Here’s a good article on tips for small kitchens by Caitlin Sole for Better Homes & Gardens.
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Stretch a small kitchen space without a major remodel. Check out these small kitchen ideas for cabinetry, color schemes, countertops, and more that make a little kitchen look and feel spacious.
Paint It White
White is your best friend in a small kitchen. It reflects light, enhancing the sense of space and making the walls recede. When you include white on cabinetry, countertops, walls, and the ceiling, you create a seamless space without edges or boundaries. Use several shades of white in your small kitchen design, and combine contrasting textures to keep an all-white room from feeling sterile. Recessed-panel cabinets and crown molding create subtle shadows that can add interest, too.
Connect To The Outdoors
A small kitchen for one is no problem, but when you add guests, it can start to get crowded. Double French doors leading to your back porch can open up a small galley kitchen. If your dining space is tight, consider opting for a bistro set or small kitchen table with benches to keep the layout open.
Line It Up
To visually expand a tiny kitchen, install tile in a horizontal arrangement. This small kitchen backsplash features a horizontal stacked bond pattern, which makes the small kitchen seem wider than its actual footprint. Open shelving and butcherblock countertops mimic the look for cohesiveness.
Get Creative With Pantry Storage
No designated pantry? No problem. Utilize clever cabinet add-ons for small kitchen pantry storage. French doors on this upper cabinet swing open to reveal built-in spice racks that take advantage of deep cabinets that hide snacks and staples. A countertop drawer keeps daily cooking essentials close at hand.
Make a small kitchen look larger by connecting your backsplash and countertops for a cohesive look. In this small space, black and white granite countertops extend up the walls for a seamless appearance. A gray and white color scheme draws from the natural stone to prevent the small kitchen from looking too busy.
Accessible Storage
An easy way to keep clutter off limited countertop space is with easy-to-access storage. For small kitchen ideas, we love installing open shelving. Here, the top shelf is longer to accommodate occasional drinkware while glasses that see daily use go beneath. A magnetic strip on the fridge holds cutlery within reach of the prep space.
Use A Low-Contrast Color Scheme
Creating a kitchen color scheme with little difference between the colors of walls, countertops, cabinetry, and woodwork makes a space appear larger than it really is. Here, the cabinets, trim, and backsplash are close in color value—a soft gray-green—so the eye doesn’t trip over sudden shifts from dark to light. The small kitchen remodel is serene and expansive.
Replace Cabinet Doors With Glass
One way to make a small kitchen appear larger is to remove some cabinet doors or replace the solid fronts with glass. This pulls the eye past the cabinet frames, into the depths of the cabinets, so the walls feel farther away. This trick is most effective if you can keep what’s in the cabinets orderly and color-coordinated; clutter tends to make a room feel crowded.
Welcome Natural Light
Natural light enlarges any space and should be incorporated into your small kitchen ideas. You might have no choice about the number or placement of windows in your kitchen, but you can maximize the light you do have by keeping window treatments minimal. Here, blinds add privacy without blocking the light. If you want more privacy, try an opaque shade that allows light in.
Borrow Space
Depending on your home’s layout, you might be able to remove part of a wall separating the kitchen from an adjoining living or dining room. It won’t increase the square footage of the kitchen, but it can vastly enlarge the sense of space, bringing in more light and a feeling of openness. A half-wall turned into a table or small kitchen peninsula is a great solution for small families or empty nesters.
Slenderize The Furnishings
A small kitchen dictates small-scale furnishings, but take it a step further by choosing a small kitchen island, bar chairs, or stools that are visually lightweight, such as this small industrial island. Clean lines don’t distract the eye, and the furniture piece allows you to see the floor and walls beyond, making the room feel larger.