Looking through Internet magazines with the design of various kitchens, I recently noticed that small kitchens, which are so typical for our apartment buildings are called retro kitchens. Unfortunately, in our reality, this is not retro, but, whatever it is, reality.
A small kitchen, inconvenient in economic terms, cramped for communications and presses visually. I wrote about solving the problem of combining a kitchen and a dining room in small kitchens in previous articles. In one of them, we solved this problem by actually increasing the kitchen at the expense of neighboring kitchens and a balcony or. But not all apartments can make such redevelopment: in the kitchen, a load-bearing wall or a kitchen with a gas stove or the type of balcony does not allow it to be used for a constant load. What remains to be done in such apartments to increase the kitchen. Unfortunately, it remains only to visually enlarge the small kitchen through design techniques.
Design techniques to visually enlarge a small kitchen
Designers' techniques for visually enlarging the kitchen are quite standard. They are designed for different perception of color by a person, human genetic associations of vertical and horizontal lines, color associations of warm and cold tones.
Choosing the color of a small kitchen to visually increase the space
Most people associate light colors with open, large spaces. That is why the kitchen in the decoration, which uses light colors, such as white, light beige, milky, light blue, light green colors visually seem larger.
White makes the kitchen look bigger 
white kitchen expands space
Related article: Drawers in the kitchen, photo gallery
Kitchen furniture that enhances the kitchen
When choosing furniture for a small kitchen, remember the visual effect of stripes. Visually increase the small kitchen will help vertical stripes on the wall, they raise the ceiling, horizontal stripes on the ceiling, the walls are moved apart in their direction. That is why, in order to raise the ceiling of the kitchen, we choose high vertical kitchen shelves and cabinets, in order to push the walls, we choose wide kitchen cabinets and shelves.
Kitchen cabinets to the ceiling increase the height of the kitchen 
Wide kitchen shelves and cabinets push the walls apart Other tricks to visually enlarge the kitchen
In a small kitchen, you need to get rid of free-standing pieces of furniture and appliances. All furniture and stationary kitchen appliances should be located in a single, closed ensemble around the perimeter of the kitchen.
Sometimes there is so little space in the kitchen that you just want to take it and move it apart with your hands to make it bigger and more comfortable. Too bad it's just an unrealistic fantasy. But do not despair, today we will share with you effective ways and tricks to expand the space.
Method number 1: give preference to light shades
At any small room it is best to use light finishes and furniture. Cream, light green, milky, white and blue shades are perfect for this. With their help, your kitchen will visually become more spacious and lighter.
Method number 2: do not use more than two bright colors
If you decide to move away from elegant white shades in favor of bright colors, then you should not use more than two of them. Indeed, in this case, instead of a small, but original and cheerful kitchen, you can end up with a colorful, lurid room that will irritate your eyes. Better yet, choose one bright color and dilute it with white.
Method number 3: use vertical surfaces
All available cabinets and shelves in a small kitchen are best placed to the full height of the wall right up to the ceiling, so the use of space will become more rational. A particularly good option is when furniture facades are matched to match the finish, because merging with the general background, they become less noticeable.
Method number 4: choosing the right furniture
Particular attention should be paid to the selection of a table and chairs for the kitchen, because they can steal part of the free space. A round or oval table will take less space. And if it is foldable, then you will also get a multifunctional piece of furniture.
When choosing furniture, give preference to visually lighter materials. For example, transparent plastic chairs or a glass table will “dissolve” into space and make it visually more spacious. But massive wooden furniture we advise you not to load a small room, otherwise in the end you will achieve quite the opposite effect.
Method number 5: use the windowsill
standard height window sill and countertops often coincide and is 90 centimeters. Why not take advantage of this great opportunity and increase the work surface. And natural lighting and a view from the window will be additional pluses in favor of this option.
The place under the windowsill should also not be wasted, and some kind of locker can be equipped there, of course, if it is not occupied by a radiator. Given a rather picturesque view from the window of the marvelous old streets or natural beauties, you can turn the window sill into a bar counter. Both options will significantly relieve the space in the kitchen and provide additional space for work and play, regardless of your choice.
From this article you will learn:
- Where does the implementation of design ideas for a small kitchen begin?
- What kind original ideas can be used in the design of the floor, ceiling, walls of the kitchen
- What design ideas can be embodied in different styles
- What design ideas can be used to properly place furniture in a small kitchen
- How to visually enlarge the space in the kitchen
- How to organize storage space in a small kitchen in an original way
AT apartment buildings in Moscow, especially those built in Soviet time, the size of the kitchen space is very small. There are housewives who are quite satisfied with the dimensions of their kitchen, and there are those who do not have enough space for culinary creativity. And if there is a desire for change, you can find many successful design ideas for a small kitchen.
Where to start implementing design ideas for a small kitchen
Before you start drawing up a plan for a new kitchen design, you should remember that there are a number of features inherent in this room:
The main part of the kitchen elements, for example, a sink and a gas stove, are tied to communications, so the arrangement of kitchen units is determined by the location of these systems:
Design ideas for a small kitchen of various shapes
square kitchen
In such a kitchen, a corner set will look great. With it, you can designate the working area and separate it from the dining area. It is advisable to place a refrigerator, sink and stove close to each other so that they form a “working triangle”. The advantage of this location is that everything you need is at hand.
A table for such a room should be chosen folding (to save space) or oval, since several people can fit around such a piece of furniture. Wide window sill can also be used as a table.
Rectangular kitchen
Furniture in such a room is best placed along the walls. The table will take up a lot of space, so you can replace it with a bar counter, which will be, firstly, more functional, and secondly, very unusual.
To visually increase the space, you can use mirror surfaces.
If the window in the kitchen is small, you should think about additional lighting. It can be a small chandelier located in the center of the room, or spotlights directly above the work area.
Irregular kitchen
The irregular shape of kitchens implies the presence of recesses or ledges. You can benefit from these layout features, for example, a built-in cupboard for dishes or household appliances will be conveniently located in a niche.
In case of use kitchen set it is recommended to make it according to an individual order, taking into account all the features of the room. Wall cabinets must be made with doors that open up.
Design ideas for horizontal and vertical surfaces of a small kitchen
Floor
When planning repairs in a small kitchen, it is necessary to use modern design approaches, especially when choosing finishing materials and pattern for the floor. Poor floor design can visually reduce an already small space.
Particular attention should be paid to the flooring. It should be resistant to moisture and easy to clean, as grease, pieces of food, and so on will often get on the floor. The best solutions for the kitchen there will be linoleum, moisture-resistant laminate and ceramic tile. Concerning last version, then medium or small tiles should be preferred, as large ones will visually reduce the space.
Adherents of natural materials should remember that wood is not the most the best way for the kitchen, as it can deteriorate from exposure to water.
Currently, a board is being produced that has been treated with substances that make the coating resistant to moisture. But the price of such material is quite high, so not everyone can afford it.
The best option for the price, besides visually expanding the space, is a glossy tile. It is better to opt for light shades: beige, cream, white. The design will look very original if you lay out the tiles in a checkerboard pattern, combining it with dark specimens. There can be a lot of pattern options: a black square inside a white one, a white inside a dark one, a rhombic arrangement, or you can show your imagination and create your own original ornament.
Ceramic tiles also have a glossy surface that reflects light and can therefore be used to visually enlarge a space.
Some design professionals use tiles not only for floors, but even for walls and ceilings.
Another suitable material as floor covering for the kitchen is laminate. It needs to be resistant to moisture. For visual magnification space, it is recommended to place laminate boards along the room or diagonally. The only disadvantage of diagonal placement is a higher consumption of materials.
The most common coating used on the floor of the kitchen is linoleum. This is the most affordable material, resistant to moisture and easy to clean. Here it is also necessary to pay attention to warm shades.
Walls
Repair of almost any room most often begins with the processing of walls. If they are even, you can proceed to further finishing. But most often it is necessary to eliminate the existing shortcomings. And here the problem arises: how to make it so as not to reduce the already small space of the kitchen.
If wall defects do not stand out much, you can eliminate them with putty. If the unevenness big size, then it is better to use drywall.
It is better to glue drywall sheets, since another method of fastening will take from 3 to 5 cm of an already small area. Before using the wall material, it is necessary to prepare it by thoroughly cleaning and priming them.
The finished surface can be painted, wallpapered, tiled or covered with decorative plaster.
What wall color to choose for a small kitchen?
As in the case of the floor, when choosing the color of the walls, it is necessary to focus on light shades, since dark tones visually reduce the space.
Emphasis should be placed on the following colors:
To visually expand the room, you can use glossy tiles, which should be placed in the dining area.
As for the choice of wallpaper, here the preferred options are light colors: plain or with a small pattern. Near the dining table can be placed decorative panel or photo wallpapers with a seascape, the main thing is that they do not overload the space.
If the choice fell on photo wallpapers, it should be remembered that they should visually enlarge the room.
Another way to expand the space is to use mirrors. In this case, the reflective surface should not be huge. In this case, you can use several mirrors, creating an unusual composition from them.
Ceiling
Most often, the ceiling in the apartments of high-rise buildings is low, so you can simply paste it over with white wallpaper or paint it with light-colored paint.
Suspended or stretch ceiling, plastic panels- these design options are worth considering for those who want to keep up with the times.
Plastic panels are an ideal option for those who value price and simplicity. They are inexpensive, easy to install and low maintenance. Their main advantage is that they do not take up much space, which means they save the necessary square meters.
The color should be selected based on the range of the entire room, light colors are priority.
Usually dropped ceilings used in large rooms, but if you choose the right materials, you can use them in a small kitchen.
A good design option would be mirror designs, as this will visually increase the height of the room, as well as make it lighter.
Stretch ceilings will also look original. And if you also add them with spotlights, then the kitchen will acquire a modern and stylish look. The only drawback of such structures is that they will slightly reduce the height of the room, by about 2-3 cm. But this will not greatly affect the appearance kitchens.
What style to prefer in small kitchen design ideas
After resolving the issue with individual elements, you should decide in what style the entire room as a whole will be decorated. Since the kitchen is often small, preference should be given to simpler styles that do not require additional accessories, items and fixtures. The most appropriate styles in this case are hi-tech, modern, traditional and minimalism.
Style high tech implies the absorption of one color by another and the presence of conspicuous contrasts. It is characterized by the accuracy of proportions and smooth lines. The main materials that are used to create such an interior are metal and glass.
One of the most common kitchen design styles is modern. It is functional and has many options. color design and also very convenient. All that is needed in a small-sized kitchen in this case is built-in furniture, spotlights and nothing more.
Perfect for those who don't need luxury. minimalism. It implies good lighting, a minimum of color, the absence of additional decor and the presence of certain boundaries. This design makes the room spacious and weightless.
The universal design of any room is classic. But under conditions small space this style can be used with some restrictions: you should not use patterns and a large number of finishes. Furniture should be selected wooden, preferably from natural material. Monotony and lack of pretentiousness are preferable.
When thinking through the design of the kitchen, you should not limit your imagination, but you should take into account the features of the layout of the room.
Original ideas for arranging furniture in a small kitchen
One of the most common materials for making kitchen furniture is MDF. These are inexpensive plates, which also have a wide variety of colors and shades.
Modern technologies allow you to fully express your imagination: a huge number of types of lighting that can be installed anywhere in the kitchen, built-in furniture with various sliding systems, matte or glossy surfaces, visually expanding the space - all this allows you to turn even the smallest kitchen into an original and unique room.
Another kitchen design idea is the use of transparent material. This solution has certain advantages:
For those who want to keep up with the times, transforming tables and pull-out furniture are perfect. Firstly, they significantly save space, and secondly, they make the kitchen stylish. In addition, the main advantage of such an environment is the ability to model it at any time, for any requests and desires of the hostess of the house. This will allow you to realize any design idea.
In addition, the vacated space can be used for games with children, which is especially important for large families.
In small kitchens, it is better to use high furniture, it is desirable that it occupies the entire space from floor to ceiling. This will allow you to fit more kitchen utensils into it without the effect of piling up. In addition, such a layout will significantly save cash, as it does not require additional costs.
Especially for small kitchen spaces, small hobs have been developed, dishwashers, ovens and extracts. They save space in the kitchen, and they can be perfectly integrated into furniture.
When designing a work surface, you should choose acrylic or MDF - these are lightweight materials that are perfect for a small kitchen. Quartz or a natural stone they will give the structure and the room itself a “heavy look”, which can cause inconvenience or even breakage.
When arranging furniture and appliances, you must adhere to the following rules:
Interior design ideas for a small kitchen that visually enlarge the space
- Patterns and color preferences.
When choosing a color scheme for the kitchen, you should give preference to neutral shades, as they increase the space and reflect light well. Should not be used in large quantities different colors two will suffice. The design of the room should be as simple as possible, without ornate patterns and complex patterns on the walls. If you still want to add something, you can use the most pale pattern that does not stand out from the general background of the room. For walls, it is recommended to choose light colors, cocoa shades will also look good. Furniture should be pastel colors, you can also use yellow and light brown.
If you need to give the kitchen unusual and unique, you can make a bright accent on one of the walls. Contrast will give the room a fresh effect without narrowing the space.
- Reflective gloss: finishing in a small kitchen.
All finishes small room should be oriented towards visual magnification space. To do this, you need to use surfaces that reflect light. Plank-like laminates and glossy tiles are ideal options. The best colors would be pastel shades, white and cream.
You can create contrast by combining light shades with dark ones in a checkerboard pattern, but remember that very dark colors make the space smaller.
Tiles can be decorated as part of the kitchen, and the entire room completely. You should also minimize the number of corners, niches and bulges.
- More light.
in a good way to increase the kitchen space is to use spot lighting. You can distribute it around the perimeter of the entire ceiling, or you can concentrate it directly above the work surface and other necessary areas.
In spite of small size rooms, you can use a chandelier for lighting. In this case, it is very important that it be an unusual model, but at the same time fit into the overall design of the kitchen. The owners determine the size of the chandelier on their own, but it is worth considering the footage of the room itself.
Do not abuse the number of plants. In order to give the design a touch of grace, it is enough to put one flower on the windowsill, but always in a beautiful pot.
- Visually combine the kitchen with the adjacent room.
With permission to redevelop, you can combine the kitchen with an adjacent room to create a dining room. If this is not possible, you can use visual techniques: for example, use the same wallpaper in the kitchen and adjoining room or paint the walls of these rooms in the same color. This method creates the illusion of combining space, which can be very important for apartments that do not have a kitchen door.
- Delicate textiles.
The main thing to remember when creating a kitchen design is that you should not abuse artificial light. The more natural light, the better. Light curtains or roller blinds should be hung on the kitchen windows - they will give the window lightness and airiness, and also allow sunlight to enter the room. The cornice should be strengthened above the window, this will create a stretching effect, making the ceiling appear higher. You should not use a large number of patterns, a simple ornament on furniture is enough.
Instead of massive curtains, it is better to use blinds or Roman curtains, which freely let the rays through, scattering them and making them softer. Such window drapery “lubricates” the boundaries of the room, making it more spacious. If you prefer fabric curtains, texture patterns should be preferred.
- Shape, color and design of kitchen furniture.
For small kitchen ideal option there will be light-colored furniture. It creates a feeling of lightness, moreover, it will visually increase the space if you choose colors that match the main background. Another great solution is the use of transparent materials: glass and plastic. Such items look very original, and create the effect of weightlessness of the kitchen interior.
In the case of a small kitchen, it is very important to use every centimeter as functionally as possible, so you should choose roomy furniture. However, it is recommended to be careful, because in the pursuit of convenience, you can get carried away with this, in which case you already small room will be cluttered with a large number of cabinets and shelves. A good way to visually enlarge the space is to place the tallest object in the farthest part of the kitchen. Such an object can be a refrigerator, which will “pull” attention to itself, as a result of which the ceiling will appear higher.
One of the main kitchen items is dinner table. Its optimal form depends on the number of people living in the apartment. For a family of 2-3 people, an oval or round table is suitable. Folding models are a universal option: firstly, they take up little space, which is very important for a small kitchen, and secondly, if guests arrive, such a table can be expanded, which will fit everyone. Another option: mobile mini-tables that can be stored in any other room and used when necessary.
Original design ideas for storage in a small kitchen
Even with an ideal distribution of storage space for dishes, there can still be a problem of lack of it.
Often, housewives even keep dishes that they don’t use at all or take out only on holidays. In this case, it is necessary to audit the cabinets and get rid of the excess. If there is broken dishes that have not been used for a long time, you can shamelessly send them to the trash can. Kitchen utensils that are rarely needed should be put in boxes and taken out only if necessary. In fact, a very small amount of dishes and cutlery is enough for a comfortable existence.
Modern stores offer many product options for small spaces: built-in tables, drawers, lifting structures for doors and shelves. These devices are really convenient, but have a high price.
A good way to solve the problem of a small kitchen is to place additional drawers above the floor surface. Here you can put cereals, sugar and salt. It is also worth building an additional countertop into one of the top drawers.
Thus, in the center of the kitchen, you can create a functional space with a work surface, storage space for bulky dishes and a dining table.
One of the most convenient arrangements for lockers is parallel to each other on both sides of the room. Working area, that is, a sink and a stove, it is advisable to place it at the end of the kitchen.
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The kitchen is a symbol of the family hearth. It is in the kitchen that we have breakfast, drink tea, chat with relatives on business and just like that, it is here that we bring guests and treat them to what we have prepared in the same place.
The kitchen is the most important part of the house. And for some reason, she is given so little space.
Such a phenomenon as a small-sized kitchen is familiar to everyone. And, of course, no one wants to just put up with this.
Watch a video with ideas for arranging a small kitchen
How to visually and not only expand a small kitchen?
So, we will start with the most basic - with the layout of the kitchen. For a small room, either a linear or "L-shaped" layout is preferable. If you choose the right corner cabinet, then you will have a new place to store kitchen utensils.
It is also very important to use the built-in appliances - after all, this is a huge savings in the workplace. And don't be afraid that washing machine under the countertop will not be combined with - built-in appliances are hidden behind the same facades as the rest of the kitchen furniture.
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Special attention should be paid to the windowsill. What is its use? The fact that this is another shelf, a little more workspace in your kitchen. It is preferable to purchase roller blinds- they will not close the window sill itself, but they will decorate your windows and will not “hide” behind a refrigerator or cabinet.
When you cook, do you notice that the countertop feels too low for you? Or you do not have enough space for small kitchen utensils? The standard height of countertops (as well as other kitchen furniture) is 80-85 centimeters.
Now imagine that your countertop becomes ten centimeters higher, or even fifteen. Firstly, it is more convenient for you to cook, even if you are not tall. Secondly, you have room for another drawer. Or one of the shelves in the locker becomes higher, which is also a plus. In this way, you not only work with great convenience, but also get a little more space for the necessary things.
But in this case, you will have to abandon the stationary stove - it will not be combined with high countertops. A good solution would be to order a built-in hob. What then will replace your oven? Mini oven.
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By size and general view it is very similar to a conventional microwave, but it has the same functions as an oven. Only this option is not entirely suitable for those who like to bake. You will have to change pans all the time. Yes, and the stove is, as you know, harm.
Only three words can be said about the most important thing - the refrigerator: tall and narrow. Unfortunately, such successful savings will not work here, but don’t those tips help expand the space in the “heart” of your apartment?
A little about the interior of a small kitchen
Equipping the kitchen, you need to at least roughly know the meanings of colors and their effect on the human body. If you decide that your kitchen will be finished in light colors, which is very good option for a small room, you should pay attention to other shades. Your kitchen doesn't have to look like a hospital room, which is exactly what an excess of white does.
If you want your kitchen to look solid, use Brown color. In addition, this color is universal and promotes calm and open communication. Light shades will make the kitchen warmer. Blue can also give a sense of trust and security.
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