7 Ways to Make Your Kitchen Feel Much Bigger: Redesign Your Cramped Cooking Space

A tiny kitchen can feel like a curse, but it can become manageable and charming if you know how to take advantage of the available space. Whether you have a tiny apartment galley or a relatively big suburban kitchen, the good news is that you don't have to undergo a major renovation in order to make your space appear larger. With some smart design decisions and a few clever accessory hacks, you can make your kitchen feel open and airy — and surprisingly spacious.

There are more small kitchens than you may realize. Recent U.S. home design studies indicate that the average kitchens in American homes are less than 200 square feet in size (68%). But size needn't restrict your kitchen's functionality. The trick is to multiply every inch by visual devices that fool the eye into perceiving more space than is actually there.

In this ultimate guide, we'll take a look at seven battle-hardened tactics that interior designers and home improvement professionals use to make even the smallest kitchens feel cavernous. From strategic lighting to smart storage, these ideas will help you make the most of any space you have, so your kitchen is just as appealing for entertaining as it is for cooking.

1. Choose the Right Paint Colors

Pastel Shades of White Are Wonderful in Small Spaces

If you want to make a kitchen feel bigger, light colors are your friend. White, cream, soft pastels and pale gray reflect light rather than absorbing it, creating a feeling of spaciousness immediately. Dark hues generally bring walls closer and rooms in — no thanks.

Cabinets, walls and even ceiling will all look good in light-painted finishes. A monochromatic color palette – by using varying shades of the same light color – keeps the eye moving creating the illusion of one open space as opposed to individual areas.

Some of the popular light color combinations for creating an airy kitchen feel include:

• Pure white cabinets against light gray walls - the epitome of a luxury dream kitchen

• Warm white walls with warm white cabinets

• Pale blue cabinetry with white walls and ceiling

• Soft sage green with cream highlights

Smart Cabinet Color Choices

Your kitchen cabinets occupy a large space visually and physically and prominently affect the environment. White cabinets are the top choice of 42% of owners looking to cut back on visual clutter and open up space — but be sure to consider other light options. Lighter oak, pale gray, or even ultra-light blue could be exquisite while contributing personality.

If you're not in the market for new cabinets, try painting your current ones. Cabinet painting is one of the most affordable and dramatic ways to transform the look of your kitchen. You can achieve smooth, durable factory-like finishes for your cabinets.

2. Layer Different Types of Lighting

Thoughtful Lighting Creates Depth and Openness

Great lighting is key to making any space feel bigger. Dark nooks and crannies make a room feel small and cramped. The answer is to light up the room from all surfaces to get rid of shadows and to have similar light from the floor to the ceiling.

General Lighting: This is overall ambient light. Kitchens with low ceilings are best fit with recessed ceiling lights or flush-mount fixtures.

Under-Cabinet Lighting: LED strips under your upper cabinets can add light to your countertops, and help brighten up the whole room. They also emit a soft shimmer that brings depth to the room.

Accent Lighting: Small, directionally-controllable lights built into glass-front cabinets or under the toe-kicks of lower cabinets make for great layers of light that create interest and add visual depth.

Natural Light Maximization

There's no better way to create the illusion of space in any room than bringing in natural light. You likely have windows in your kitchen, so use them:

• Swap out heavy curtains for light-filtering blinds or shades

• Window coverings can be minimal, or done away with completely if you aren't worried about privacy

• Wash your windows often - dirty windows let in less light than you think

• If your kitchen design permits, install a skylight

For kitchens without windows, it might be worthwhile to put in interior windows that let in light from adjacent rooms or install light tubes, which are filled with natural light from the roof.

3. Maximize Vertical Storage

Smart Storage Solutions Are Practical and Help You Avoid Visual Clutter

With limited floor space, go vertical. It makes the room seem taller and provides functional storage as well. If you have to use a step stool to reach the tallest shelves, that storage is ideal for things you don't use on a daily basis.

Install open shelving or cabinet systems that go up to the ceiling. Vertical lines move the eye upward, adding visual height to your space. Paint these vertical storage solutions the same color as your walls, so they visually fade away.

Hidden Storage Opportunities

Spacious-feeling spaces hate clutter. Every visible object occupies mental space and adds to the busyness of the room. Smart storage ideas conceal essential tools and supplies and keep your kitchen looking clean and open.

Consider these hidden storage ideas:

• Lower cabinets: Pull-out drawers rather than deep shelves

• Magnetic strips built into inside of cabinet doors for storing knives and small metal items

• Toe-kick drawers beneath base cabinets for flat objects such as baking sheets

• Appliance garages that allow you to tuck away small appliances behind doors

• Rotating corner lazy Susans which can make use of those awkward corner spaces

4. Replace Some Upper Cabinets with Open Shelving

Open Shelving Creates Visual Flow

Replacing upper cabinets with open shelves can make a huge impact in the way your kitchen feels. With no cabinet doors to block the view, your eye can travel farther, which makes a room feel more open.

But open shelving is most successful when everything is properly organized and styled. Only display pretty items at tidy intervals. Too much clutter on open shelves defeats the purpose.

How to Style Open Shelves for Function and Beauty

When it comes to styling open shelves, remember these principles:

• Group similar items together

• Combine the utilitarian with the decorative

• Use consistent color schemes

• Have some gaps – you don't have to fill every inch

• Show items at different heights for visual interest

Instead of removing all the upper cabinets, perhaps replace just one or two with open shelving. That way, you still have the visual benefits of open storage but your less appealing items are stored away as well.

5. Add Glass Elements for Transparency

Glass Cabinet Doors

Glass-front cabinet doors provide visual depth rather than the visual stop that a solid door would create. This transparency creates a feeling of openness. Glass doors are particularly effective for upper cabinets, where they can sit well above the workspace and won't inconvenience you when you're working.

Opt for clear glass for maximum transparency, or go for frosted glass for a gentler look that still offers that see-through effect while obscuring some of the cabinet contents.

Glass Backsplashes and Surfaces

A glass tile backsplash reflects light and can add interest to your kitchen. The spacious effect is best realized with large format glass tile and small grout joints. Backsplashes made of mirror are even more dramatic but must be kept clean.

Glass countertops or glass features on your island can also add to the see-through effect, though they may not be as practical for heavy-use areas.

6. Use Mirrors and Shiny Surfaces

Strategic Mirror Placement

Mirrors are something of an interior designer's secret weapon when it comes to making a small space feel larger. Mirrors are used less often in kitchens, so you'll have to make sure you place them carefully.

Consider these mirror placement ideas:

• A substantial wall mirror across from one of the windows bounces light and views of the outdoors around the room

• Mirrored backsplashes multiply the appearance of your lighting

• Little mirrors inside the glass-fronted cabinets provide sparkle and depth

• Mirror tiles add interest without overwhelming the room

Reflective Materials and Finishes

Beyond mirrors themselves, there are a number of materials that reflect light in such a way that they add some airy volume to a room:

• Stainless steel appliances and backsplashes

• High-gloss paint finishes on cabinets

• Polished stone countertops

• Chrome or brushed nickel hardware and fixtures

These finishes bounce light around the room and produce soft, subtle reflections, adding visual depth to your interior space.

7. Choose Multi-Functional Furniture and Islands

Islands That Work Harder

If your kitchen is big enough to allow an island, make sure that it earns its keep by pulling double- or even triple-duty. A well-designed island can provide:

• More countertop for preparing food

• Base cabinet and drawer storage

• Seating for casual dining

• Extra appliance storage

• Display space for decorative items

Select an island design that doesn't interfere with sight lines in the kitchen. Base designs with legs or that are open underneath feel lighter than solid base designs.

Space-Saving Furniture Solutions

In tiny kitchens where every piece of furniture needs to double up:

• Consider rolling carts for additional prep space and storage that can easily be stashed away when not in use

• Bar-height tables have a smaller footprint than traditional dining tables

• Stools nest under counters, islands and tables

• Drop leaf tables can be used as dining tables, servers, or console tables

• Bench seating that has storage within it provides plenty of both!

Layout Optimization for Maximum Flow

Work Triangle Efficiency

In a small kitchen, the classic work triangle – stipulating the stove, sink and refrigerator should be placed within four to nine feet of each other and that the sum of the perimeter should be between 13 and 26 feet — can be a great guiding principle of design. Keep these three main areas close, but make sure nothing blocks the path from one area to the other.

In galley kitchens, appliances are often placed along one wall with a counter and sink, and the stove on the other wall with cabinets opposite.

Traffic Flow Considerations

Consider the flow of people through your kitchen on a daily basis and while entertaining. Practical pathways make any space more spacious and useful:

• Provide a minimum of 36 inches for walkways where practical

• Do not position islands or any other objects in natural traffic ways

• Be sure cabinet doors and appliances can open without impeding walkways

• Store commonly used items near the work triangle

Implementation Strategy Overview

Professional Tips from Kitchen Designers

Interior designers and kitchen experts employ a number of other tricks to enhance the perception of space:

Scale Matters: Use the right size pieces for your space. Oversized light fixtures or cabinet hardware can close in a small kitchen.

Continuity Is Key: Using the same flooring between your kitchen and any adjacent room will allow it to feel more spacious and less confined.

Ceiling Height Tricks: If your ceilings are low, vertical elements (such as tall cabinets, vertical tile patterns, or vertical paneling) will make the ceiling seem higher.

Minimal Hardware: Sleek, minimalist hardware enhances simplicity. Opt for push-to-open cabinet doors and drawers to eliminate hardware altogether.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

As you try to make your kitchen look and feel bigger, you'll want to steer clear of these common mistakes:

• Too many accessories: An overabundance of items creates visual clutter that can make a room feel cramped

• Neglecting the ceiling: Painting the walls a light color while leaving the ceiling white can cause the ceiling to visually descend

• Blocking natural light: Heavy window treatments, or tall objects in front of windows, detract from the feeling of spaciousness that natural light delivers

• Disjointed color schemes: Using too many colors cuts up the visual flow and creates visual chaos

• Poor lighting plan: One sole central light throws shadows and visually shrinks the space

Budget-Friendly Implementation Strategy

You don't need to use all seven strategies at the same time. Here is a prioritized approach, based on impact and budget:

Phase 1 (Affordable Yet Impactful):

• Paint walls and cabinets in light shades

• Add under-cabinet lighting

• Declutter and organize existing storage

• Clean and maximize natural light

Phase 2 (Medium Investment):

• Replace a few upper cabinets with open shelving

• Add mirrors or reflective elements

• Replace cabinet hardware with smaller, more modern options

Phase 3 (Higher Investment):

• Install glass cabinet doors

• Add or modify kitchen island

• Professional lighting design and installation

Measuring Your Success

As you make these changes, take before and after photos from the same position to see how big of a difference there is. You're likely to find that your kitchen not only appears larger, but it also becomes a nicer place to work in and to keep organized.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to make a small kitchen appear larger? The cost can vary widely depending on which approaches you choose. Small changes, like painting cabinets or adding new lighting, can run a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars, while larger changes, like glass doors or a new island can add up to $3,000-$10,000 or more.

Will I give up function if I remove upper cabinets in my kitchen? Not necessarily. Replacing upper cabinets with open shelves maintains storage while expanding visual space. The trick is to be more thoughtful about what you store and to keep things organized and attractive.

What is the best paint color for a small kitchen? The most effective color is still pure white, which makes a kitchen feel larger; but warm whites, light grays, pale blues, and soft pastels can do the trick. They just need to have a high Light Reflectance Value (LRV), like 70+.

Light or dark countertops in a small kitchen? White or light countertops tend to open up spaces, while dark counters can be read as negative space, but this can be mitigated with light upper cabinets and walls. More so than color, choose materials that offer at least some reflection.

How much does lighting affect the feeling that a kitchen is spacious? Lighting is crucial—maybe it's even the most important factor after color. Poor lighting can make even large kitchens feel cramped, while great lighting can make tiny kitchens feel more open than you'd think.

Can I make a galley kitchen appear larger? Absolutely! Light colors, good lighting and strategic use of mirrors can help a galley kitchen feel more open. Leaving one side open to nearby rooms also helps with flow and reduces the "tunnel" effect.

Is it worth it to replace cabinet doors with glass? Glass doors can provide a big visual impact, especially in upper cabinets. But you need to keep the contents organized and attractive. Try replacing just a few cabinet doors with glass to see how it works.

How can I make a kitchen island work in a small space? Select an island with appropriate scale and multiple functions. Try a movable cart instead of a permanent island, or select an island with an open base to preserve sight lines in the space.

Transform Your Kitchen Today

There's no need for an extreme renovation or a huge budget to make your kitchen feel bigger. By utilizing even just a few of these seven methods, you'd be surprised at how much you can change the look and feel of your kitchen. Pick the changes that are most appealing to you and within budget, and over time, add the rest as time and money permit.

Keep in mind that the objective is not only to make your kitchen look bigger, but to make it feel more pleasant, practical and welcoming. A small kitchen, thoughtfully designed, can be far more appealing than a large but poorly planned one. With careful attention to design — from colors and layers of light to hidden storage and spatial arrangement — even a small space can become the heart of your home.

The transformation has to start with one step. Whether that means picking up some paintbrushes, adding under-cabinet lighting, or decluttering to create more visual space — you're on your way to a kitchen that feels twice as large as before.