7 Small Kitchen Remodel Ideas

When it comes to remodeling your home, how is it that working with less space can sometimes be more challenging? If you are looking to remodel a small kitchen, you have probably had this thought more than once. With a small kitchen remodel, there is less square footage, so every piece of wall space counts. Even a little bit of clutter can make the whole place feel like a mess. Thankfully, Modernize has some helpful small kitchen remodel ideas that will go a long way.

1. Clear out the clutter

Before making any big plans for your kitchen remodel, first go through all your utensils, cookware, appliances and storage containers. You will likely be surprised to find out how many extras and duplicates you have, items that broke years ago, containers with missing lids, and that blender that never left the box. Collect the things you don’t need in your kitchen, and drop them off at your favorite charity, or gift them to a friend or family member. Once you clear up unwanted items, you may already see a difference in the space you do have. Even if you have a large kitchen, this is an effective exercise for de-cluttering.  

2. Maximize the kitchen

Maximizing your kitchen space as much as possible is a must for small kitchen remodels. This may seem like an obvious small kitchen remodel idea, but can be tricky to actually execute.

Now that you’ve cleared out the clutter, do an inventory of your kitchen. Investigate whether there are places that are not being utilized to their full potential. Often, you will find slivers of cabinet space or odd corners that are left open, and could be utilized as functional kitchen space.

Filler drawers are great ways to make use of spaces that are too small for plates, but perfect for cooking utensils and spices. Bottom cabinets are also a great addition for storage if your kitchen doe not yet have them. If you have the ability to add a small island in your kitchen—there are rolling islands, too!—consider one with storage that will double as a food prep station, as well as something you can use for entertaining. 

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3. Add lighting for ambiance

Just because you have a small kitchen does not mean you have to forego functional and visually appealing lighting options. Setting aside some of your kitchen remodel budget for lighting can brighten up the space and add an appealing ambiance. You can opt for recessed lighting, but there are also elegant lighting fixtures that can work as well.

Think about smaller fixtures or bare bulb fixtures, as opposed to ones with large shades and covers. This is an opportunity to give the kitchen a modern and industrial look, or simply an airy, open feel. It will take up less space as well as brighten up your small kitchen, making it appear larger.

4. Open up the space

A small kitchen appears even smaller when it’s closed-in with walls. If yours was built with a wall dividing it from the rest of your living area, as many older homes did, consider tearing it down to open up the kitchen.

Open kitchen and living room concepts are highly sought after by home buyers today and can add value to your home. Additionally, this new layout not only adds some breathing room to the layout of your home, but you won’t be bumping elbows with your family as you try to put dinner together. You’ll no longer be locked away in the kitchen by yourself while entertaining friends and family!

5. Be smart with storage

Everything should have a designated storage place, whether your kitchen is big or small. But this idea is even more important when you’re working with less space.

There are great storage solutions out there to help stack pans neatly, keep utensils together, and organize the pantry. A trip to your favorite home store will give you inspiration to organize your kitchen items and keep the space tidy. Your kitchen remodel contractor may even have ideas for installations that can help with storage.

6. Take advantage of design tricks

There are design ideas to utilize to make your kitchen feel more open and airy. For example, open shelving has become more popular as a style choice. It also makes the kitchen feel larger because you’ve eliminated the bulky cabinets.

If open shelves are not an option for you, consider getting cabinets with glass doors. Other tricks include larger floor tiles, backsplash tiles, and light paint colors. Finally, if you don’t have a window in the kitchen, see where one can be added to bring in more natural light. A bay window over the sink is a good choice.

7. Invest in a professional’s help

A DIY kitchen remodel can be appealing for many homeowners in order to cut down on the budget. However, there’s often times when the help of a professional pays off and yields a higher return on investment. A small kitchen remodel is one of those times.

A professional kitchen remodeler will offer plenty of advice and ideas on how to maximize your kitchen space. They can also discuss payment and financing options, so that you can complete the project within your ideal budget.

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