At first glance, it is easy to assume that there is nothing you can do to make a small kitchen more functional aside from knocking out walls, which be intimidating as well as very costly.
But, there are actually quite a few ways to really enhance a small kitchen to make it feel larger and more open on a small budget.
Paint color. Paint color can really add light to a small kitchen space. Don’t be afraid to use color—oftentimes there is the misnomer than small areas need less color and should be left white. This could not be further from the truth. Sometimes breaking up the color by having the wall color stand out against the cabinets and counter tops adds the illusion of more space rather than less. For instance, sometimes light shades of gray, green and blue can be a nice touch to a kitchen.
Lighting. Lighting can also create the illusion of more space. Adding pendant lights above the kitchen island, as well as under and over the cabinet lighting can really enhance the space. If you’re able, adding more window light to the room can also be helpful…which sometimes just means changing your window treatments to allow. Consider some plantation shutters that you can open fully during the day to allow for more light.
Backsplash. Adding a kitchen backsplash can be a fairly inexpensive project, especially if you are working in a small space. Selecting a light or glassy tile or even a polished stainless steel tile can really brighten a kitchen.
Storage. There are a variety of ways to make the most of having little space to store your pots, pans, utensils and everything in between. One of the ways to add function to a small kitchen is to have an island with storage inside. Another idea is to have several pull out pantries.
Rather than enhancing your kitchen, have you considered looking to see what other homes are for sale in the Oak Shores, CA area that meet your needs? I have been selling homes in the Lake Nacimiento and Heritage Ranch areas for years and am happy to help!
From Grace Borzini
grace@oakshoresrealty.com