You don’t need a massive budget to make your tiny kitchen look more expensive than it is. In fact, you don’t even need a large amount of space to make your kitchen look luxurious. Designing a small kitchen can seem like a challenge, but you can see it instead as an opportunity to maximize its function, increase its value, and choose features that align perfectly with an upscale aesthetic.
Of course, kitchens can be one of the costliest rooms to remodel with expenses like appliances, plumbing, and countertops to consider. However, small kitchens are limited in scope and only need a few fixes to make things look updated and refreshed. By switching up some of the smaller details to match the compact nature of the space, you can transform your tiny kitchen into the gourmet kitchen of your dreams – and all without breaking the bank!
As you get started on your remodel, let’s take a look at some of the best design tricks for creating a small yet luxurious kitchen.
1. Incorporate the magic of marble
Marble instantly evokes a sense of luxury and elegance, but it can come with a hefty price tag. Since there’s much less square footage to account for in a small kitchen, you can incorporate inexpensive yet impactful marble features in several ways. One way to integrate the magic of marble into your small kitchen is to use marble tiles to create an eye-catching backsplash or as a design feature of the floor.
A small pre-cut slab of marble (which you can sometimes find on sale) can be used to create a dedicated baking area, or as a base for your cutting board. You can also simply add marble decor in the form of vases, fruit bowls, pitchers, or dishes to the space, which will tie in well with the luxurious theme you’re aiming for.
2. Play both sides of the island
A kitchen island is the ideal place to store all of your gadgets and wares, especially in a small space where things can look cluttered fast. If your island includes deep, low cabinetry, however, this can be a pain to access. In a gourmet kitchen, you’ll be wise to make use of both sides of the island for maximum efficiency.
This means choosing kitchen cabinets that either open from both sides, giving you access from any location, or that are shallow and placed back-to-back, so you can easily reach whatever is inside. Again, having ample storage tucked away in your island will free up additional counter space for other glamorous trinkets and keep your entire space looking less jumbled overall.
3. Work with light and dark
We’ve all been taught to think that dark colors make rooms look small and cramped, but this couldn’t be less true when paired with a light and bright contrast. Creating a dichotomy of light and dark colors in your kitchen – such as white cabinetry paired with black granite counters – can forge surprising optical effects that will actually make the space seem larger.
If your kitchen is primarily white, you can bring in darker colors like charcoal gray to areas like the backsplash, which will cause the backsplash to visually recede and make the wall look further away. No matter how you decide to incorporate light and dark colors, the contrast will instantly add a hint of luxury to your small kitchen and look chic.
4. Make sure there’s at least one highlight
Since available space is limited, a highlight piece is a great way to make your kitchen really stand out and appear like a lot more money has gone into its design. A “highlight” in a space constitutes anything that feels unique and one-of-a-kind, like an accent wall in a living room.
This is something that you just won’t see in cookie-cutter kitchens, like a series of illusive floating shelves made from industrial wrought iron, or a gorgeous metallic range hood.
Since sinks are such an integral part of any kitchen, it may be a good idea to focus your attention on making it the highlight of the room. For instance, a copper or stone sink can really elevate a space, and while it may be a little more expensive, it could be the only thing needed to make your kitchen look deliciously luxurious.
Ready to get started on remodeling your small kitchen? Check out these common kitchen layouts to give you some extra inspiration.
