Create A Small Kitchen Design That You'Ll Love

Taking down a wall will make a small kitchen visually larger from every angle.

By figuring out use space to function well and look great visually, you can create a kitchen in which you enjoy spending time. Although your kitchen may be small, you can give it a high-end look by using upscale materials such as stainless appliances and crown molding. You want to design a kitchen that fits the architectural style of the rest of the house. Design the ideal space initially, even if your budget is limited, so you can make good substitutions that offer great visual appeal.

Instructions

1. Measure the square footage for the small kitchen. Transfer dimensions to graph paper, so you can devise different layouts to see what works best. Draw each wall facade with any door or window openings, so you can plan exact placement of cabinetry and appliances.

2. Use base cabinets to hold most stored items. Install a galley kitchen with parallel base counters, for example. Design deep drawers to hold pots and pans, boxes of cereals or canned goods and heavy dishes used only on holidays. Install upper cabinets that are somewhat shorter in height to give more backsplash area and make the kitchen appear bigger. Add cabinet space reaching to the ceiling, regardless of backsplash exposure area, to create maximum storage.

3. Expand light and space. Install white upper cabinets, for example, and use black cabinets for the base cabinetry. Purchase upper cabinets with clear or frosted doors for storing plates and glassware, so the upper walls will not look overly heavy with opaque doors. Use stainless metal cabinets, as another option, to give a small kitchen a high-tech look without the heavier look of wood.

4. Buy appliances in smaller sizes. Purchase a high-quality stainless range, a stainless refrigerator and a stainless dishwasher, but don't buy the largest sizes. Draw all cabinetry and appliances in their designated spaces on graph paper, so you can see the proportions before you construct the new kitchen. Define space for an installed microwave, too.

5. Mix high-quality materials for a high-end look. Use hardwood flooring, marble tile on the backsplash area, glass tile countertops and real wood plantation blinds over the sink, for example. Install cherry cabinets on the base units and maple cabinets on upper walls for an upscale look that will keep upper walls light in color.

Tags: small kitchen, upper cabinets, upper walls, backsplash area, cabinetry appliances, cabinets base, graph paper