Smart Ideas to Make Your Small Kitchen Feel Bigger

A small kitchen doesn’t have to feel cramped, cluttered, or frustrating. With the right design choices and smart…

21-12-2024

A small kitchen doesn’t have to feel cramped, cluttered, or frustrating. With the right design choices and smart organization strategies, even the tiniest kitchen can feel open, efficient, and surprisingly spacious. Whether you’re dealing with a compact apartment kitchen, a galley layout, or a starter home with limited square footage, the goal is to make every inch work harder. Here’s how to transform your small kitchen so it feels twice the size without tearing down walls.

Maximize Vertical Space

When floor space is limited, think upward. Most small kitchens have plenty of unused vertical room that can drastically improve storage and organization.

Install ceiling-height cabinets
Add floating shelves for everyday essentials
Use hooks or magnetic strips for utensils and knives
Hang pots and pans to free up cabinet space

By moving items off the counters and upward, you instantly make the room feel taller and less cluttered.

Light Colors Make a Huge Difference

This one tip alone can visually double your space. Light, airy colors, such as white, cream, pale gray, or soft beige, reflect more light and create the illusion of a bigger kitchen. Our handymen in Sherman, TX recommend you consider light-colored cabinets, neutral walls, bright backsplashes, and white countertops. Even swapping dark cabinet doors for open shelving or glass-front doors adds depth and openness to the room.

Let Natural Light In (and Add More Lighting)

Small kitchens feel tight when they’re poorly lit. If you have a window, avoid heavy curtains or blinds. Let natural light flood the space. Then add layered lighting, including:

Under-cabinet lights to brighten work areas
Pendant lights to add height and style
Recessed lighting to eliminate shadows

Choose Space-Saving Appliances

Today’s appliance manufacturers design compact models specifically for small homes and apartments. Slim dishwashers, narrow fridges, and slide-in ranges can save valuable inches without sacrificing performance. If your kitchen allows, consider a counter-depth refrigerator, a microwave drawer, a two-burner cooktop, and a built-in oven.

Declutter and Streamline Your Counters

Nothing shrinks a kitchen faster than cluttered countertops. Keep only the essentials out, which include a coffee maker, toaster, and maybe a fruit bowl. Store everything else.

Try:

Drawer dividers
Pull-out pantry shelves
Cabinet organizers
Stackable storage containers

Opt for Multi-Functional Furniture

If your kitchen includes a small dining area or breakfast nook, choose pieces that do double duty.

Some ideas:

Testimonials

Our Customers Love our Services

We called Mr. Handyman because we had a problem with our 2nd floor gutters overflowing and flooding the front flower beds. John arrived the next day and took care of everything. He was friendly, knowledgeable and took good care of our property. It turned out the gutters were fairly clean but John took the time to check more thoroughly and found the downspouts were clogged. He cleared them out and managed to get everything working as it should while taking care not to crush my newly planted flowers. I'm very happy with this service.

Tera Rose Frisco, TX

John Svoboda arrived when he was expected. He was friendly and professional. We wanted to make sure the windows were well sealed. He inspected each window inside and out and recommended caulking for some of them. He gave us an accurate time estimate for completing the work. A great experience! We will be calling Mr. Handyman for other tasks

Medra Meeks Roanoke, TX

We had a big screen TV mounted above our fireplace by Angie's list, the guy did a crappy job. So we called Mr handyman of Sherman, Duayne showed up he did a wonderful job and it wasn't as expensive. I highly recommend ask for Duayne

Sarah Cunningham Aubrey, TX

My dog has an autoimmune disease that requires he eat sitting upright. I got him a special chair for this, but it came without pilot holes drilled and for the life of me I could not get it assembled. I called Mr Handyman and Pete came out and was absolutely awesome. Amazingly friendly and knowledgeable dude, and was able to get the chair fixed and sturdy as a rock in no time at all. I had a few electrical outlets around the house that stopped working and he was also able to quickly diagnose that and explain to me what was happening. Another tech came out earlier this year to repair some flashing on my roof after a bad storm and had an equally awesome experience then. I’m very thankful for Pete and the team at Mr Handyman!

Matt Malone The Colony, TX

A fold-out table
Bar stools that tuck under the counter
A rolling cart that serves as extra prep space
A bench with hidden storage

Furniture that transforms or tucks away gives you more room to move around.

Use Reflective Surfaces to Bounce Light

Mirrors aren’t just for bedrooms; they work wonders in kitchens, too. Reflective materials multiply the light in the room and create a sense of depth. Consider glossy backsplashes, stainless steel appliances, polished countertops, and a mirror placed opposite a window. Even subtle shine helps visually expand the space.

Keep the Layout Simple

In a small kitchen, every step counts. A cluttered or inefficient layout makes the space feel even tighter. Keep the “work triangle” intact— the stove, sink, and refrigerator should form an easy-to-move-around triangle. If possible, remove bulky islands, choose slimmer cabinets, and create wider pathways. The easier it is to move, the larger the room feels.

Contact Mr. Handyman for Kitchen Remodeling Service

You’ll need to remodel your kitchen if you’re dealing with a poor layout, insufficient storage, an outdated design, inadequate counter space, and poor lighting. Remodeling your kitchen improves functionality, increases storage space, and enhances your kitchen’s look. Mr. Handyman is a locally owned and operated company that specializes in kitchen remodeling and other home repair services. Our technicians have the expertise and experience to remodel kitchens of all sizes. If it’s time to remodel your kitchen, feel free to contact us to book an appointment.

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