5 hidden benefits of a small kitchen

Furniture for a small kitchen

It is important for you to know and understand that it is best to order kitchen furniture, and not buy ready-made kitchen sets in a furniture store. For small rooms, this rule is especially important, because literally every square centimeter counts.

In this photo, a kitchen in a modern style with a breakfast bar. Such design solution helps solve the problem lack places for dining table.

Today, furniture manufacturers can offer you a wide variety of options for a kitchen set for a small kitchen, both in terms of external parameters and internal content.

The most popular material for kitchen furniture facades is MDF. This is the optimal solution for most consumers both in terms of price range and possible color solutions. We have a detailed article on this site on our website.

Moreover, do not forget about new technologies and mechanisms: you can order all possible pull-out systems, comfortable and light shelves, glossy or matte surfaces, installation of lighting in any corner of the headset.

Bright juicy shades are also popular with interior designers in 2018.

Transparent elements allow you to get several benefits at once.

First, it's modern. Elements such as transparent fittings and shades for hanging lamps create an amazing visual tandem.

Secondly, what is transparent is practically invisible. For example, chairs made of transparent plastic practically do not “eat up” space and look very nice.

Pull-out furniture and transformer tables are especially relevant for the design of a modern small kitchen, photos of which are shown below.

More and more people are abandoning bulky tables and chairs in favor of furniture that hides in a set or leans back against the wall. The use of such elements allows you to actually change your kitchen at the right time for the hostess as it suits her.

Moreover, with a "hidden" dining table, there is a lot of space for both adults and, for example, for children's games.

The maximum use of the usable area of ​​​​the kitchen lies in such an initial design of the headset, in which it will occupy the entire area allotted to it - from the floor to the very top.

Feel free to order high furniture, because it will have more space for kitchen utensils.With limited space and, as a rule, the budget, this approach will help to fit the maximum at the minimum cost without creating a warehouse effect.

It is better to buy household appliances built-in, as this will save a lot of space in your small kitchen. There are special narrow dishwashers, hobs, hoods, and even ovens that are perfect for tiny rooms.

The countertop (work surface) is best made from MDF or acrylic. Natural stone or quartz will be too heavy for a small headset, which may adversely affect its design.

Selection rules

For a kitchen, the size of which does not exceed 8 square meters, it is necessary to correctly choose all the interior items. They must meet certain requirements:

• multifunctionality, since one element must perform several important functions at once, so that you do not have to force the space with numerous objects, therefore transformer furniture is considered optimal;
• small sizes that allow them to fit even in the most limited space, so bulky and large cabinets or chests of drawers, as well as standard dining tables, will not fit such a room in any way;
• resistance to high humidity and regular temperature changes, since such conditions are established in almost any kitchen;
• ease of cleaning, since during the cooking process various liquids or dirt can get on different surfaces of the furniture.

The best choice for small kitchens is the purchase of folding or built-in structures, as well as transformers.When assembled, they do not take up much space, and their unfolding is carried out only if necessary.

Textile and decor

When completing the design of a small kitchen, for which modern ideas were used, do not forget to pay due attention to the selection of textiles and decorative elements.

It is also important to avoid dark and heavy materials here, as in the main finish. For window decoration, use light translucent curtains, while it is better to exclude heavy curtains.

For window decoration, use light translucent curtains, while it is better to exclude heavy curtains.

It is also important to avoid dark and heavy materials here, as in the main finish. For window decoration, use light translucent curtains, while it is better to exclude heavy curtains.

In a small space, every free centimeter of space is often used. The window sill is no exception, so choose curtains for a small kitchen of such length and configuration so that they do not clutter up your access to it.

Remember, a well-lit room always visually seems more spacious and comfortable. Warm shades (red, orange, yellow, etc.) bring space closer and smaller, cold ones, on the contrary, seem more distant, which creates a visual effect of expansion.

Choose a material that is practical and easy to care for. If you have a stove installed next to the window, then airy curtains will not be the best options, because this is a good example of a fire hazard.

Today it is not a problem to choose a fabric that would be distinguished by wear resistance and practicality.

One of these options is tulle.It does not attract dust, is resistant to pollution, but at the same time passes air and sunlight well.

Gaining popularity and photo-tulle. The variety of images allows you to choose worthy solutions for each buyer.

A fairly popular modern solution for a small kitchen are blinds, fabric blinds, Roman blinds in the kitchen. They will become a concise frame for the window opening.

When choosing decor, you should also adhere to the principle of minimalism, because even a little overdoing it with accessories will overload an already small space.

Do you want to hang a picture, photo or poster on the wall? Choose not one, but a couple of small images, placing one above and the second slightly below the middle of the wall. This little trick will make the ceilings look taller.

Accessories can be selected in bright colors. Against the background of a general laconic finish, they will look especially impressive and attractive.

Transparent and shiny decor is the choice of many modern designers. These can be small vases, photo and picture frames, kitchen accessories, hot coasters, etc.

Fresh flowers are found in almost every kitchen today. Small spaces are no exception.

Lush houseplants in large pots are best moved to another room. In the kitchen, limit yourself to small elegant compositions.

Bright multi-colored violets, delicate orchids, spring primroses and other flowers will fill the room with freshness, give naturalness and naturalness. It would also be appropriate to look at the phase with fruit, standing on the dining table.

As a bonus, here are some more examples of imitative small kitchen interiors that you can try in your apartment.

Secrets of visual increase in space

In the absence of the ability to increase the kitchen mechanically, you have to turn to visual ways to expand a small area. Fortunately, there are a lot of such methods, among them there are suitable for every small kitchen.

In the design of a small kitchen, use neutral calm colors - they visually expand the boundaries of the room, reflecting the light well.

Kitchen color scheme

Correct options	Wrong Options
The use of neutral soothing colors, preferably no more than two shades.	Visually increases the space of the room, reflecting the light.	Complex patterns, drawings on textile accessories or wallpaper.
Suitable colors for wall or ceiling coatings: white, beige, cocoa color. Suitable for furniture: pastel shades of beige, cream, yellow, light brown or blue.	They will not be able to overshadow the interior of a small kitchen.	Small kitchens with dark or bright wallpaper visually reduce the space.
Highlighting one wall (suitable for this wall near the recreation area) with a bright accent.	This technique refreshes the room, brings zest to the interior, does not damage the space.

Surface finishing

Places such as an apron and the surfaces of a kitchen unit in a small kitchen are best decorated in gloss. This means that the apron and headset will reflect light and thereby expand the area of ​​​​the room.

Glossy tiles on the walls or flooring in the form of parquet in white, cream or other light pastel colors can also help with such a problem.

The benefits of lighting

In a small kitchen, installing a large number of lighting fixtures is a salvation.

For walls, cream tones, shades of cocoa, universal white color are best suited, for furniture - pastel, light brown and yellow paints.

1. Spotlights. Placed lamps of such a plan along the perimeter of the ceiling, above the hanging set and shelves will be able to visually expand the room.
2. Multilamp models. They will help to evenly distribute light over the working and dining area.
3. Chandelier. An interesting option is to focus on lighting and choose a chandelier model that harmoniously fits into the overall style of the room.

For a small kitchen, lacquered smooth facades that perfectly reflect light are best suited.

Visual association of the kitchen with the adjoining room

If there is no desire to mechanically combine the kitchen with the living room or dining room, you can combine it in another way. For example, in the absence of an interior door, paste over both rooms with wallpaper of the same shades, patterns, or paint in one color.

Such a trick will create the effect of a visual continuation of the room, make it bigger, and not vice versa, create two tiny rooms.

Textile

To leave more natural light, it is necessary to abandon massive curtains, on the contrary, they will do:

• Air light curtains;
• Roman curtains;
• Roller blinds.

Making the window with curtains should leave part of it open, so as much sunlight as possible will enter the room.

The use of patterns and patterns should be approached with care. It will be enough to purchase furniture with small ornaments on the upholstery or a few decorative pillows.

Bright spotlights located along the perimeter of the ceiling, as well as above hanging cabinets and shelves, will help to visually expand the room.

Furniture

It is important to think over every little thing when choosing furniture for a small kitchen, decide on the color, design and shape of the kitchen and leisure furniture.

Soft, light furniture is what you need for a small kitchen.

Furniture	Advantages
The form	Oval or round dining table. Folding, mobile or sliding headset models.	The absence of clear lines and angles in the furniture expands the room, making it more spacious. Folding products save useful square meters.
Color	Light furniture in delicate shades.	Doesn't look bulky. Mixes with the main color of the walls.
Design	Plastic products, glass	Transparent objects look stylish. A glass table, chairs, hanging shelves, a bar counter form a weightless and light interior. There should not be too many furniture elements so as not to load and reduce the already small kitchen.

Organizers and alternative solutions for the kitchen

You can use additional solutions for the kitchen space in the form of hanging systems and various organizers. The roof rails will unload and tidy up the contents of kitchen cabinets, as well as what did not fit into them. They will replace several shelves, while taking up little space.

Each hostess can choose suitable designs and organizers for herself:

• magnets for knives;
• hanging shelves;
• towel holders;
• baskets for vegetables;
• holders for cups and glasses;
• stands for spices;
• hooks;
• small containers for small things and so on.

Thinking through your version of a small kitchen, use these simple recommendations.And once again, make sure from your own experience that size does not matter. Content defines everything. And the successful pies of the hostess of the house are confirmation of this.

Arrangement methods

It is quite difficult to equip a kitchen in Khrushchev

At the same time, it is important not only to decide what kind of furniture will be purchased for this room, but also to decide how to arrange all the furniture in a small kitchen. Each correctly placed piece of furniture guarantees the creation of a multifunctional, convenient and comfortable space.

Arrangement of furniture in the kitchen can be done in different ways:

• linear - one wall of the room is selected, along which individual objects will be placed, forming a full-fledged set. This method is usually suitable for long kitchens, but they should not be too narrow, otherwise there will simply be no room for free movement in the room. To design this layout, it is taken into account where the sink and stove will be located, and they should not be next to the refrigerator, so floor cabinets are certainly installed between these elements;
• corner - such an arrangement of all the furniture in a small kitchen suggests that a certain corner of the room is chosen. The main part of the kitchen set is mounted in it. On the sides of it are other elements intended for use in the kitchen. A photo of the design of such an arrangement can be seen below. For a small quadrature room, this solution is considered optimal;
• island - not very suitable for a small room, as it involves the installation of a certain piece of furniture in the center of the room. Usually a hob or bar counter is installed here.On the sides of it, near the walls, the rest of the interior items are mounted. This arrangement of furniture requires quite a lot of space, so if the kitchen has less than 8 square meters, then this layout is not used.

There are many other layouts, but they are considered unsuitable for small kitchens, since it is not possible to correctly place all interior items in accordance with specific rules.

corner

Linear

Island

How to make a small kitchen more spacious and roomy

Even the tiniest kitchen can be adequately equipped if you follow the advice of professional designers. Some tricks will help to make the room more spacious, comfortable and functional.

A dining table with chairs takes up a lot of space in the kitchen. It is not always possible to completely abandon it, but there is a way to solve this problem - instead of a table, you can use a bar counter, which, due to its compact size, will easily fit into any space. Such a rack can be retractable or stationary.

Tall cabinets will make the kitchen set more spacious. Inside, you can equip shelves, drawers and storage compartments for all used kitchen utensils.

Metal roof rails also help solve the problem of a small kitchen. You can install them directly on the kitchen apron. The roof rails are highly functional, they practically do not take up space and help to keep all the necessary kitchen accessories at hand - potholders, ladles, spatulas, paper towels, jars of spices, and much more.

A compact refrigerator instead of a heavy and bulky unit.It can be built-in, making the space savings in the kitchen even more significant. Modern manufacturers have long established the production of such refrigerators, which are ideal for installation in small apartments.

Household appliances in a small kitchen should be built-in. This means that all devices that can be hidden behind facades must be hidden behind them. A microwave oven, an electric stove with an oven, a refrigerator, a dishwasher, a food processor - all this must be correctly built into the headset. You may have to abandon some household appliances - for example, install either an oven or a microwave in the kitchen.

The color scheme of the kitchen is of great importance. Every designer will confirm that light colors help to visually enlarge even the smallest room, while dark shades make it even cramped and gloomy.

In a small kitchen, light colors should prevail in everything - this applies to furniture, ceiling, walls, and even the floor.

Textiles on the windows should be light, or you can completely refuse to use it by installing light blinds. All elements of the situation should be kept in the same tone.

To make the kitchen look bigger, there should always be enough light in it.

You can hang a large chandelier above the dining table, you can’t do without spotlights installed above the work surface in a small room.

A small kitchen should always have free access to daylight.

To make the kitchen seem larger, you should not use ceramic tiles in its decoration, as this material in small rooms creates the effect of a closed box. It is best to use washable wallpaper or decorative plaster.

Mirror, glass and glossy surfaces used in the facades of the headset, when arranging a kitchen apron and even countertops will visually help to increase the space.

If family members like to watch TV at dinner, choose a small model with a flat screen. It is best to hang this TV on the wall.

All "architectural extravagances" (for example, a gas water heater) should be disguised as a wall cabinet, without forgetting to carefully isolate the walls inside it before that.

Equipping a small kitchen, the main thing is not to overdo it, and not turn a compact room into a sterile and snow-white doctor's office, in which there is no place for beauty and decor. It is possible and necessary to decorate such a kitchen with the help of decorative elements, you just have to do it right.

To revive the kitchen and give it personality, some accessories that do not take up much space will help - a ceramic candlestick and a porcelain napkin holder on the table, small photos of family members on the walls, pots of greenery on the windowsill, cute curtains on the windows.

The main thing is that all this should correspond to the chosen style of the room and emphasize it.

Loft

Loft-style kitchen decorated in white with wooden furniture

The loft style concept is great for a small kitchen interior as it strives for plenty of natural light and space.

The main features of the style:

• Industrial spirit: textured stucco walls, raw wood accents, brickwork.
• Open communications on the walls and ceiling - pipes, wires.
• Wooden and metal beams.
• concrete surfaces.
• Structures and furniture made of metal, open metal shelving and shelves.
• Calm warm colors - beige, sand and white.
• Natural flooring - boards, concrete or self-leveling floor.

High tech

Blue with white gloss in the kitchen

This style is characterized by a large number of smooth solid surfaces, so it is similar to minimalism. The materials are mostly artificial - PVC, acrylic, glass. For emphasis, you can use natural wood, natural stone and living plants.

Interior design features:

• The ceiling is made multi-level suspended or glossy stretch. Highlights make the interior lighter and fill it with ringing lightness.
• For the walls, choose a plain neutral cold-colored finish - metallized tiles, plastic and glass.
• To add graphic quality to the interior, the floor is made plain, contrasting with the walls.
• The kitchen apron plays the role of a contrasting accent element.

In a small room, it is recommended to use only the necessary amount of furniture. The glass top of the dining table with chrome legs will be visually almost invisible, so the room will seem freer.

Tips from experts

Professional designers advise placing the kitchenette indoors, and not “forgetting” it in the yard, on the veranda - this way it will last longer without losing its beautiful appearance.

A cozy country kitchen will be a great place not only for cooking and eating, but also for family gatherings and receiving guests.

The design should correspond to the chosen interior style - this is the only way to achieve the most harmonious atmosphere in a place created for summer holidays.

The original version of the layout of the summer kitchen in the country is a detached, small house, equipped with its own terrace or veranda.

Economy class furniture for small houses is a very profitable purchase. It is inexpensive to purchase a ready-made summer cottage set of small size from local manufacturers.

The choice of the interior of a country kitchen is tied to the style of the room, and taking into account its features, possible options are selected.

Almost all modern furniture stores offer such designs. The cheapest kitchen do it yourself or ordered from a company that sells country furniture.

7 mistakes in the design of a small kitchen

If it is wrong to approach the implementation of some recommendations for interior design of a small kitchen, then you can get the opposite effect. We list the most common errors - there are only seven of them.

White matt set

Built-in appliances

1. Too many open shelves

Small kitchen design options

The more details - roof rails, shelves, hooks for organizing open storage of kitchen textiles and utensils, the more loaded the interior looks. To make the room visually look more spacious, it is recommended to choose the shade of the facades to match the walls. The headset itself should have a concise design and as little decor as possible. Many modern styles accept just this type of space design.

2.Lots of white

Bright details in a white interior

The exceptionally white interior of a small kitchen looks too “sterile”, and therefore uncomfortable and repulsive.

On the contrary, white color will only emphasize the lack of square meters. But the situation will change after adding textured materials, contrasting colors and warm shades.

3. Window decoration

small white kitchen

Cozy baked milk kitchen

Elements of red in the interior

Small work area for cooking with landscaping

When arranging a small kitchen, if, of course, it is not located on the 1-2 floor, an excellent solution would be to refuse to decorate the window with textiles - traditional curtains and curtains. A completely free window looks very stylish, which is typical for the Scandinavian interior and loft style. If such an interior does not seem too cozy, then you can hang roller blinds in a neutral shade or blinds on the window.

4. Equipment dimensions

Convenient and compact built-in kitchen appliances

Good morning interior design

Folding wooden furniture

Refusal of household appliances in favor of increasing free space is not the best option. Even for a very small kitchen, you can choose compact built-in, but functional models.

5. Central light

Plant elements enliven the interior

A single ceiling lamp will focus on the central part of the room - a small kitchen will seem even smaller, as its corners will be less lit and the space will narrow. The right solution would be multi-level lighting - general light on the ceiling, backlighting with a brighter directional light of the worktop and warm soft light in the eating area.

6. An overabundance of decor

Honeycomb shelves in the kitchen

Spectacular renovation of an old small kitchen

Milky-colored set in a small kitchen

It's like with open shelves - the less decor in a small kitchen, the more spacious it will seem. It is recommended to refuse non-functional elements - photo frames, figurines, vases. However, in order for the design of a small kitchen to look cozy and stylish, one must carefully consider the choice of textiles, dishes, appliances, kitchen fittings and plumbing fixtures.

Decorate one accent wall or backsplash above the work surface - this will be enough to attract attention

7. All at once

Cozy little gray kitchen with a bright dining area

Dark urban kitchen

In some cases, you should not try to combine several functional areas in a small kitchen - work and dining. Sometimes it is better to move the latter to another room, especially if it is possible to redevelop and combine the kitchen with the living room or balcony.

The same applies to the popular placement of the washing machine - you should look for another place for it or choose a compact top-loading model that will fit in a combined bathroom.

Kinds

Initially, you need to decide what furniture in a small kitchen is purchased without fail. It is not allowed to litter the limited space with various unnecessary elements or decorative items.

Certainly for the kitchen of a small area is purchased:

• kitchen furniture designed to store various products or utensils. The standard set, consisting of many cabinets, is considered optimal.They can be floor and mounted. Even for a kitchen of 5 square meters. m. You can choose a corner set, consisting of several cabinets and wall cabinets. It will hold a lot of different items and also won't take up much space. Allows you to buy different storage systems separately, but they must be well combined with each other;
• Appliances - this includes refrigerators, dishwashers, microwaves, steamers and other household appliances used for cooking or food storage. A refrigerator for a kitchen of 6 m is chosen small, and built-in appliances are also ideal. It is located in the headset cabinets, so it does not take up extra space in the room;
• work area - it is intended for direct cooking in the room. Most often it acts as countertops stacked on the lower cabinets of the headset. If there is no such set, then an ordinary bar counter for a small kitchen of 6 sq. M. can be an excellent alternative. It can additionally act as a storage for various utensils;
• dining area - often a small kitchen is used not only for cooking, but also for eating. This is due to the fact that Khrushchev simply does not provide an additional room for these purposes. In this case, a dining area is set up in a certain corner of the room. There is a small table and a few chairs. You can also arrange a very small kitchenette.

It is desirable that the furniture options for a small kitchen are modular. In this case, the optimal and only the most necessary modules are selected, and they are easily replaceable or supplementable.

Palette in design

A classic approach to the color of small kitchen furniture is light pastel colors, starting with basic white and continuing with powdery or cold shades.

White is perfect in every way, but its monochrome will only benefit from interspersed with bright accents. The combination of a white background with bright colors creates a stunning effect in terms of beauty and power of perception.

Natural wood has a warm, caramel color with a unique feeling of home comfort and warmth.

Despite the canons of design, do you want brightness? Exit in glossy facades. Remember - matte surfaces "eat up" the space and vice versa - the radiance and reflectivity of the gloss will visually expand the volume of the area.

Taboo is brown. No matter how you beat it, but its thick, warm tones compress the space. But there are exceptions. For example, the decision of a talented designer - in a small kitchen sparkling with white gloss, the dark chocolate-colored ceiling seemed to melt into infinity.

Even bright colors can be harmoniously entered into a small space, if at the same time moderation and a competent combination of decorative elements made of glass, chrome, and steel are observed. The number of shades is a maximum of three colors. With a larger variant, they get "assorted".

Some designers use the effect of a contrasting wall in the design of small kitchens. They say that multi-colored vertical stripes visually increase the height of the wall, and horizontal ones expand

Perhaps they are right, but you need to resort to such a technique with extreme caution - you can achieve a diametrically opposite effect.

Manufacturers of sets for a small kitchen

When everything is more or less clear with the design and layout, the main task is to find a reliable seller.Before you start searching, you need to decide:

• will a ready-made headset be purchased or to order (read more about the latter option in the next paragraph)?
• how complex will the design be? Keep in mind that ready-made solutions are limited in the choice of colors for facades, fittings and sizes.

You can buy a ready-made kitchen set for a small kitchen from large manufacturers that offer a modular assembly system. As the experience of real buyers shows, this option for purchasing furniture allows you to choose the right option without waiting for a long time to manufacture. At the same time, you will save a lot of money.

Below we consider the most famous and well-established in the manufacturer's market.

On order

Many designers do not recommend buying a ready-made set for a small kitchen. They argue their position by the fact that a ready-made, even a modular set, will not allow the most rational use of all the possibilities of a small room. For example, it will be difficult to install a ready-made headset if you need to go around many corners. In this case, you will not make a beautiful corner layout with a built-in window sill bar. In old houses with columns and associated gas communications, a detailed approach is needed in the design of the top row of cabinets.

With a large number of such difficulties, it is easier to order furniture for individual sizes, taking into account all the features of the room. But the main difficulty will be in choosing a company, since there is a big risk of losing money and being left without furniture. To prevent this from happening, find out in advance:

• Is the company actually registered?
• how many years on the market?
• does it have its own production?
• Are there reviews from real customers?

Maria

In this company, you can purchase furniture both to order and buy a ready-made version. In addition, "Maria" often arranges sales of exhibition samples from salons. This is a good opportunity to take an expensive and high-quality headset at a big discount.

"Maria"

Leroy Merlin

Every resident of a large city is definitely familiar with this company. Modular headsets in modern and classic styles can be designed in a free planner. So you can not only choose the perfect size headset, but also present the future result in the form of a 3D project.

"Leroy Merlin": set in the loft style

Ikea

Recognizable kitchens around the world are easy to install according to the instructions that come with the kit. The system is the same as in Leroy - the modular set is assembled as a constructor. You can design and ideally choose the dimensions in the free planner on the official website. You can do this yourself from your home computer or with a store specialist.

IKEA

Castorama

A network of hypermarkets like Leroy Merlin, which is one of the largest in Europe, offers ready-made modular headsets. Here you can also buy faucets, sinks and kitchen accessories.

Set "Castorama" in the style of a classic