Little Ideas for a Small Kitchen

The kitchen can be a difficult place to decorate and remodel, as you have to pay attention to functionality as much as the decorative aspects. The key to good kitchen designs is that it should allow you to utilize the space conveniently and safely. Practicality, however, should not be the only thing you think about when you decorate a kitchen; your kitchen should also have its charm and style just like other rooms in your house. Here are some clever kitchen ideas that will help you use the small space efficiently and turn your boring kitchen into an attractive spot:

Over the years, your collection of pots and pans can become overwhelming and take up almost all your cabinet space. An overhead rack is a smart alternative for a small kitchen with too many cooking gadgets. A simple overhead pot rack should cost less than $100. But if you have a very small budget, you can make one yourself. For example, try adapting your unwanted garden trellis into a useful rack. (Make sure it is solid and sturdy; you don't want all those pots and pans to fall on your head.) Saw it down to the proper size, paint it with the color you like, and hang it up with strong ropes and screw hooks. Try to keep your overhead rack organized. Avoid cluttering it. Also, you can use it to display some selected kitchen gadgets that you would like to show off.

As I mentioned in my previous article, Decorating a Small Living Room, large windows can brighten up small spaces and make the room look more spacious. If your kitchen only has little windows, however, a skylight can be very helpful. The kitchen is a working space that needs plentiful light. If there is a possibility to install a skylight when you remodel your kitchen, don't hesitate to do so. During the day, a skylight should provide refreshing natural brightness to the room, therefore it also helps you save electricity.

Rows of open shelves can make a small kitchen look much more airy and roomy than closed wall cabinets. If you have a large countertop but no cabinet space left, you may want to make the best out of that counter space by adding a ready-made, pigeon-hole, open cabinet to it and display some of your favorite mugs, bowls, teapots, etc. Open shelving also makes your kitchen storage system more functional, as it allows you to see and grab your frequently used items right away.

Stylish designer furniture can beautify a dreary kitchen in one snap of the fingers, BUT not everyone can afford that. Sometimes, with a budget challenge, you just have to buy the cheapest kitchen cabinets available. It does not mean, however, that you have to be stuck with a boring-looking kitchen forever. Repainting your kitchen furniture and the walls can be a nifty way to add your style and a designer touch to it. Try to use soft and cheerful colors because they will help reflect the light and make the room look bigger. Be a little playful with the color scheme. Kitchen repainting can be really fun.