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Simple Tips For Making A Small Kithen Look Larger
Where do you spend most of your time in your home? If you are like most families, it’s probably in the kitchen. It seems that no matter how large your kitchen is, it never feels big enough.
Several years ago, after completely redesigning the floor plan, I remodeled my kitchen. First, we knocked down a wall (which was a lot of fun) and installed a garden window over the sink, even with the countertop. Then we added both an island with an overhang, with room for three chairs or stools, and a food-prep peninsula at table height, also with an overhang with room for three or four stools.
Here are several ideas for you to consider that will make your kitchen feel and look larger. Remember, it’s not necessary to follow all of them, but even implementing one will make a big difference in your kitchen.
Create More Storage
Make your storage space more efficient. Try installing a base cabinet where the door is attached to roll-out shelves rather than swinging open on hinges. This convenient cabinet is a great place to store your most-used appliances. With pull-out shelves, you can easily reach those items stored in the back of the cabinet.
Redo Your Cabinets
Add glass fronts to your wall cabinets. Even better, replace those solid cabinet doors with glass fronts along one of your walls. This will give the room a more open feel.
Add Light
Under-the-counter lighting will make your kitchen appear larger. Another great option is to use light colors when decorating, especially with your cabinets and countertops.
Create Height with Taller Wall Cabinets
Remove those soffits and install your cabinets to the ceiling. You might also try “stair-stepping” the cabinets. You can do this by starting with a taller cabinet and then lining the others progressively shorter. Above the shorter cabinets, you now have a great space to display your collectibles, baskets and teapots. The hard-to-reach top shelves of the taller cabinets make a great place to store all those holiday dishes and serving pieces you seldom use.
Bring the Outdoors In
Try enlarging your windows, or replace one with a garden window installed at countertop height. Want an even brighter kitchen? Add a skylight or sky pipe.
Streamline Your Kitchen
Most of us go through our clothes closet once or twice a year and get rid of those items we no longer use. The same should be done in the kitchen. Be sure to regularly reorganize your kitchen, getting rid of all those items you don’t use. This simple chore will make your kitchen feel much more roomy. Remember, a cluttered kitchen always feels smaller.
Build a Useful Island
For those of you with an eat-in kitchen but no room for an island, consider replacing the kitchen table with an island. This will give you, not only an eating area, but you will gain added storage for seldom-used items. This is an easy project. Start with base cabinets either table height or counter height. Then simply top them with a countertop material. To make room for chairs or stools, extend the counter 12 to 16 inches beyond the sides of the cabinets.
Install Storage Trays
You can find specially made narrow trays at your local hardware store or home center. These are easy to install on the back of false drawer fronts at the sink and cooktop. By doing this, you can significantly reduce your clutter around your sink and stove, thereby creating a larger-looking space.
Free Up Counter Space
Tired of cluttered countertops? Free up your counter by installing an under-the-counter microwave, can opener, spice rack or toaster.
Open Up Those Walls
Is your dining room next to your kitchen? Consider opening the wall between them. Check to see if the wall is load-bearing. If not, then this could be an easy do-it-yourself project.
Create Open Shelving
Design your kitchen to include open shelving. Openly displayed colorful plates, glasses, teapots or other collectibles always makes a small kitchen look larger. You can do this by simply taking the doors off your cabinets. Paint the inside a bright, cheery color. Another option might be to take down existing cabinets altogether and add colorful shelves instead to make the room feel more open.
Avo Barsoumian has been in the flooring and interior decorating industry for over 25 years. He is the owner of Carpet Wagon, a family owned flooring company in Orange County. The carry the best in elegant hardwood flooring, beautiful laminate flooring and plush carpeting. So whether you’re looking for plank wood floors for your new town home or laminate floor stair to makeover your older home then Carpet Wagon carries everything you need.
Chris Brown – Take You Down
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