Decor tips for Small Kitchens

Here you'll learn how to decorate small kitchens and make them feel bigger while still being practical and functional. There are also ways to make it fit your personal style!
Decor tips for Small Kitchens

Last update: 18 August, 2023

Decorating small kitchens is truly an art. But even small spaces can be well-designed and attractive. It’s really just a matter of style and organization. More than anything, kitchens (like any other part of your house) should be practical and functional.

That doesn’t mean that you can forget about design. It just comes down to a balance between style and practicality. So today we’ll give you some guidelines to follow to make your small kitchen look great and work well.

Use less furniture in small kitchens

First of all, remember that less is often more. If you have a lot of furniture, it will feel cluttered — and that’s the last thing that small kitchens need.

The less furniture, the better and the bigger the space will feel. Let minimalism inspire you!  But don’t worry – you’ll still have storage space.

You should be able to move around freely when in the kitchen. When there are too many cooks and furniture in the kitchen, it can be uncomfortable and claustrophobic.

That said, take advantage of the space you do have. For example, underneath the counter is an excellent spot for mobile pieces of furniture. This is a practical and simple solution!

Our last tip is to remember to measure everything. Don’t leave the furniture till the end when designing your kitchen. Think before you buy anything and plan where it will go. Other things to remember are to check where light switches and sockets are and to measure spaces where you want to put appliances, like a microwave.

Small kitchens.

Don’t forget about storage space

Storage is important in every home, but especially small ones. One option for small kitchens is to use furniture with deep drawers for all of your kitchenware. We all tend to accumulate more and more pots and pans, so things should be organized and at hand.

Don’t forget about the overlooked corner spaces, either. Have some  furniture  custom-made for corners and you’ll be making good use of the room you have. Other space-savers are hooks or little shelves that go over the door.

Lastly, think of all the accessories out there that can help keep your kitchen tidy. For example, you could use rods or hooks for hanging utensils and towels.  Jars are great for storing beans, pasta, grains, cookies, etc. Vintage jars, in particular, look chic.

Jars storing beans.

Prioritize lighting

When it comes to lighting, the most important thing we can tell you is to enhance whatever natural light your kitchen gets. To do that, white and light colors help to reflect sunlight, so consider these shades when you pick out colors for your kitchen.

If you don’t have windows, or if they’re really small, then you’ll have to go with artificial light. Arrange your lamps and other light sources strategically and you’ll make the room feel bigger.

Play with visual effects

These last tips can go a long way. We’d like to remind you that white always makes spaces feel bigger and brighter. Go for white!

Visual continuity is another good bet. What does that mean? Using the same colors or designs on the floors as you do on the walls. This is especially important in open layouts to stop too much visual contrast between the kitchen and living space.

Another helpful trick is to opt for hanging shelves and other items of furniture. They have space underneath and leave part of the wall visible, making things feel less cluttered. Just above the table or counter is a good spot.

Don’t forget about the magic of transparent or sheer materials for making rooms feel bigger. Cabinets with glass doors are a good idea. However, you’ll have to keep the inside tidier than normal since everyone can see it.

A white, bright kitchen.

Conclusion

We hope these decor tips will help those of you with small kitchens. A few parting ideas before we go:

  • Consider changing your traditional door for a sliding door, and you’ll save up to 3 square feet of space.
  • Make sure you have a high-quality exhaust hood for your stove since small kitchens can collect smoke and strong smells.
  • Finally, don’t forget to make these guidelines fit your own personality and style!