Tips on How to Make a Small Kitchen Look Big

Merino Laminates, August 15, 2024

In homes today, space is a real luxury and both designers and homeowners are seeking small kitchen design ideas that will not only make the space look pleasant but will also help maximise small kitchen space, thus making the most of the area available. By using smart spatial planning tips, choosing the right finishes and executing mindful planning, one can create a beautiful and a highly utilitarian kitchen. Here are some easy design tips on how to make small kitchen look big:

1. Monochrome as a theme: Instead of using a plethora of colours in combination or contrast, choosing a simple, monochromatic colour palette is a great way to create an illusion of space. This is one of the best small kitchen design ideas, that you can use both for a new kitchen or a small kitchen makeover. Continuity in colours across different surfaces will help create an illusion of large spaces, and using glossy laminates like the ones available in the Gloss Meister catalogue  from Merino further add to this purpose as they are highly glossy and reflective, thus creating sleek, reflective surfaces that make a space look much larger.

2. Usage of light colours: If you want your kitchen to look much larger than it is, opt for lighter colours for the laminates and paints. Lighter colours are known to deflect more light and glossy laminates have a higher reflective index, thus making them an ideal choice for a small kitchen. You could use classic whites or beiges or explore more colours like light blue, light green etc.

 

3. Opting for closed storage: Maximise small kitchen space by opting for closed storage units. While you are planning a small kitchen layout, you must focus on creating ample storage solutions and having closed full length cabinets not only provides abundant storage, it also creates uniform, sleek lines and surfaces that look expansive and large. You may often come across open shelving in many kitchen decor inspirations, but open shelving is not only high maintenance as it demands constant cleaning, but it also starts cluttering quickly thus making the whole space look messy and unorganised. So hide away those extra utensils, gadgets and groceries in closed tall units and slim pantries to create clutter free counters that look clean, tidy and spacious.

 

4. Minimalistic backsplash: Any space that has too many colours, textures or patterns tends to look messy and small. These varying designs cause a break in the uniformity in the space which makes the space look much smaller. Thus, if one is wondering about how to make a small kitchen look big, one of the things that they must omit are a lot of textures. Often, we see that the tiles or stone cladding chosen for the backsplash is full of patterns, often in contrast to the colour of the laminate. This is a big no if you want your space to look large. Opt for minimal or no textures in your backsplash and try to stick to the same colours as the laminate in order to create uniformity across the space. Pair this with ample task lights hidden below the cabinets to further create an illusion of spaciousness.

 

5. Add the right lighting: Lighting plays a very important role in determining the ambiance of a space. Dark, poorly lit spaces often look small and closed in, While this may work for a space like a bedroom, kitchens must have abundant natural light and ventilation as it is a space where a lot of work like cutting, cleaning, washing etc is done. Having ample natural light can be a game changer and this along with the usage of light and bright colours can help make the space look vibrant and airy. Thus, try to have large windows in your kitchen and combine this with strategically placed artificial lights. Installing lights within cabinets, under the cabinets etc, not only enhances the quality of the space you create but it also helps in making your compact kitchen look more organised and spacious.

We hope that these tips help you make the most of your compact kitchen! While the spatial planning is key to make the most of the space available, the finishes play a key role in determining the final look and ambiance of any space. Merino Laminates offers an exciting range of highly glossy laminates, which have a high reflective index and are a very popular choice for kitchens. Not only do they look great, but they are also easy to maintain and clean as the smooth, mirror-like surface is extremely user friendly and highly durable as these surfaces are scratch resistant and sturdy.