Enlarging Your Small Kitchen with Reflection Ideas

Entry #2411, May 12, 2013

Your kitchen is just like the hub of a house. A big, functional, and bright kitchen can make the tasks of food preparation, cooking, and dining easier. However, many people have to deal with small and dark kitchens. In that case, you can consider the following tricks to enlarge your kitchen.

Use mirrors in your kitchen and light reflective surfaces

Image via: Susan Murray

Use Light Colors

Light and neutral colors, especially white, can work miracle in a small kitchen. Light colors reflect light and thereby make walls seem moving away and increase the sense of space. Using the same light color on the walls, ceiling, cabinetry, and countertops will create an illusion of seamless space without any boundaries to obstruct the vision. However, using the same color shade will appear boring and make the interior looking sterile. So, use various shades of the same color and mix divergent textures.

Use Mirrors

Reflection enlarges a space and the thing that does that reflection very well is mirror. However, in order to get that effect, you have to put the mirrors on the right places. Place a mirror on the opposite side of your kitchen window wall to get the best light reflection. Such reflections can also be achieved by replacing the cabinet doors or solid fronts with glass. It will pull the eyes past the cabinet frames and thus create a space illusion. This trick will work better if you can keep the utensils inside the cabinets organized and color-coordinated. A reflective backsplash is also effective in giving the impression of space.

Try a mirrored backsplash in your kitchen

Image via: Phorum Phi

Utilize Natural Light

Lots of natural light expand a place. While you cannot increase the number of windows or fix their placements in the kitchen, you can maximize the quantity of natural light by doing the right window treatments. Use light colored fabrics and sheers at windows to disperse harsh intense light. For example, you can use valances at windows, which will add a smart tone to the kitchen without blocking light. If you do not have windows in kitchen, using brighter lighting and colors can be a solution.

Try adding a bit of sparkle with chandeliers

Image via: Jane Kelly, Designer for Airoom LLC

Make Use of Reflective Objects

Apart from mirrors, surfaces like stainless steel and ceramic tile can also reflect light. Surfaces made of these reflective objects finely augment the effects of both artificial and natural light and make the kitchen seem bigger. Stainless steel made countertops or some furniture pieces can perform this function. Adequate and proper lighting can also increase the luster of the kitchen. For example, pendant lights can cheer up the island or peninsula.

Reflective surfaces to amplify light.

Image via: BHG

The aforementioned tricks will not only create an illusion of larger space but also increase the beauty of your kitchen. However, try to keep the place as clutter free as possible because a decluttered and clean place tends to reflect more light than a cluttered one does.

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