HIDE FUNCTIONALITY BEHIND FLAIR
This London pied-à-terre is a masterclass in compact open-plan living. Floating glass shelves above the base cabinets allow for a touch of character in the form of plants and decorative objects, while a hanging rail retains that coveted open feel while keeping kitchen paraphernalia close to hand.
GO HANDLELESS FOR CLEAN-LINED CABINETS
Small kitchens can quickly look cluttered, so keep detailing to a minimum and avoid the shaker style. Handleless cabinets create a contemporary, clean-lined effect that doesn't confuse or overwhelm the eye. There's a wide range of finishes to choose from, including the modern glossy white of these units, recently chosen by interior designer Gillian Segal for a sleek new apartment in Vancouver.
LIGHT UP DARK CORNERS AND SPOTLIGHT HIDDEN FEATURES
When it comes to lighting your small kitchen, Rohan Blacker, founder and designer, Pooky, suggests installing downlights or LED strip lighting in the recesses of your cabinets.
PLAY WITH BLURRED LINES
"Light and muted worktops work brilliantly in smaller kitchens as they naturally reflect light back into the room," says Julia Trendell, design expert at Benchmarx Kitchen and Joinery. "Blurring the lines of where the worktop ends and the wall starts is another great trick for making a kitchen feel larger. Continue a granite or quartz worktop up the wall as a splashback or upstand to give the illusion of more space with minimum hassle."
GET PLAYFUL WITH A COLOURFUL SPLASHBACK
It's easy to make a feature of a splashback in a small space. Even if it's the only thing you change, it'll make an impact and give your whole kitchen a lift. Tiles ooze elegance, or look to glass and metallic splashbacks if you need to bounce more light around the place.
MAKE A BIJOU FLOOR STATEMENT
Statement patterned kitchen tiles help draw the eye away from the dimensions of a room. They look really cool in bijou spaces, if you're on a budget, the good news is that you don't need many! Floor tiling doesn't tend to overpower a space, adding instant personality that you might not be able to fit in elsewhere. Look to Harvey Maria for this easy-clean luxury vinyl tiling (LVT) that looks like the real deal but won't break the bank.
GIVE TIRED UNITS A FRESH LICK OF PAINT
To liven up an uninspiring kitchen without starting from scratch, give tired kitchen cabinet doors, radiators and even some fridges a fresh lick of paint. Even wall and floor tiles can be painted on a budget. Choose a hard-wearing paint that can be applied directly to your kitchen surfaces. Look for a smooth, stain-resistant finish that quickly wipes clean in the event of spills and splashes. Shown here is Anthracite from V33 at just £18 per litre.
USE FLOORING TO HELP A BROKEN LAYOUT FLOW
Not got an open-plan kitchen? Flooring can be used to connect your space to the rest of your home. For creating the perception of space, David Snazel, hard flooring buyer at Carpetright, recommends a light wood finish floor with a single plank design.
NAB A DESIGNER EX-DISPLAY BARGAIN
Did you know that you could snap up kitchens that were formerly used in showrooms? There are brilliant bargains to be found, such as this designer ex-display kitchen from Used Kitchen Exchange. Given the confined space of most showrooms, these kitchens are often packed with smart storage solutions. What's more, buying 'used' helps offset your carbon footprint in the name of sustainability, and what could be cooler than that?
DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK
"It is not strictly necessary to stick to a bright palette in small kitchens," says Ben Burbridge, managing director at Kitchen Makers. "If you'd prefer to use dark, rich tones, try to create consistency through the textures and materials so as not to overwhelm the space."
GO LIGHTER ON TOP AND DARKER DOWN BELOW
Overhead cabinets can make an already tight kitchen feel even more cramped, but if you need the storage, detract from their bulk by painting them a lighter shade than your base units.