If you have a small kitchen, watching friends and family members add extra appliances and tons of cabinets during their remodeling endeavors may be frustrating. You simply don't have space for these things! That does not mean, however, that you can't make your small kitchen more beautiful and functional during a remodel, too. You'll just have to do things a bit differently than your friends with massive kitchens. Here are some remodeling tips that apply to small kitchens, specifically.
1. Replace some cabinets with open shelving.
Too much cabinetry not only takes up a lot of space, but also makes your kitchen feel smaller. A good alternative is to replace some of your cabinets with open shelving. Since you can see the walls behind the open shelves, these shelves don't make your small kitchen feel so close and enclosed as cabinets do.
2. Include a kitchen cart rather than an island.
Kitchen islands have become all the rage in recent years. They're excellent for modern homes with big kitchens because they add counter space. However, you should not feel pressured into putting an island in your already small kitchen. It will take up too much of your already valuable floor space! Instead, you can purchase a kitchen cart. You can wheel this cart into the middle of the kitchen and use it as an island when you do need extra counter space, and then push it into another room, like your dining room, when it's not needed.
3. Choose counters that are less deep.
Standard kitchen counters are 25.5 inches deep. But you'll probably notice that you don't always use the entire depth of the counter. By choosing counters that are just slightly less deep — maybe ones that are 23 or 24 inches deep — you can preserve a little more floor space in your kitchen withing radically affecting its functionality.
4. Include plenty of light.
Light makes a small space feel larger and more open. There are plenty of fun ways to work light into your kitchen design. Under-cabinet lights are really popular, and they illuminate your countertop workspace well. You can use wall sconces as a decoration and an extra source of light, and also hang some pendants for more illumination.
Small kitchens can be both beautiful and functional. Talk to a remodeling contractor, like Moir Construction, in your area to learn more about these and other feasible options for your space.
