A Small Kitchen Is Not a Sentence: Design Ideas from an Experienced Designer
Almost all housewives dream of a large kitchen, where all the necessary items can be easily placed, and there will be enough space for family dinners.
However, in real life this is not always the case, and often people are not spoiled by an abundance of square centimeters.
There are projects where very little kitchen space is allocated, but little is not a death sentence, says Yulia Tychino .
Taking into account the principles of ergonomics and proper planning, you can create a comfortable and cozy environment in a space of any size.
Designing a small kitchen is not an easy task, because you need to place everything you need in it: kitchen units, household appliances, kitchen furniture, and also to leave space for gatherings, it should be comfortable and functional.
It may seem incredible, but designers know very well how to solve this problem for the benefit of the housewife.
When planning a small kitchen, it is important to decide on your wishes and preferences: what style of interior you want and what result you would like to get. Suitable options for such a room are: minimalism or hi-tech, eco style, Scandinavian, Provence style.
It is not recommended to use the classic style in the interior of a small kitchen, since it implies the possibility of installing a large kitchen set, as well as the use of many small decorative elements. In a small space, this style will make the kitchen even smaller.
Some practical tips on how to expand your kitchen.
Use light tones of finishing materials: white, milky, beige, gray. These colors can visually expand the space because they add light. A light room always visually expands the space.
Therefore, it is better to avoid flashy or dark colors, or, if necessary, use their calm variations: for example, soft lavender instead of dark purple, bright peach instead of carrot, etc. Do not be afraid of bright walls. Remember that any neutral wall can be saturated with unusual decor in different dark tones.
When thinking about the overall concept of the kitchen, use the "rule of three colors" (use only three main shades in the design). Think about which one will be the main one, and then choose the accompanying colors.
Do not use too many colors, otherwise the interior will be too saturated and too eye-catching. If you choose one of the cold colors as the key one, then the other shades should also be cold. For example, in the case of laminate or parquet, you can use relatively cold variations of wood color.
Avoid complex pictures, whether it is photo wallpaper or a wall panel with a complex image. All these elements will definitely reduce the space.
If you want variety in the interior, it is better to choose contrasting textures. For example, matte and glossy, or imitation plaster, from which many decorations are made.
When choosing furniture for a small kitchen, an important issue is their arrangement and correct selection.
It is preferable to start with a plan of the room itself - a superficial view that you can draw yourself or with the help of a computer. This will allow you to redistribute priorities and approach the planning issue wisely.
Corner furniture arrangement is a great option if you have an elongated, rectangular room. In this case, you can avoid using the entire length of the wall and leave a dining area or a recreation area in the room if you have a small kitchen-living room. The corner option is also suitable for a square room.
Several options for visual enlargement:
1. Erase the boundary between the wall and the ceiling. To do this, use one color and structure. For example, decorate the wall behind the kitchen unit with some decor that will go on the ceiling. The main thing is that it is light in color.
2. If you have a small work surface, use a window sill. It can be presented as an independent element, but at the same time neatly and unnoticeably missed for some other purpose.
3. Instead of regular doors, you can use sliding doors – they take up much less space.
4. It is impossible to create a cozy kitchen without decorative details. They add originality, warmth and coziness. But the decor should match each other. Try to buy decorative trinkets from the same collection or in the same style.
Previously, we wrote about how to organize space in a small bedroom.
