lighting, making the space feel cramped and dark. The use of pendant lights on the ceiling and fluorescent lighting under cabinets visually expand the space and lift the mood.
Lighting is a fundamental aspect for the kitchen to appear larger. It is preferable that it has a window to the outside to give a feeling of spaciousness, and at night a good lighting system is essential.
Light cabinets and a window can take the feeling of being overwhelmed.
