Everyone knows that the kitchen is the heart of every home, and in many ways, this is true. It’s not only where you create nourishing meals — it’s also where the family gathers to share food and stories. That can be quite the challenge for smaller homes, given the limited amount of space. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible as long as you keep these things in mind when designing a small kitchen:
Opt for a minimalist look
While design is very important to making a space feel completely your own, it’s best not to go overboard with ideas. Stick with a Scandinavian-inspired aesthetic with clean and simple lines to make the room look bigger than it actually is. The Spruce points out that you can also enlarge a room with the right paint, specifically those that come in lighter colors. But make sure to stick to one color to create an illusion of continuity. And to make a room even more spacious, place windows to let the natural light in. Another idea is to use mirrors for your splash back to add depth.
Think of the kitchen work triangle
Functional beats stylish given that you don’t have a lot of room to work with. Going back to the Scandinavian concept, everything in the kitchen should serve its purpose. Think of the kitchen work triangle, for instance, which refers to the sink, stove, and refrigerator. It’s best to keep these areas close together — which shouldn’t be hard for a smaller space — so you can create a more efficient workflow. Make sure that they are not disjointed. TAB Associates can help you layout your kitchen and show it to you in 3D, which you can later show your contractor. This kind of careful planning is crucial for smaller spaces so that you can really maximize what you’re given.
Work around appliances
Designing around your appliances, which you should already have an idea of at this point, is a great way to increase practicality. These are called integrated appliances, and they match the overall aesthetic while making sure that there’s no wasted space. The dimensions of your fridge and dishwasher, for instance, are important factors to consider. This is why rice cooker review platform We Know Rice highlights the value of multi-functional appliances, as these tools don’t just do the job of several different appliances, but they also save precious countertop space. It means you won’t have to sacrifice anything in your cooking as long as you select gadgets that serve more than one purpose.
Build adequate storage
Smart storage solutions can make your kitchen more organized and efficient. For limited spaces, House Beautiful recommends open shelving over closed cabinetry to really maximize the space. This is perfect for storing your pantry staples in clear jars, too, so you can easily see the supplies that need to be replenished. If you do have enclosed kitchen storage, consider installing pull-out cabinet shelves. These added storage solutions can be the key to a clutter-free kitchen.
Consult a professional
Your kitchen might be small, but designing it is not necessarily an easy task. Even a kitchen this size comes at a cost, especially if you want a sleek and functional design. That’s why it’s important to consult with professionals, and luckily for you, TAB Associates is in the business of creating expert designs that are well worth the investment.
Written exclusively for TABassociates.com
by Paige Hudson
Ross” at the Bechtler Museum in Charlotte), spending time with my family (my parents and sibling), and trying to keep my good fish friend, Carmine, happy. That brief summary is a little bit vague, but words are always limited! I hope you enjoyed reading about my colleagues and I, but I highly recommend seeing the beautiful work that goes along with us at 
Hello world! Anna Griffith here from Tab Associates. I have been with TAB Associates for almost a year now and feel so lucky to have found such a great team to work with. I received my masters last spring from University of Colorado Denver and moved to the valley shortly after. It feels so good to be back in the mountains of Colorado.
been an incredible experience and I feel very fortunate to be working with committed, talented and imaginative minds (both in our office and the teams we collaborate with). Since moving to Colorado I have been enjoying this thing people around here call “snow”, as well as trying to indulge in the lush Colorado forests by way of camping and hiking. During college I got to experience living in Barcelona and got acquainted with several other European countries and cultures, and ever since then I try to keep traveling to new cities and places (foreign and within the US) to continue expanding my knowledge of other cultures and the human interaction across the world.
