Luxury interior expert at LUSSO, Mike Whitfield, and Emma Masters, founder of Emma Masters Interiors, share how to elevate a small kitchen to its true potential.
1. Maximise with multifunctional kitchen appliances
Mike shares: “Investing in multifunctional kitchen appliances, such as boiling water taps that provide multiple water options at the push of a button, can save space in the kitchen. This eliminates the need for a kettle, plastic water bottles or a water dispenser and frees up countertop space, creating a more open, airy feel in your kitchen.
“Other kitchen appliances, such as workstation sinks, are great for decluttering countertop space. These sinks are ideal for kitchens with limited space, and feature built-in accessories such as a soaker, a chopping board, a colander and a rack.
“Investing in a workstation kitchen sink allows you to complete multiple tasks in one area, including preparing meals, draining pasta and cleaning and drying dishes, which reduces the need for additional kitchen appliances, and increases your available countertop space.”
2. Brighten the space with light, bright shades and stylish tile choices
Emma states: “Making the most of the natural light in the kitchen will help the room feel more spacious. You should also introduce layered lighting, such as under counter lighting, pendant lighting, downlights, and wall lights with dimmer switches, so there are no dark spaces to make the kitchen feel smaller – and so that the ambience of the kitchen can be adjusted depending on the time of day, or if you are hosting.”
Mike adds: “Focusing on light and colour can make your kitchen appear bigger. Bright and airy shades such as white, soft grey, beige and pale blues can reflect light, making a space feel larger and brighter.
“Carrara marble tiles are a great way to blend luxury and brightness into your kitchen. Renowned for its crystal white base with soft grey veining, Carrara marble is the perfect choice for adding light and texture.
“Kitchen tile styles, such as kit kat, metro and baton, in shades of white, ivory, light grey and powdered blue, can be styled as splashbacks or feature walls in kitchens, making surfaces appear further away and the space feel more open. In a small kitchen, this can create the illusion of depth and height, making the room feel larger than it is.”
3. Create efficiency by optimising kitchen layout
Emma states: “For a smaller kitchen, getting the layout right is key and should be the biggest consideration when designing it, as getting this wrong would make the small space feel even smaller. I always start with the layout of any space first and then start to work on the design elements like the finishes, colours and style.”
Mike suggests: “When designing a small kitchen, keep the kitchen sink, hob and fridge in mind to ensure ease of movement and efficiency. Ideally, these should form a triangle, with each area being easily accessible to the others. This work triangle layout reduces unnecessary movement and enhances a small space.
“An option could be to break your kitchen into key work zones, allowing your space to be more organised and efficient to use. Keep the kitchen sink and hob close together so you can easily move between tasks, and the fridge should be within easy reach of the prep area.”
4. Maximise storage and minimise clutter
Mike explains: “A clever use of storage is key to maximise the space you have. Use the full vertical height of the kitchen to make use of cupboards or open shelving for increased storage. Cupboards can be difficult to access, especially towards the back, so including pull out drawers maximises the space and helps you to easily access items.
“Homeowners should consider which type of features are used to optimise the space they are working with. Floating shelves offer useful storage without taking up floor space and can make a kitchen feel more open by highlighting walls. The key factor in small kitchens is to create more space and eliminate clutter, specifically on the work surfaces.”
Emma adds: “The use of tall cabinets, open shelves or wall mounted racks to store items also helps to keep the work surfaces clear.”
5. Pay attention to the finer details with functional hardware and smart updates
Mike says: “Small details are often overlooked, but they can make a huge difference in the functionality and flow of a small kitchen. Cabinet handles, the placement of switches and how you store small items are significant factors to consider when renovating a compact kitchen.
“I recommend avoiding hardware that is purely decorative and not functional. In small spaces, cabinet handles that are bulky or heavy can be impractical. Instead, opt for hardware that’s space efficient, like pull handles, which help a small kitchen flow seamlessly.”
Emma shares: “Replacing drawer fronts or painting existing cabinets can help breathe new life into a kitchen and save on costs. For example, if the existing kitchen is a dark timber kitchen, painting cabinets in a lighter colour will immediately make the space feel larger and refreshed.”
