From simplifying colour schemes, to clearing out the clutter, these tips and tricks will help you make the most of your compact kitchen

With Google search trends of ‘kitchen space savers’ increasing by 130% in the past 12 months, it seems that many of us are looking for ways to get the most out of a small kitchen. 

Aiming to make our kitchens look and feel bigger – whilst also ensuring we’re being smart about our storage solutions – Wren Kitchens Design Director, Darren Watts, has shared his expert advice.                   

Image: Zazous

Embrace storage solutions

Since the nationwide lockdown obsession with Stacey Solomon’s ‘Tap to Tidy’ Instagram stories, savvy storage solutions are well and truly on-trend. Especially in family households, using pull-out organisers, cutlery inserts, and labelled jars can really help control clutter.

Also, remember to also use your wall space wisely. Darren says: “Consider hanging your favourite crockery pieces on the wall, which creates a stylish feature for your kitchen, and is also great for saving space.”

Image: MADE.COM

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Keep your colours simple

On choosing your kitchen colour scheme, Darren says: “Keep it simple and use colour palettes such as bright whites, soft greys and blush nudes. Neutral colours such as these naturally reflect the light and make even the smallest rooms feel bigger.”

These kinds of colours are also likely to go with your existing worktops and appliances, so you wont need to worry about jarring clashes.

Image: Scavolini

Flood the room with light

Just like the colour scheme, lighting can have a massive impact on how large a room looks. Natural light coming through large windows or skylights is ideal, as they will make a small kitchen feel much bigger.

Lacking the natural lighting? Darren says: “If your kitchen lacks natural lighting, then there are plenty of different lighting options to choose from to enhance your space, including atmospheric feature lighting and integrated spotlights.”  

Image: Davey Lighting

Click here to buy the Davey Lighting Whitby Spotlights DP0762

Be ruthless about appliances

Before you buy that new toastie maker, ask yourself whether it’s worthy of taking a prized appliance spot on your countertop. You don’t have limitless space, so don’t buy limitless numbers of appliances! 

Alternatively, if you’re doing a whole redesign, then it’s worth seeing if you can work your appliances into the plans. “Integrated appliances are a great way to save space whilst keeping your kitchen looking sophisticated and stylish”, adds Darren.   

Image: Wren Kitchens

Click here to explore the full Wren Kitchens range

Make a statement

Darren reckons that a stand-out floor is just what a smaller kitchen needs. He says: “When designing your kitchen, why not choose a strongly patterned floor? These sorts of features add the “wow” factor to your kitchen, as well as an impact on how big the room feels.”

But if you’re after more subtlety, you can always use eye-catching appliances like bright and colourful toasters or retro-inspired radios to add pops of personality to the kitchen.

Image: Zazous

Click here to look at the Zazous Havana Night Vinyl Floor Tiles

Have you got any great tips for maximising space and storage in a small kitchen? Tweet us @goodhomesmag or post a comment on our Facebook page.

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