jeudi 21 novembre 2013

Big Ideas For Small Kitchens

By Kathy M. Paris


Are you stuck with a small kitchen but you have some big ideas? Do you have kitchen envy and you wish that you had the counter space and floor space that your friends or family have. At times, you've thought of knocking down a wall or putting an addition on to your house but that's simply not in the cards right now. You are stuck with a small kitchen so you must make the best with what you have. How can you make the most of a small kitchen, though? How can you make your small space feel more spacious and more pleasant for you and your family?

Acceptance that your kitchen is the size that it is should be your first step in your kitchen remodel. While you might envy other big kitchens with a center island, big stainless steel range hoods and room enough to dance, small kitchens can be pretty stylish. Small kitchens are cute, cozy and unique. Packing everything into a small space means that everything is handy. Also, think about how much quicker it is to clean a small kitchen!

Spend as much time as possible planning and thinking things through before you undertake the groundbreaking of your remodeling project. The planning phase can be just as much fun as doing the actual work. There are materials that need to be picked out, colors that need to be chosen and you will find that have more options than you thought thanks to the size of your kitchen. A kitchen remodel can be expensive but thanks to the small size, you can outfit the space with finer quality materials than if you were bedecking a grander space. Cheating yourself by cutting costs with cheaper materials will show in the end product and we're talking about what is often considered the center of your home. This calls for some nice quality counter tops, fine flooring and exquisite cabinetry. Take your time finding the perfect materials for your project. You won't regret it.

Your lighting scheme is one aspect of a remodeling job that is often an after-thought for most people. Planning this out ahead of time and including it as a specific category in your design is a must. You have under counter lighting that you can explore, main lighting fixtures as well as accent lighting which can show off different aspects of your kitchen such as cabinets or a focal point. A well thought out lighting plan that's original and granular can be used to set the mood for your kitchen whether you're having a holiday party or sneaky around late at night for a midnight snack. Check out different fixtures and explore all your options including track lighting. It's not just for your living room or den anymore.

Try to keep everything to scale in your small kitchen. Smaller appliances such as refrigerators and microwaves can add space and give the illusion that the room is a little bigger than it actually is. Allow this thinking to come into play when you're choosing flooring and wallpaper, if you want to go in that direction. You can also find small coffee makers, mixers and blenders that won't overwhelm your space. Even your central lighting fixtures should be smaller as well as your hardware for you sink. Try to keep this in mind when your choosing these elements for your remodeling project.

Storage is always a problem in any kitchen and having appliances lined up on the counter top is how most of us showcase our smaller appliances. Under cabinet appliances, such as coffee makers, can openers and microwave ovens can save counter space. Another option is to find storage space for those appliances that we don't use every day such as mixers and blenders. It might take a few moments to retrieve these appliances from under a counter or in a closet but less clutter means more space in your small kitchen.

While these are only a few ideas to enhance your small kitchen, there are no hard and fast rules for kitchen remodeling. Break the rules if you want and see how you feel. After all, it's your kitchen and you should feel happy when you walk into your own kitchen. Cooking in a small kitchen can be enjoyable so let your instincts dictate what you surround yourself with as well as where everything needs to be. A small kitchen doesn't have to bring shame upon your home. A small kitchen can be cozy and quaint if you show it the attention it deserves as one of the focal points of you home.




About the Author:



Aucun commentaire:

Enregistrer un commentaire