The beautiful East Devon coast is scattered with charming villages and towns, which simply wouldn’t be complete without their iconic Edwardian seafront houses and quaint cottages. However, these properties often aren’t blessed with the largest kitchens, and so for many of our clients, maximising space is a must. If you are faced with the task of rethinking a compact kitchen, you may find these clever design tricks helpful…
Use Colour Cleverly
It’s no secret that colour can dramatically impact your interior. And one of the most popular colours when it comes to creating the illusion of space is white. However, you’ll need to use this hue cleverly to achieve the desired result, as it can accentuate dark corners and leave a room looking bland. We’ve used white to great effect in this Axminster kitchen by relying on undercabinet lighting to illuminate those dark patches and blue base cabinets to bring vibrancy and personality to the scheme. Keeping the blue hue below the eye line further helps establish a sense of openness and height.
Warm Up An All-White Kitchen
Another way to warm up a white kitchen is by introducing natural wood accents. While this bright white handleless kitchen appears streamlined and spacious, without the beautiful woodgrain finishes and glowing lighting, it could look rather cold and washed out. White works best in rooms that receive plenty of bright natural light.
Don’t Be Afraid To Use A Deeper Hue
Deeper shades can, in fact, work equally well in small spaces as they tend to absorb light, creating a wonderful sense of depth. Slightly muted hues with warm undertones such as dusky pink, olive green, or even a soft navy are ideal.
Create The Illusion Of Space With Mirror Finishes
Mirrors are one of the oldest tricks in the book when it comes to making a room appear larger. Though they might not be the first thing that comes to mind when designing a kitchen, you can incorporate mirrored surfaces into your interior by choosing a stylish mirror splashback. The reflective gold splashback in the kitchen below looks stunning.
Don’t Have Space For An Island? Consider A Peninsula!
It’s all very well making your kitchen appear bigger. However, it’s no good having a space that looks great but doesn’t work practically. Peninsulas can make a fantastic functional addition to a room. They provide useful extra worktop and storage space and also offer a lovely spot to enjoy a cup of coffee or a snack. Please click here to learn more.
Utilise Open Shelving
Storage is always essential regardless of the size of your kitchen. And while it can be tempting to line every wall with cabinets from top to bottom, this is likely to leave your room feeling rather cramped and claustrophobic, especially if you’re already limited on space. Opting for open shelving rather than overhead cupboards allows you to maximise storage and add character to your kitchen while creating an airy and inviting feel.
Introduce Lift-Up Cupboards
If you do include wall cabinets in your design, you may want to consider selecting a clever opening mechanism. Here at PB Home Solutions, we offer sliding and bi-fold door designs as well as these ingenious servo drive lift-up cabinets, all of which make it easier and safer to access food and crockery.
Make The Most Of The Smallest Spaces
With a small kitchen, you’ll need to make the most of every inch of space. Slim pull-out cupboards provide the perfect place to store bottles, herbs and spices, or even tea towels.
Add A Utensil Rack
Another clever way to maximise storage and keep your worktops clutter-free is by installing a rack to hang utensils and pans. A utensil rack can make a rather charming addition to the kitchen.
Opt For A Clever Corner Solution
Corners can cause issues in terms of accessibility. Thus, you’ll need to devise a clever solution to ensure this space doesn’t go to waste. Corner carousels make accessing the back of your base units much easier. Thanks to their luxurious finish and impressive capacity, our brilliant corner pantry cupboards are also very popular.
Consider A Boiling Water Tap
Boiling water taps such as the Quooker make a great addition to small kitchens. Getting rid of your electric kettle allows you to gain worktop space and bring a streamlined look to your design. Plus, they make cooking and preparing hot drinks so much quicker and easier!
Small kitchens have the potential to be just as stylish and practical as larger ones. However, you may need to dedicate a little extra thought to your design to make sure you truly get the most from your space. Here at PB Home Solutions, we’ve helped lots of clients transform their compact kitchens. If you would like more advice on maximising a small space, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can call our friendly team on 01297 692250 or email info@pbhomesolutions.co.uk.