How to Make Your Kitchen Look More Spacious

Smart Design Tricks That Work in Real Homes (Tiny, Awkward, and Everything in Between)

Most of us aren’t cooking in large kitchens with walk-in pantries and twelve-foot islands. We’re talking tiny kitchens. Weird corners. A countertop that doubles as a prep station, drying rack, and place where the mail mysteriously piles up.

Let's check a few clever design tricks, some illusion magic, and a willingness to part ways with that bread machine you haven’t used since 2014.

These 10 kitchen design ideas for small spaces are the real deal. They are tested in actual homes, not just showroom dreams.

1. Let There Be Light (And No, Not the Sad Fluorescent Kind)

Design math 101: Light = Space.

Natural light is your best friend here. Got windows? Ditch the heavy curtains and let that sunshine do its thing. Even sheer curtains can be too moody. Rip 'em down and consider a minimal roller blind or nothing at all.

But if your kitchen is the sad, windowless kind, you can still fake it ‘til you make it. How? 

Warm LED strips under cabinets, ambient pendant lights, and even a well-placed mirror. Yep, mirrors in kitchens. It works. It bounces light and creates depth, plus it gives you a spot to check your face while stirring the stew.

2. When in Doubt, Look Up

Your floor space might be a squeeze, but your walls? Untapped gold.

Install tall cabinets if you can (bonus points if they reach the ceiling), or at least throw up a few open shelves. Even a thin rail with hooks can carry more weight than you’d expect, literally and visually. 

Hang your prettiest mugs, that ladle you swear by, or even a mini pothos plant for good kitchen juju.

You’ve probably got at least one awkward sliver of wall. That’s spice rack territory, my friend.

3. Paint Like Your Space Depends on It (Because It Does)

Dark colors? Gorgeous. Just… maybe not here.

Small kitchens thrive in light, neutral tones. Soft whites, creamy beiges, pale greys—these are your best allies when you're trying to make the space breathe.

If you're thinking "boring," add texture instead of color. Think shiplap, beadboard, or even just flat matte paint against shiny tiles.

Want contrast? Add a matte black faucet or cute patterned backsplash, but keep the bold bits minimal.

4. Shelfie Time—But Keep It Edited

Open shelving looks great on Pinterest... and like chaos if you’re not careful.

Here’s the trick: don’t overdo it. A couple of plates, a small stack of bowls, or maybe your favorite tea mug. You can also add your pothos there. But not your entire Tupperware collection. 

5. Chunky Furniture? Not In Your Tiny Kitchen

Let’s not stuff your tiny kitchen with space hogging drama queens. 

Instead go for a round table. Backless stools also can come in handy as they can be tucked under the table. And if you'retruly trying to save space, get a wall-mounted drop-leaf table.

Also, glass, acrylic, or furniture with slender legs can give the illusion of more space.

6. Clean Counters Are the Real MVP

Do you need five appliances lined up like soldiers on your countertop?

Nope.

Put away what you don’t use daily. Stash the blender if it’s a once-a-week affair. Keep only your go-tos like your rice cooker, your espresso machine, maybe your daily bread (literally).

Dry goods in mismatched packaging? Store them in uniform containers.

7. Don’t Sleep on Your Floors

Fun fact: your floor can help stretch your space visually, anyway.

Running the flooring lengthwise creates a longer sightline, which tricks your brain into thinking the room’s bigger. 

Light-colored tile, wood, or vinyl = airier feel. Bonus points if the same flooring continues into the next room. It smooths the transition and makes everything feel like one big, happy space.

Just say no to busy tile patterns unless your entire kitchen is minimalist enough to let the floor be the main character.

8. Say Goodbye to Chunky Handles

Cabinet hardware: small detail, big impact.

In a small kitchen, large handles can break up your cabinetry visually and make everything feel...busier. So here’s your glow-up moment. Try slim pulls, minimalist knobs, or even go handle-free with push-to-open doors.

Your cabinets will suddenly look sleeker, more modern, and a little more "I hired a designer," even if you didn’t.

9. Glossy Finishes = Big Energy

Shiny is not just for lip gloss and patent shoes. It works wonders in a small kitchen, too.

Try glass-front cabinets, high-gloss paint, mirrored tiles, or polished backsplashes. Reflective finishes bounce light and give the illusion of depth.

Even swapping out a few cabinet doors for glass panels can make a big difference.

No need to go full disco ball. Just a little shimmer here and there.

10. Layout Tricks That Make Space Appear Out of Thin Air

You don’t need a whole remodel to fix the layout. Just a little illusion.

Try a single-wall layout where everything lines up like a tiny army of efficiency. Or an L-shaped kitchen that leaves one wall open for floating shelves (and breathing room). If you’re working with a tight space, keep the color scheme cohesive on both sides. This will create harmony and space.

And avoid U-shaped layouts unless your space really supports it. Otherwise, it’s just a trap... for elbows, knees, and lost spatulas.