A small kitchen can be both cozy and inconvenient, with some upside and some downside to it. But if you’re thinking of remodeling your kitchen, and DIY is not your cup of tea, then this article is worth a read.
Let’s dive into how you can revamp your kitchen to make it look bigger and better!
1. Set a Budget
Determining your budget is important because it will keep you in touch with your resources and your limits.
During your remodel, it is easy to get carried away with all the spending. You’ve already gone all out anyway, so why not splurge a little more? It’s all worth it in the end, right?
But this is only a temporary project, and you have other things that will also need your attention and resources. Having a budget is the best reminder that you should spend only so much on your remodeling project.
And it’s a great visualization tool to help you allot some resources to cover those unforeseen circumstances that always arise.
As an example, imagine you’re having one of your walls demolished so you can open up your kitchen to the living space. You discover important electrical wiring inside the wall and an added expense that you didn’t see coming.
If you have a budget, it will be easier to identify which projects you can postpone when you suddenly need to accommodate an urgent task.
2. Secure Permits
Even small remodeling projects will require a permit.
However, permit requirements vary by locality, so always check with your local authority first. Local governments require permits on projects which need some oversight. This ensures the observance of building standards and safety measures for home remodeling projects.
If you are unsure how to secure a permit for your remodeling project, you can always reach out to professional contractors. They’ll know all the details and requirements specific to your area.
3. Consult a Professional Contractor
A lot of people try to save money during their remodeling projects and decide to skip this step. But then, a professional contractor’s expertise may be of more value to your project than you think.
A professional contractor will check out the layout of your kitchen and optimize your use of space. They can show you which materials will suit your kitchen plans best. And they can also look at your plans and tell you which ideas are good and which ideas will cause you future trouble.
To hire a professional contractor may seem like an extra expense for your project, but think of it as an investment in your future. If you try to do this on your own, you might end up with unsatisfactory results. You may also end up needing to get it redone. Finally, you might end up doing more damage than repair if you try to do it on your own.
A professional contractor will remodel your kitchen with care, expertise, and to your satisfaction.
4. Layout
Changing the layout of your small kitchen may be the solution to your problem. It can provide more space, optimize your workflow, and make everything feel brand new.
Let’s discuss a few options to consider.
Rearrange Kitchen Elements
This is one of the simplest ways to remodel a small kitchen and create some space. It’s simple enough for you to do on your own.
Moving around your appliances and cabinetry can help perk up your small, dull kitchen. But be sure to prioritize your workflow. This means you have to think about the placement of your sink, stove, and refrigerator. This is what designers call the “work triangle,” the area where most of the action takes place.
Install a Skyline or a Glass Roof
Here is another good idea to give your small kitchen a look of more space. Install a skyline on the ceiling of your kitchen! This will bring in a lot of natural light, brightening up the room, and making it seem more spacious.
If you have a bigger budget, you can even convert the entire ceiling into windows! This will open up your kitchen to your surroundings. It can be even more beautiful if your kitchen is close to your backyard or garden. Imagine a rainy day, how peaceful it could be, looking up and watching the rain trickle down.
If you’re pursuing this project, it would be best to work with a professional contractor. They’ll be able to make sure that the quality of the glass and installation will keep your roof from leaking and withstand other environmental factors.
Install Windows
If you have lots of windows in your kitchen, it would be best to utilize them in your new kitchen. If you currently don’t have windows, then installing big ones can help brighten your kitchen.
They should be one of the focal points of your kitchen. Don’t block them out with storage or appliances. Let all that wonderful natural light shine into your kitchen.
Think about placing your sink and counters right below your windows to take advantage of the lighting.
5. Walls
Since your kitchen is small, it is especially important to use your wall space intelligently. Whether it’s revamping the wall or knocking it down altogether, remodeling your small kitchen opens up lots of possibilities.
Here are a few ideas on what you can do with your walls.
Install Mirrors on Your Walls
Walls that are made of mirrors help create the illusion of a larger room. It also helps light up your kitchen because it bounces the light around the room.
If you’re installing the mirrors on walls where there is a lot of traffic, consider getting sturdy ones. When you have a lot of people walking around, it is easy to bump into or hit anything hanging on the walls.
And if you’re installing the mirrors as backsplashes near the stove, be sure to install a mirror made from heat-resistant, tempered glass.
Knock Down Walls
Sometimes a homeowner has inherited an old home, passed down through the years from family. These old ancestral houses often have many rooms, segregated by walls.
With modern architecture and interior design, most floor plans now lean toward the open space of one big room. The open floor plan gives a home a spacious and cohesive feel.
If you’re wondering how to remodel a small kitchen and literally make it bigger, then maybe knocking down a wall would be helpful. Opening up your kitchen to common areas will make a difference. You can enjoy your kitchen space more, interacting with family and friends while you’re busy in the kitchen.
If you decide to knock down a wall with built-in cabinets, you can opt to have a kitchen island instead. You still get your storage and the benefit of lots of extra space. You can even add stools around your kitchen island, so it doubles as a small bar.
6. Paint
Remodeling your small kitchen can be as simple as changing up the paint on your walls, cabinets, and countertops. Working with the right colors can help you brighten up your kitchen and create an illusion of more space.
High Gloss Paint
If you’re going for a kitchen that sports dark tones and bold colors, it could make your kitchen look smaller than it already is. Light doesn’t bounce well off such color schemes.
A quick fix to this problem is to choose the same color paint you have on the walls, but with a glossy finish. If you’ve already painted your walls and cabinets with the color you want, you can also opt for a glossy coat finish.
What the glossy paint does is help light bounce off of every surface. It brightens up your room and makes it feel more open and spacious.
Don’t Be Afraid to Play with Colors
The colors you choose for your walls and color scheme influence the overall atmosphere of your kitchen. With the help of color psychology and a professional contractor, you can remodel a small kitchen to radiate a certain vibe.
Pastels and light neutral colors help light bounce around better. And as mentioned, this creates the illusion of more space in your kitchen. It also helps your kitchen look neat and organized. Bold colors are great for accent walls and centerpieces, giving your kitchen a fun and playful feeling.
7. Storage
Storage is one of those things always in short supply in small kitchens. There is never enough space to begin with, and you need to make the most of it.
But when is storage too much storage? In a small kitchen, space is at a premium. If you decide to remove a few of your cabinets, what are other storage alternatives?
Removing Overhead Cabinets
Having too many overhead cabinets on the walls can make your space look cramped and overcrowded. It’s like a lot is going on and the eyes are just too busy taking everything in.
If you’re storing cutlery and plates that have not been in use for ages, then maybe just remove those cabinets. Instead of storing items that are seldom used in the kitchen, consider moving them to a different storage area–like the attic! Why keep them in the kitchen if they’re not in use at least monthly?
Hang Your Pots and Pans
Pots and pans take up lots of storage space because they can be large and bulky. With their irregular shapes and handles, it’s tricky to optimize your space.
Instead of cramming and piling them up inside your cabinets, consider showing them off! Installing an industrial pot rack can be a stylish alternative for storage. It can hang right above a kitchen island, or you can anchor it decoratively to a blank wall. Your pots and pans can become the centerpiece of your kitchen!
Be sure to have a professional take care of this installation, or you can have a safety hazard on your hands. Imagine being under your kitchen island with heavy pots and pans hanging above your head, and suddenly the rack breaks. It can be disastrous.
Incorporate Open Shelves
Another technique to give your small kitchen a more spacious look is to incorporate open shelves. They open up space and make your storage a design element rather than just hiding it all away.
Another benefit of having open shelves is that there are multiple options from which to choose. The designs of open shelves are so flexible. They can accommodate any aesthetic, from rustic to modern and industrialized.
This is another project for which we would advise you to hire a professional. They’ll make sure of the placement, and that your shelving is sturdy and durable.
8. Lighting
Lighting is an important element in making sure that your kitchen will look as spacious as possible. It helps cast out shadows that make your kitchen look shabby and cluttered. It also helps in setting the mood for your kitchen.
Choose Your Lights Carefully
Most kitchens have fluorescent lighting installed. This was all the rage at one time. Unfortunately, this kind of lighting has a bluish tint to it, sometimes casting food in an unappetizing light. And after a few years, they can start to look a bit dark.
LED lights on the other hand have a nicer white light compared to fluorescent lights. These lights are also more durable, heat and cold resistant, and have a longer life span. They are a great choice for ambient and task lighting.
As for accent lighting, incandescent lighting would be a great choice. Incandescent lighting has a yellow and warm tone to it. Installing it on pendant lights above the table will help accentuate a warm ambiance at mealtimes.
READ MORE:
An Expert’s Guide: Kitchen Lighting Ideas
Lighting Up Nooks and Crannies
Installing LED strips over and under cabinets is an emerging trend. They help light up those dark corners and give the illusion that they’re floating. They give off a sleek and modern vibe–like you’re living in a futuristic house.
They are also a great source of light when you’re chopping up vegetables and preparing dishes. You need to have enough light to avoid injuring yourself.
And after you’ve prepared your meal, these lights can also help set the mood. LED strips are fully customizable. You can change their dimness and the color they produce.
Installing LED lights is pretty simple. It’s a DIY project that you can do on a weekend. But if you lack enough sockets for your LED lighting and want to install more, it’s best to let professionals handle it. Changing the electrical wiring of your kitchen, be it adding more sockets or moving the sockets, can be dangerous.
If you do it on your own, you may not adequately visualize the inner wiring system, leading to a possible electrical accident and injury. Besides, you might end up doing more damage than good by accidentally cutting or damaging the wiring system.
Key Takeaway
Kitchen remodeling can be such an exciting undertaking. It just opens up so many possibilities for upgrades and improvements. But as exciting as it might be, don’t get too carried away! Other things need your attention.
It’s also smart to make a plan. It helps you determine upfront if what you want is feasible and, if so, how to attain the kitchen you want. Despite the small size of your kitchen, it is still a big project with a lot of things to consider.
These tips on how to remodel a small kitchen can be a great way to breathe new life into your kitchen. Some of these can be great projects to do on weekends, while others will need the attention of a professional. If you don’t have the skills and expertise for the job, don’t do it yourself. You could do more harm than good.
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