Luxury Housing Trends & Home Improvement Ideas

Got a small kitchen? Even a kitchen remodel won’t add much in the way of square footage if you’re working with an older home and you want to retain its vintage charm. Here are some tips for making your kitchen seem bigger without bumping out any walls:

• Use recessed lighting, which makes the ceiling seem higher.
• Whether you’re using ceramic or wood-strip flooring, run it on the diagonal for the illusion of more space. You can also lay out the tile for the backsplash on the diagonal for the same affect.
• Choose light-colored (but not necessarily white) walls and cabinets to make the kitchen feel more open.
• Using glass panels on the fronts of some of your cabinet doors will add depth to the room.
• Free up counter space with built-in appliances like microwaves and coffee makers.
• Use the same flooring as in adjacent rooms to make the whole area flow together.
• Use similar hues for the cabinets, floors, and walls to keep the kitchen from feeling broken up.

Source: Nov 2005 do! Magazine’s “Tips for Tiny Kitchens”