Remodeling Ideas for a Small Kitchen

by Joe Cooper
Face Your Kitchen Columnist

Small kitchen remodeling can be a challenge given restricted space and the limited number of available improvements. Small kitchens often come with budget restrictions as well, but that shouldn't discourage you. You can make a few strategic changes to spruce up your small kitchen without breaking the bank.

Small Kitchen Remodeling Tips

The key to small kitchen remodeling is using lighter colors, slim kitchen tools and appliances, and adding a few details that tie it all together.

• Lighter is Lovely
Tiny spaces can appear to expand by using lighter colors, which help reflect light and don't impose dark borders on the room. Here is where kitchen cabinet refacing can help--refacing dark, worn cabinets to a lighter color and better finish can brighten your small kitchen. Refacing a small kitchen's cabinets is also more affordable than a mid-size or large kitchen.
• Slim Satisfies
Choosing narrow appliances that sit together in a small cabinet can help maximize space. Slim silver appliances can also add a nice accent to counters without taking too much valuable working space.
• Delicate Details
Choosing a few ceramic tiles to update your backsplash, or even just a few as a border, can add some needed style to your small kitchen. If you're refacing your kitchen cabinets at the same time, ask your cabinet professional if they can install these tiles for you. Other details can be small, brightly colored vases, a new rug for the sink area, or well-chosen wall hangings.

If you go with kitchen cabinet refacing during your small kitchen remodeling, another idea that maximizes space is a glossy finish for doors and drawers. Cabinet refacing offers a variety of color and finish options. A glossy exterior can also make the space seem larger by reflecting more light in the room.

Source

• HGTV

About the Author
Joe Cooper writes home services and design articles and edits medical literature. He holds a bachelor's in American Literature from UCLA.