'Shades of white and neutral tones like beige and cream, when used on walls as paint colors or wallpapers, countertops, and cabinetry, create a sense of space,' says Chenise Bhimull, an interior designer at ZFC Real Estate.
If you have a small kitchen, white and neutral paint colors can be a lifesaver. White paint reflects light, makes walls recede, and increases the sense of space.
Keep colours light, bright and consistent
Bright white or cream is an obvious choice, but don't feel limited. Light greens, yellows, blues and even greys can work well too.
Choose a light color palette: Light colors can help make a small kitchen feel more open and spacious. Consider using whites, pastels, or light neutrals for your cabinets, walls, and backsplash.
In a smaller space, dark cabinetry can create a heavy, even oppressive atmosphere, especially if the lighting is dim. On the other hand, dark colours often do a wonderful job warming up an extra-large kitchen, which would feel sterile with wall-to-wall white.
Small Kitchen Colour Ideas
If your kitchen has lots of natural light, consider opting for dark paint shades like Bowler Hat and Rich Black to create the illusion of more space. Pastel shades – pastel colours such as Willow Tree and Sorbet can bring interest to your kitchen space and help it feel bigger.
To better give an feeling of space, create contrasts in colors and luminosity. Don't hesitate to play with materials like brick, glossy paint, wood and plain white. If your kitchen is very small, you can use built-in furniture and appliances and make the dining zone in the main room.
Just as clothing with horizontal stripes can make a person look wider, striped flooring that runs from side to side across a room, rather than along the length, will stretch the apparent floor space in your small kitchen.
If it's a feeling of space, then the lighter of the two dominant colours should go on the vertical cabinet spaces, and the darker one on the horizontal countertop ones. If you want a more intense feel, flip that dynamic around.
When it comes to kitchens, white, gray, blue, red, yellow, and green really shine. Each of these shades can do something different for the room, but they all help create a warm and welcoming space.
Stark White
Naturally, white is an obvious choice for making a room feel bigger. It's no secret that light colors make a room look larger, especially if the space is bathed in natural light. Eggshell or satin finishes will help reflect the light, creating the appearance of even more space.
They also don't compete with the light in your room and can make your kitchen feel brighter and bigger. Some popular neutral paint colors for the kitchen include white, beige, gray and sage.
"Generally, going with neutral colors like shades of white, beige, taupe, and grays lead to a faster sale," she shares. "Neutral colors are also more appealing to potential buyers because many want the creative freedom of a blank canvas to add their personal touches to when looking for a new place to call home.
If you have young kids in the house who are always tracking in mud and other outdoor debris, or if you simply don't want your kitchen cabinets looking dingy all the time, a darker neutral shade like grey can help to mask some of that dirt.
The similarities in the materials allow you to maintain a consistent flow from one room to the other, providing a design synergy that wouldn't work otherwise. However, if the layout of your home has the bathroom and kitchen on different floors of your home, you don't necessarily have to use the same materials.
If you have a dark kitchen that lacks adequate sunshine, then a light colored backsplash can immediately brighten up the space and make it look larger. Light tones like white, ivory and cream reflect light and make a small or dark space appear more open, from floor to ceiling.
A traditional tile floor can create a timeless foundation for the rest of your kitchen that won't go out of style and can fall back and let other elements like kitchen backsplash tiles to shine. Decorative floor tile can give a small kitchen presence or add personality to a minimalist space.
Hardwood. As one of the most popular, high-value flooring materials for many homes, hardwood is a worthwhile consideration. This classic option offers the space a warm, natural feel, making it an excellent pick for varying kitchen aesthetics.
Keeping the fridge in a corner allows you to grab what you need, then move into the center of the kitchen for prep and cooking. Make sure to leave enough room to fully open doors if placing one side against the wall. Near a countertop or bench.
Using too many colors all at once can make a small kitchen feel muddled, so, in teeny footprints, sticking to a few hues can help create a calm environment. Try a block color scheme and paint kitchen cabinets and walls painted in the same wrap-around shade – a neat trick that will make a small kitchen look bigger.
U-shaped kitchens tend to be kitchens without islands, are one of the most popular small kitchen layout ideas for a reason, they really maximize on space and are perfect if you need plenty of cupboard room and surface areas.