10 Easy Ways to Keep a Small Kitchen Looking Stylish
Maximise style in a small kitchen by following these easy and accessible tips
Nelly Reffet
11 January 2015
Houzz Australia Contributor. Interior Designer at Twinkle & Whistle based in Perth, Western Australia. Creating inspiring and "real" homes for every budget is my bread and butter. Well, make that "baguette and olive oil", in honour of my Mediterranean-French heritage! I believe a beautiful space is not a privilege of wealth and I love nothing more than witnessing how a considerate design positively affects my clients' life.
Houzz Australia Contributor. Interior Designer at Twinkle & Whistle based in Perth,... More
When blessed with a small kitchen, we tend to spend so much time, energy and money trying to create more space and investing in storage solutions that we sometimes forget to add our own personality to it. Follow any of the 10 tips listed here and make your kitchen sing with style!
Create a wow factor
One of the advantages of having a small kitchen is that you can probably splurge a little more on some materials, as you will need less of them. To create a wow factor, it’s best focusing on the largest surfaces of your kitchen, such as the splashback or worktops. Whether you opt for gold-looking tiles or super veiny calacatta marble, dare to be bold and make a statement you will love.
One of the advantages of having a small kitchen is that you can probably splurge a little more on some materials, as you will need less of them. To create a wow factor, it’s best focusing on the largest surfaces of your kitchen, such as the splashback or worktops. Whether you opt for gold-looking tiles or super veiny calacatta marble, dare to be bold and make a statement you will love.
If you are renting or your resources are limited, you can also consider creating a striking splashback with tile decals. These removable stickers come in a variety of patterns and colours and can make a powerful, temporary statement in your small kitchen.
Browse a selection of stylish splashbacks
Browse a selection of stylish splashbacks
Bring in flowers and plants
This has to be the quickest improvement you can make to any room. Whether they are beautifully scented flowers, striking foliage or fresh herbs that can move from the windowsill to your cooking pot, greenery immediately adds personality, interest and colour, and makes the space feel loved and lived-in.
This has to be the quickest improvement you can make to any room. Whether they are beautifully scented flowers, striking foliage or fresh herbs that can move from the windowsill to your cooking pot, greenery immediately adds personality, interest and colour, and makes the space feel loved and lived-in.
If you don’t have any places for plants on your worktop, look upwards. You can use an open shelf or the top of a cabinet to house a plant with cascading branches, such as a Devil’s ivy (Epipremnum aureum) or strings of bananas (Senecio radicans).
Discover 8 benefits of house plants
Discover 8 benefits of house plants
Use large chopping boards
A large chopping board can extend your preparation zone, as it can be used over the sink or on the hob (when it’s not in use, of course) to free up some worktop space. It can also hide a significant portion of your worktop, which can be very handy if the latter is not exactly good looking. Don’t limit yourself to wooden chopping boards – offcuts of engineered stone or granite can also do wonders without breaking the bank.
A large chopping board can extend your preparation zone, as it can be used over the sink or on the hob (when it’s not in use, of course) to free up some worktop space. It can also hide a significant portion of your worktop, which can be very handy if the latter is not exactly good looking. Don’t limit yourself to wooden chopping boards – offcuts of engineered stone or granite can also do wonders without breaking the bank.
Display your funky appliances
With limited storage, you might not be able to store all of your appliances out of sight. Even if you limit your number of appliances and keep the bare minimum, it is likely you will still end up with a kettle and toaster. If you have colourful, fun or simply beautiful appliances, leaving them on your worktop will solve the storage issue, and will double up as a decorative statement.
Obviously, appliances shouldn’t be chosen for their looks alone – efficiency, durability, and other more technical aspects must be taken into consideration. However, many good-looking and well-performing options are available today, and cater for a variety of budgets, so it pays to investigate and shop around.
With limited storage, you might not be able to store all of your appliances out of sight. Even if you limit your number of appliances and keep the bare minimum, it is likely you will still end up with a kettle and toaster. If you have colourful, fun or simply beautiful appliances, leaving them on your worktop will solve the storage issue, and will double up as a decorative statement.
Obviously, appliances shouldn’t be chosen for their looks alone – efficiency, durability, and other more technical aspects must be taken into consideration. However, many good-looking and well-performing options are available today, and cater for a variety of budgets, so it pays to investigate and shop around.
Add a rug
This idea is always a little bit controversial. ‘A rug in the kitchen? It will get filthy,’ you might think… ‘What if we trip on it? It could be a hazard,’ you might add… While this tip certainly doesn’t work for everyone, it can create a wonderful and practical space for others.
When selecting your rug, choose an outdoor rug made of recycled plastic that can be wiped clean (even hosed down!). Alternatively, go for a flatweave that can easily be chucked in the washing machine. In both cases, use anti-slip pads under your rug to minimise the risk of any unwanted underfoot action.
This idea is always a little bit controversial. ‘A rug in the kitchen? It will get filthy,’ you might think… ‘What if we trip on it? It could be a hazard,’ you might add… While this tip certainly doesn’t work for everyone, it can create a wonderful and practical space for others.
When selecting your rug, choose an outdoor rug made of recycled plastic that can be wiped clean (even hosed down!). Alternatively, go for a flatweave that can easily be chucked in the washing machine. In both cases, use anti-slip pads under your rug to minimise the risk of any unwanted underfoot action.
Hang art
When your flat surfaces are all occupied, go vertical! Use the walls to personalise your small kitchen by hanging art. Vintage posters or maps, funky prints, photos of people or places you love… it doesn’t even have to be kitchen-related. Choose your artworks for what they mean to you. You might want to steer clear of canvas, though, as it will quickly deteriorate from the likes of kitchen grease, smoke and steam.
When your flat surfaces are all occupied, go vertical! Use the walls to personalise your small kitchen by hanging art. Vintage posters or maps, funky prints, photos of people or places you love… it doesn’t even have to be kitchen-related. Choose your artworks for what they mean to you. You might want to steer clear of canvas, though, as it will quickly deteriorate from the likes of kitchen grease, smoke and steam.
Replace knobs and handles
So your kitchen is the size of a dollhouse and your budget is tight? Replacing hardware is still an option for you! It is not limited to the above profile, though – any kitchen, big or small, could benefit from such a change. For a large choice of affordable models, check websites such as Etsy and eBay. DIY blogs are also great resources for making trendy knobs and handles out of ceramic or leather, giving you the opportunity to practise your creative talents.
So your kitchen is the size of a dollhouse and your budget is tight? Replacing hardware is still an option for you! It is not limited to the above profile, though – any kitchen, big or small, could benefit from such a change. For a large choice of affordable models, check websites such as Etsy and eBay. DIY blogs are also great resources for making trendy knobs and handles out of ceramic or leather, giving you the opportunity to practise your creative talents.
Show off your tea towels
Another super-cheap idea that works well in tiny spaces is to display your tea towels. They come in so many patterns, colours and styles, it’s literally impossible not to find one that would work for your kitchen. Once you’ve found a few designs you are happy with, look for napkins and oven gloves that are in line with your tea towels. It may sound a little bit funny, but it’s important to stay consistent with your kitchen linen choice, especially because tea towels, oven gloves and napkins are likely to share the same space at the same time.
Another super-cheap idea that works well in tiny spaces is to display your tea towels. They come in so many patterns, colours and styles, it’s literally impossible not to find one that would work for your kitchen. Once you’ve found a few designs you are happy with, look for napkins and oven gloves that are in line with your tea towels. It may sound a little bit funny, but it’s important to stay consistent with your kitchen linen choice, especially because tea towels, oven gloves and napkins are likely to share the same space at the same time.
Open up your storage
While a clutter-free, well-balanced, perfectly styled open-shelving arrangement can be very difficult to create (and sustain), such storage is a wonderful option for small kitchens. First of all, it opens up the space, making it larger and airier at the same time. It also allows you to take the microwave or other appliances off the worktop, so you have a spot to store and display your cookbooks, favourite china or other kitchenalia that are too pretty to be hidden behind closed doors.
While a clutter-free, well-balanced, perfectly styled open-shelving arrangement can be very difficult to create (and sustain), such storage is a wonderful option for small kitchens. First of all, it opens up the space, making it larger and airier at the same time. It also allows you to take the microwave or other appliances off the worktop, so you have a spot to store and display your cookbooks, favourite china or other kitchenalia that are too pretty to be hidden behind closed doors.
Consider lighting
Last but not least, an essential element of a successful kitchen – big or small – is lighting. Under cabinets, above the hob, over the island or the sink, there are so many areas that require good lighting in a kitchen. Use a combination that works for you.
When in doubt, or on a limited budget, replace the overhead ceiling lighting with a couple of well-placed dimmable downlights. In a small kitchen, these should give you enough light to perform all your preparation and cooking without risking your fingers, while having the option to be dimmed to a much softer light, which is ideal for open-plan areas.
TELL US…
Do you have a small kitchen? How do you keep it looking stylish? Share your tips in the Comments below.
Last but not least, an essential element of a successful kitchen – big or small – is lighting. Under cabinets, above the hob, over the island or the sink, there are so many areas that require good lighting in a kitchen. Use a combination that works for you.
When in doubt, or on a limited budget, replace the overhead ceiling lighting with a couple of well-placed dimmable downlights. In a small kitchen, these should give you enough light to perform all your preparation and cooking without risking your fingers, while having the option to be dimmed to a much softer light, which is ideal for open-plan areas.
TELL US…
Do you have a small kitchen? How do you keep it looking stylish? Share your tips in the Comments below.
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Simple colour scheme with very clean lines. No visible electrical points or switches, no tiling, up-stands or splash back
Love the black cafe style table and chairs in the first photo as we have a small dini g space in our kitchen ~ where can I source them ?