Small kitchens can present a design challenge (just watch these New York apartment tours to get an idea of how crafty you can be with a closet-sized kitchen space!), but with the right techniques and smart product choices, you can transform a tiny kitchen into a functional and visually open space. In this blog, we're exploring creative strategies, design principles, and product recommendations to help you make the most of limited kitchen space (because limited space shouldn’t mean limited style).

Clever Layout Solutions

Optimize the Kitchen Layout

When working with a small kitchen, it's crucial to make the most of every inch. Consider open shelving, wall-mounted storage, and efficient cabinet configurations (like corner cabinets) to maximize space. Explore design software and tools that aid in planning efficient kitchen layouts, ensuring that every element has a purpose and place. To get a rough idea, try using a free planning program online to map out the space and sit with it to optimize every nook and cranny. 

Also, design continuity is a small kitchen’s best friend. You can make all of the design elements, from the backsplash to the wall colour, match to make the space feel bigger. 

Lighting

The Impact of Lighting

Proper lighting can dramatically affect how spacious a kitchen feels. Layered lighting, combining ambient, task, and accent lighting, can create depth and make the space seem larger (you may have heard us talk about it before – at Vogt, we’re big fans of ambience.)

Additionally, consider the impact of natural light. Try to open up any and all kitchen window space to let in more light. Enhancing natural light sources can brighten and open up the kitchen, flooding the space with bright morning light and adding a cozy, peaceful serenity with evening sunsets splashing against the walls. 

Lighting Fixtures

We recommend under-cabinet and pendant lighting fixtures to brighten up small kitchen spaces. These fixtures not only provide essential illumination (so your midnight snacking in the dark of the night isn’t a hazard), but they can also serve as stylish design elements that enhance the overall aesthetics (if you’re feeling fun – might we suggest some coloured under-cabinet lighting?)

Choosing the Colour Palette and Materials

The Importance of Colour Selection

Colour plays a pivotal role in how the space feels. 

Opt for bright, light colours in a small kitchen to make it feel more expansive (darker colours tend to make spaces feel smaller and more cramped). Consider a light and airy colour palette to create a sense of openness. Vogt’s soon-to-be-released Mond line features 16 colour selections in a variety of light and bright shades – a perfect addition to a small kitchen, because the fixture’s customizable handles keep the space feeling fresh without the addition of anything new that isn’t essential. You need a faucet– so why not get one with a pink handle set that you can swap out for red, or blue down the line

[The Mond collection provides a perfect pop of colour to a small kitchen space]. 

Go for Reflective Materials and Finishes

Choose materials and finishes that reflect light, like glossy backsplashes or stainless steel appliances and fixtures. At Vogt, we offer a range of stainless steel kitchen sinks that not only enhance the reflective quality of the space but also add a touch of elegance.

[Who said a small kitchen can’t be stylish? Vogt’s stainless steel kitchen sink is sure to enhance any space’s aesthetic.] 

Mirrors and reflective surfaces can visually expand the kitchen – it’s a trick of the light (literally!). Strategically place mirrors near windows to maximize the reflection of natural light (bonus points if you add a disco ball or coloured glass ornament for a DIY lighting effect that will add a vibe). You can also add mirrored backsplashes to amplify the effect. 

Multifunctional Furniture & Purposeful Storage

Versatile Fixtures & Furniture

Make the most of a small kitchen space by incorporating multifunctional furniture, like kitchen islands with added storage or foldable tables that can be tucked away when not in use. 

Also, why not make the most of the essentials you need? Vogt’s upcoming Drau workstation is an all in one godsend for a small kitchen space, combining a cutting board/prep area with a sliding grate for easy clean up – and did we mention this is all over the kitchen sink? If you’re working with a small space, you need ingenious, space-saving fixtures (that are also of the highest quality) like the Drau workstation, to make cooking a seamless experience

[The Drau workstation is a functional masterpiece].

Storage Solutions

Opt for innovative storage solutions, like pull-out pantry shelves and pull-down cabinet systems, to keep a small space looking and feeling organized. Additionally, consider sorting products and accessories in cabinetry like lazy susans to keep the space clutter-free. 

We can’t wait to see what you do with a uniquely cozy kitchen space! If you incorporate any of Vogt’s fixtures, tag us in the final result! And if you simply draw inspiration from this blog, DM us a pic of the final space so we can ooh and ah over the stunning transformation!