6 Ways to Brighten up a Small Kitchen

Cooking in a small kitchen can be a claustrophobic experience, especially when the heat is up and the extractor fan is on. However, before you consider an expensive remodel or extension, try these inventive makeover hacks to brighten up the limited space in your kitchen.

Choose a light colour scheme

Dark coloured walls, cabinets and cupboards can really encroach on the space around them. You can instantly open up your kitchen by painting these areas white. You could also think about replacing cabinet and cupboard doors with see-through alternatives, this will increase the visible space in your kitchen. If you’re worried about the whitewash making your kitchen look a bit plain, accessorise with bright seating, vibrant crockery and colourful kitchen utensils – this will create an eye-pleasing contrast without making your kitchen feel cramped.

Declutter

If your kitchen is on the small side, the last thing you want to do is to use up valuable space with non-essential clutter. Remove any items that are not absolutely necessary – such as shoes and superfluous seating – and find space for these in other, more expansive rooms. You should also ensure that your kitchen is clean and tidy at all times, with crockery and utensils neatly put away out of sight. The more mess and clutter there is, the more chance you have of inadvertently inviting pests into your home such as roaches, ants and mice! You may find that you end up having to call in the exterminators, such as https://www.pestcontrolexperts.com/local/texas/. If you struggle to find the time to tidy (who doesn’t?), click on the following link for some useful tips.

Place lights in dark corners

Dark sucks the space out of a room. In a kitchen, offending areas can often be found under cabinets and cupboards. To increase brightness in these shadowy corners, try to introduce some lighting. You can install embedded under cabinet lighting or opt for less permanent stick on lights.

Sleek appliances

If you have a small kitchen, you should go for sleek, angular appliances over more traditional alternatives that feature softer edges. Clean lines don’t distract the eye and can make a room feel larger. You may also want to opt for appliances that sit flush to the space around them, such as these Fisher & Paykel hobs. Such appliances do not invade the space around them, so can make a room appear larger.

Draw the eye up

A small kitchen can feel even more cramped if everything is kept at the same level. Try to draw the eye up with points of interest near the ceiling. This could include high-level shelving and lighting. However, you should avoid any invasive hanging lights, which could have the opposite effect and actually make your kitchen feel smaller.

Let the light in

The best form of light is natural light, so remove any heavy shades or large curtains you have from your windows. You should also banish any other items occupying space on the windowsill, such as glasses, plants and bottles. This simple act will maximise the sunlight that is able to enter your kitchen as well as decluttering your view of the world outside, thereby enlarging your kitchen and brightening it up. If you find you still need a bit of shade, opt for light, minimalist options that can be virtually hidden from sight when not in use.