The kitchen is the heart of the home, a place where friends and family gather to make memories. But if yours feels a little cramped and less like a hangout spot and more like a sardine can, read on for some tips and tricks to get cooking and open things up. (No wall-removal or overhauls required!)
Line it up
Adding some horizontal elements is a great way to trick the eye into making your kitchen appear longer and larger. (And you don’t have to add crazy stripes to do it.) Just ditch upper cabinets for open shelving, install butcherblock countertops, add in a subway tile backsplash, and voila! Looks like a “bigger” kitchen is now on the menu. 😉
Paint it white
The color white and small kitchens go together like peanut butter and jelly. White reflects light and opens the space up, whereas dark wood cabinets can close you in. With white cabinets, backsplash and ceilings, the space appears bigger. You can mix shades of white, textures and patterns, too. White not your thing? Any light colors will do!
Let the light in
This may seem like a no-brainer, but natural light opens up any space. If your small kitchen has one or more windows, try doing away with any window treatments you may have. Go for a simple, light-filtering shade in a neutral color or white. (Tip: If the window is deep enough, install blinds in the inside of the window rather than over it.) If your ceiling can accommodate it, consider installing a skylight. If you don’t have any windows, consider updating old-school overhead light fixtures with new, energy-efficient track lighting to brighten things up.
Guide the eye
Did you know the human eye is naturally drawn to the highest point in the room? In the kitchen that’s usually the top of the cabinets where dark shadows may appear in the space between them and the ceiling, closing in the space. Banish them by installing upper lighting above the cabinets. Under-cabinet lighting has the same effect, too. Rid your kitchen of dark areas and hard lines that add too much contrast for a more seamless, open design and lighter look.
A place for everything
And everything in its place. It’s no secret that clutter is not your best friend if you’re working with smaller spaces. Eliminating as much clutter as your can from countertops is the way to go when trying to make your kitchen feel bigger. Cookbooks, toasters, small appliances, knife blocks, spices – all of these things can be hidden away in cabinets, drawers, or the pantry. Not only will this de-clutter your kitchen, but give you more counterspace, too!
If these hacks still aren’t workin’ for ya and you’re ready for a more spacious kitchen, we can help! We have tons of Offerpad homes available with kitchens, layouts and floorplans that better suit your needs. You can see what we can cook up for you at buy.offerpad.com from the comfort of your home.
We can do literally (almost) everything – buy, sell, even home loans – so you can spend less time real ‘estat-ing’ and more time living, cooking and baking.