If you have a small kitchen (or maybe even a tiny kitchen), you may want to remodel it to get the most from the limited square footage that you have.
Smaller kitchens can mean a smaller remodel budget, but you may still encounter the same expensive problems as a large kitchen remodel.
Here are a few ideas to consider when remodeling your small kitchen.
Ceiling
If possible, bring your cabinets all the way to the ceiling, or at least higher than typical.
You may need to remove a bulk head or furr down above your existing cabinets.
The cabinets at the ceiling can be used to store seasonal items that you use on occasion so you can keep your everyday items within arms reach.
Floor
Every square inch of storage should be utilized when renovating a small kitchen.
Don't forget about the few inches of space in the toe kick of your cabinets. You can make your toe kick a pull out drawer to store platters, place mats, cookie sheets, or other thin items.
Drawers
Finding items in the back of a cabinet door is difficult, and removing the item without something falling on your foot is even harder.
Instead of lower cabinet doors, consider using cabinet drawers instead when you remodel your kitchen.
Cabinet drawers are more expensive, but much more functional and will allow you more storage and better access without stacking.
Closed Storage
Smaller kitchens need to have as much storage as possible.
Open shelves and glass doors are pretty, but you need to have the contents look nice and orderly.
Having closed storage allows you to stack items and cram many items into the cabinet without worrying about its appearance.
Traffic Path
You need to have a good traffic path in your small kitchen between your sink, stove, and refrigerator - called the kitchen work triangle.
Do not put an island in a small kitchen if it will get in the traffic path.
A Place For Everything
Consider the location of all of your kitchen necessities when planning your kitchen remodel.
Where will you put your trash can, hand towel, sponge, liquid soap, paper towels, coffee maker, and other everyday items.
Try to keep your countertops free of stuff since even the largest kitchens look small when they are cluttered.
Appliances
If there are only one or two people living in your home, consider using smaller appliances when you remodel your small kitchen to allow for more counter and cabinet space.
There are smaller dishwashers, refrigerators, and stoves that work perfect in small spaces.
Perhaps you can add a beverage fridge #ad to another area of your home to allow your smaller fridge to be used exclusively for food.
Mirrors
Mirrors work magic in many small spaces making the room feel larger, so consider adding one or more to your small kitchen.
You can use mirrors or a mirrored tile #ad for your backsplash, just make sure they don't reflect the ugly back side of appliances.
Lighting
Since a lot of work happens in a kitchen, it should be lit properly.
A well lit space actually feels a tiny bit larger than a dimly lit space.
Consider using above and below cabinet lights as well as recessed ceiling lighting in your small kitchen.
Avoid light fixtures that hang down from the ceiling and make your small kitchen look smaller.
photo courtesy of Susan Serra flickr.com/photos/kitchendesigner/1511103226/
For more kitchen remodel ideas, see the video below:
