How to Make a Small Kitchen Appear Larger

Is your small kitchen getting in the way of you making dinner or entertaining? Do you find yourself getting frustrated over the space you do have? While you may not be able to actually make your kitchen larger, there are things you can do to at least make your small kitchen space appear bigger.Bring in the lightMaking a small kitchen brighter can instantly make it look larger. If you have windows in the room do not cover them up with blinds or curtains. Open them up. Let the light shine in and naturally brighten the small kitchen space. Changing your lights to halogens or accent lights can also make the room bright. You may have to change your fixtures to accommodate these types of lights, but it will make your space appear larger.Lighten up the colorDark wall or ceiling colors make a room appear smaller than it really is. Take a look at the colors in your kitchen. Are they dark and dreary? Simply adding a lighter color to your small kitchen space can make it larger. If you do not want a stark white think about a pale yellow or soft blue. This will add a little color to the small kitchen but still make the space appear larger.Hide the furnitureWhile having a table in the kitchen may be necessary sometimes, the table does not always have to be there. Think about getting a table that will fold up and stand in a corner or hang on a wall. This will actually make your small kitchen larger or at least appear larger for a little while. If you really do need your table all the time then think about putting in an island.  This will add storage space and if the counter overhangs a little then you still have a table to eat at. Get a couple of bar stools that will slide under the counter so they do not take up space. Putting panels on your refrigerator can practically make it disappear and make it seem like it does not stick out as far. This can make your small kitchen space have more smooth lines and appear larger.Taller cabinetsReplacing some of your cabinets can also make a small kitchen appear larger. Cabinets should be tall and go to the ceiling in order to make the room appear taller. If you do not want all of the cabinets to reach the ceiling think about stair-stepping them. Not only will this make your small kitchen appear larger you will have more cabinet space to hide all of the clutter on the counters.  Keeping the clutter to a minimum is also an instant way to make the space larger.Your first choice may be to actually make your kitchen larger by knocking out a wall or two but these simple changes can save you the time and money by just making your small kitchen appear larger. Try out a few of them to see what works best for your kitchen.