We ALL think our kitchen is too small and we all think we don’t have enough cabinet space… regardless of the size of our kitchen. Not to worry, with smart storage solutions you will never notice the supposed lack of cabinet space.

If you follow my blog you know that I am organization obsessed. Perhaps I’m a little OCD but I like to think it is because I spent so many years living in small spaces. As a result of this experience combined with my new role as a kitchen designer I can’t help but think about and share a few tips about how to make your small kitchen big…

Top three recommendations to maximize storage space in a small kitchen:

ONE: Baskets, boxes, and pretty containers – oh my! If you are like most people with a small kitchen most likely your cabinets do not extend to the ceiling. Use that space above the cabinets for items that you want access to but may not use regularly. For example, pretty party linens, kitchen utensils used once per year to bake the Thanksgiving turkey, or barware (okay, some of us use those things regularly but you get my point). Take all of these items and store them in stylish baskets or storage boxes. Try to keep the storage containers uniform in style to reduce the sense of visual clutter.

TWO:  Use your backsplash! Keep the countertop clean but hang utensils and spices from the backsplash. There are some great options out there to add some contemporary style and FUNCTIONALITY to what is otherwise just a statement space in your kitchen. Best part is… you save your counter space for its intended use.

THREE:  Cabinet Accessories are your friend. What do I mean? Hang an organizer from the back of the sink base for dish soap, sponges, etc. Install rollout shelves inside builder grade cabinets. Most base cabinets typically have a 12” deep shelf. This is a missed opportunity for storage by 25% per cabinet! Roll out trays are available at places like The Container Store, Lowes, or you can also stop by a local kitchen cabinet distributor for recommendations. These options are add-ons even in designer kitchens… in other words you can buy the units and install them in your already lived in kitchen.

So now that the small kitchen is functional how do you make it look good? Well there are a number of ways and here are my top three recommendations…

ONE:  Keep it simple & contrast to a minimum! Solid color countertops, clean lines and painted cabinets or a wood that has a tight consistent grain (like Maple) are great options. Keep contrast to a minimum so that the eye isn’t drawn JUST to one place in the space. Too many colors, too many different finishes, and too much contrast will create a choppy visual in a small space. I’m not saying that you SHOULDN’T do these things but if you have a small kitchen keep it to a minimum and the space will feel grander.

TWO:  Glass and reflective surfaces are the secret to making small kitchens LOOK big. What do I mean? If you have a long run of solid panel cabinets add glass to the doors. This will create a visual sense of a larger space. Also, try to keep the interior contents behind the glass organized and uncluttered. De-cluttering is key in small kitchens. Also paint the inside of the cabinets either the same color as the wall or paint them the same color inside and out (if you are part of the current trend of painted cabinets). When it comes to glass inserts in your cabinet doors. the trick is that you don’t want the eye to stop in one spot and the way to do this is with consistent color.

THREE: Make your kitchen a Lite Brite (remember those as a kid?)! If your space is small then layering the lighting options is important. Under-cabinet lighting brightens up the dark corners of the countertop. Rope lights or up-lighting on top of your cabinets can make the space feel tall and add a sense of more space too. Install recessed cans, a central ambient lighting fixture, and pendants if you have the space. Also if you took the tip on the glass door fronts try in-cabinet lighting too. The point is, make it bright with as much light as possible.

I  promise my next post won’t be about kitchens (the theme of late) but will be something inspiring about another space in the home! I hope you will come back to find out what it is. See you soon!

A quick disclaimer… first, I once again apologize for the sporadic posts as of late. The reason for this is a good one. I found a job, yey! I’m officially a Sales & Design Associate for a residential kitchen cabinet company. I will be selling AND DESIGNING kitchens, bathrooms, custom closets, home offices, entertainment centers, etc. etc.

Now to the post for today. It’s all about open storage in the kitchen. Is it for you? Well it looks good but is it practical. This is a question you have to ask yourself. If you are a neat freak and you happen to have matching dishes or at least some sort of coordinating color scheme then this option may be for you.

It looks cool doesn’t it?

If you are thinking of adding open storage to your kitchen then why not go all out? Make the entire upper storage area all open shelving. What this does is create a sense of open space. It also allows you to add some color or unique treatment to the wall. Try a beautiful tile or wood slats like these kitchens.

For those of you that are only partial neat freaks then maybe it is best to limit the open storage to just part of the kitchen. Perhaps a nice place to store coffee mugs and a few dishes for breakfast. This creates a nice little zone that is specific to a task… like drinking coffee in the morning.

If you like the idea of only one open storage zone in your kitchen a great idea is the hanging pot rack. Mix it up a bit and hang it above the sink. This is a great way to make a boring window with no view interesting.

To keep a sense of order and to minimize the perception of clutter keep the color of the dishes and serveware to one clean look. White is always a classically clean look.

Another way to minimze the perception of clutter in open storage areas is to keep it limited to the ends of the island. A perfect spot for cookbooks and a few miscllaneous items that simply look nice when displayed on an open shelf.

If open storage is for you I hope these ideas inspired you.

Hope to share more next weekend when my head is hopefully a little less crazy with the beginning of a new job.