Choose the Right Number of Cabinets

It’s not uncommon in a small kitchen to add as many cabinets as possible. You want to maximize storage, but don’t do so at the expense of creating a stifled space.

Designer Sarah Hargrave with The Collective notes that going overboard with cabinets is one of the biggest mistakes you can make in a small kitchen.

“Do not over-cabinet the walls—especially in a small space,” she says. “Maximizing built-ins may be tempting, but negative space can declutter and visually enlarge a small space.”

Add a Small Peninsula or Island

Islands and peninsulas aren’t seen often in small kitchens where the priority is keeping floor space clear, but, depending on your storage and countertop needs, a small island could be the perfect solution to maximize function and style.

“We opted to do a small perpendicular island in this small kitchen and snuck in additional refrigerators in drawers and created extra storage for dog food,” says designer Anne Pulliam of Anne Pulliam Interiors. “This little section is small but mighty.”

Opt for Reflective Tile on the Backsplash

Much like mirrors reflect light and make a living space or hallway seem bigger, reflective or glossy tile in a small kitchen can make the room look bigger.

“Light reflective tile on the backsplash visually expands a small space,” says Sharon L Sherman, founder of Thyme and Place Design.

Use Different Flooring

Rather than create one open space with the same flooring, use the floor as an opportunity to give a small kitchen more presence and delineation.

Floor transitions demarcate rooms, according to Tal Schori, partner at GRT Architects. This kitchen feels spacious since it’s partially open to the rest of the space.

Choose a Counter-Depth Fridge

Never underestimate the impact that perfectly sized appliances can make in a small kitchen. A paneled cabinet-depth fridge is a worthy splurge for a small kitchen since it saves inches in your walkway, says Johanna Lyle, principal and owner of Jo Lyle & Co.

“A large stainless steel fridge can feel very dominating in a smaller kitchen and can make it feel crowded,” she explains.

Utilize Mirror Surfaces

Use mirrors throughout a small kitchen to reflect light and make it appear as if a small kitchen is filled with windows—this works particularly well in a city kitchen where you’re trying to distract from a narrow or galley floor plan.

“One of my favorite ways of making a small kitchen look bigger is with mirrors,” says Erin Forrey, principal owner and designer of Erin Forrey Design. “I love a mirrored backsplash—it almost makes the wall disappear and magnifies the light in the space.”

Include an Excess of Drawers

When there’s a place for everything, your kitchen will stay organized—even if it’s tiny. Claire Keane, co-founder and interior designer at House Friends, says to include as many drawers as you can.

“Having a whole bunch of drawers is a game-changer, especially when you can fit all of your dishes, Tupperware, pots, pans, and utensils into drawers,” she says. “You’ll never have a more organized kitchen.”

Install Sleek Hardware

Everything within a small kitchen should match the scale, including the tiniest details. Kristina Phillips, owner and principal designer of Kristina Phillips Interior Design, suggests choosing clean-lined kitchen hardware that is small in scale.

Utilize Glass Cabinets

Anywhere you can create light and air will help make a kitchen seem larger, and that includes adding more glass.

“For an added touch of visual excitement, glass-front upper cabinets can enhance the light flow while showcasing curated pieces,” Emily Spanos, principal designer and founder of Emily June Designs, shares. “With the right design choices, even the coziest kitchen becomes a vibrant, welcoming retreat.”

Open Up the Kitchen Selectively

Opening up a small kitchen completely can make it feel like an afterthought within a living space, but opening it up selectively can bring the right amount of light into the room.

In this kitchen, Schori extended kitchen cabinetry to create an intimate feeling, realigning an entry corridor to let light in while also allowing separation that did not disturb sight lines.

Take the Cabinets Up to the Ceiling

Running cabinets to the ceiling has become a design rule in recent years, and, whether you have a postage stamp-sized kitchen or a gourmet cooking space, they help create a more continuous look.

“Draw your eye up by pulling the cabinet to the ceiling or adding some type of ceiling feature that helps guide your eye up, in turn making the space feel larger,” Samantha Pratt, owner and principal designer at Samantha Ashley Designs, explains,

Use the Same Color Throughout

Seamless color on everything from the cabinetry to the walls can create a cohesive look that makes the entire kitchen seem larger.

“Use the same color throughout, by not creating a breaking point for the eye, it tricks your brain into thinking there is more space,” says Cathleen Gruver, lead interior designer at Gruver Cooley Interiors. This is also an easier visual trick to use when the cabinets go to the ceiling.

Use Clean Lines

While ornate detail on cabinetry is beautiful, it can be overwhelming in a small kitchen.

“Design-wise, clean lines in cabinetry, built-in appliances, and the use of soft textures and patterns in surfaces and materials reduce visual clutter,” says Susan Serra, president and designer at Susan Serra Associates, Inc.

Create Layers of Lighting

Layers of lighting will give a small kitchen more depth and intention. In this space, Lyle added a series of flush mounts on the ceiling to replace an old track light.

Bonus: there’s under-cabinet lighting, a cool wicker sconce providing some uplight on the wall, and a vintage lamp on the countertop to make the space feel cozy and collected.

Lay Checkerboard Tile Diagonally

If you’re using tile in your kitchen, consider opting for a checkerboard motif and aligning it on the diagonal within the room. This keeps your eye moving outward across the room and makes the entire space seem larger.

Paint the Ceiling and Trim the Same Color

Use one color that will envelope both the walls and the ceiling so your eye will move 360 degrees without stopping. Color-drenching the kitchen helps make a space feel larger, says Pratt.

Build a Foundation of Light Colors

By using light colors on the biggest elements, such as the floors, walls, and cabinetry, you’ll have an airy foundation that gives the kitchen a more spacious feel.

“Designing a foundation of light-colored flooring, walls, and ceiling creates a visual connection that allows the space to have continuous flow,” Serra explains.

Keep a Clear Path for Movement

A small kitchen will seem even smaller when there’s no room to use the space. Be hyper-aware of movement, says Serra, and take note of all entrances into the kitchen and how they affect traffic flow.

“Movement around the kitchen is the number one consideration for both function and a feeling of spaciousness,” Serra says.

Go Dark

While light colors are typically seen as the answer to make a small kitchen seem larger, Cyndy Cantley, owner of Cantley & Co., suggests going the dark jewel box route instead.

“I say make the most of your small space and make it dramatic,” she says.

Add Contrast

The opposite school of thought to using the same color throughout a small kitchen is to use contrast, pattern, and color to keep the eye bouncing around the space.

“There seems to be a feeling that an all-white space is larger, but I find the opposite,” Sherman says. “The contrast of colors sets a visual rhythm that allows the eye to move around the space, making it feel larger.”

Incorporate a Small Breakfast Area

Even if you have a small kitchen, it’s still worth prioritizing the space for a breakfast area, as Lyle did in this kitchen. By creating even a space for two to three people to sit, it makes it feel like a more intentional room rather than somewhere you get in and get out.

Choose a Vibrant Color

In a small space, consider how the color reflects throughout the space. This green pops in a small apartment and works with the blue living area.

“In an apartment kitchen, selecting the right colors can greatly enhance the space,” Paulina Hospod, interior and architectural designer at Aha Interiors, says. “Be sure to check swatches in various lighting conditions before making a final decision.”