Does a lack of space in your kitchen have you feeling under-whelmed? Maybe it’s not the size that’s the real problem. To adapt an old phrase, it’s not the size of the kitchen in the space. It’s the size of the space in the kitchen. In other words, perhaps you’re just not maximizing the kitchen space you already have. You might be surprised by the apparent size transformation a kitchen remodel will give to the room.


”GateHouse News Service” recently covered this very concept in an article titled “Home Help: Big ideas for small kitchens.” Topping the list of kitchen remodeling recommendations for giving a small kitchen greater brawn was: “Maximize your cabinet space.” The article pointed out that you can achieve both a place to put you many things as well as “an open, uncluttered look” if “you combine sound organization principles with today’s innovative cabinetry.”


Some of the specific kitchen remodeling suggestions the article made included:


1.”A lazy Susan corner cabinet can help bring order out of chaos. Tucking [a wayward] cabinet into a corner of your kitchen into an underused area will squeeze out space where none existed before.” An online kitchen remodeling expert can help you design a kitchen that works for you and your family and that makes your life easier.


2.”Make the kitchen look bigger by choosing lighter colors and finishes.” By browsing an online kitchen remodeling showcase, you can compare and select the perfect paint color from the comfort of your own home. That way, you’re not overwhelmed when you step foot inside your nearest home remodeling super center.


Kitchen paint requires selections that are hard working and focus on stain and grease resistance as well as wash-ability. Practical choices include durable paints that feature low sheen, semi-gloss or gloss sheens.


Depending upon your individual color preferences, kitchens offer an ideal opportunity to let your color imagination soar. The kitchen represents a venue for an unlimited number of ways to incorporate unique color within the space!


3.Don’t automatically rule out large furnishings. Strategically selected, they can serve multi-functional purposes. For example, “A solid wood file drawer can make a big difference in organizing essentials for taking care of life’s business. When the drawers are closed, the top can double as a bookshelf or display space for framed photos or a lamp.”


4.When remodeling your kitchen, don’t forget to accommodate all that stuff in your junk drawer. “Every kitchen needs a landing spot for keys, cell phones, notes and mail.” Consider “hiding them in a secret compartment at the end of a cabinet run.”


When choosing the cabinetry for your new kitchen, consider your personal style as well as what will function best for your family’s everyday needs. Whether your goal is to transform your kitchen from traditional to modern or simply add more accessible storage space, your cabinetry selection is a great place to begin.


An online kitchen remodeling showcase can provide you with ideas and links to reputable kitchen cabinet manufacturers to accomplish all these small kitchen maximizing techniques.

Due to the small area available to some homeowners and apartment dwellers, patios and small gardens may seem like a challenge to landscape.

What follows are a few simple tips and strategies designed to maximize space, and help you create a lush and vibrant outdoor living area.

Container Gardening

Examine your patio or small garden, and you will probably see nothing but straight lines and right angles.

One trick used by professional landscapers is to “soften” these lines, or “round” the corners with vines or trees grown in large containers and placed tightly against walls, in corners, or at the edge of patios.

A good rule of thumb is the old adage, “There are no straight lines in nature“. While many people may enjoy a more formal or symmetrical landscape, small gardens tend to benefit from a more natural, less structured design.

Both large and small, containers come in a wide variety of shapes, colors, and designs. By placing a small tree, vine, or flowering shrub, planted in a large container in a corner, and placing around it a variety of smaller plants in pots and containers, you can create a multi-tiered effect with a great deal of texture and color.

In addition, you can achieve the same affect along walls or the edge of a patio.

Imagine a painters canvas, taller objects will stand in the background with progressively shorter objects working their way into the foreground. This creates a sense of depth, and in smaller gardens this can give the illusion of more depth than actually exists.

One method used to create this illusion of depth, is to employ plants with darker foliage (greens or purples) in the background and place plants with multi-colored, or variegated leaves (“variegated” is a horticultural term for plants who’s leaves naturally possess more than one color), or brightly colored flowers in the foreground.

Vines, grown in a large container, and trained to cover walls or a trellis, will allow you to cover large areas of your “canvas” and still maximize space in smaller gardens or patios. This will also serve to soften, the rigid box-like feel of smaller areas.

Also, a small, self-contained fountain, waterfall or pond placed against walls, or in corners, can become a focal point, or point of interest from which to build out from.

Low growing plants with multi-colored foliage (variegated), are excellent choices for small gardens. These types of plants, many possessing leaves with striking reds, creams, and pleasant shades of green all on a single leaf, can add interest, variety, and texture to areas where they are planted.

Many plants referred to as “house-plants” will have variegated foliage or interesting flowers. Most house-plants are native to tropical or semi-tropical regions of the world and in warm-winter areas will do well outside year-round.

Most house-plants tend to be shade-loving and so do best in shade gardens or beneath larger plantings. In regions with heavy frost or snow, you will need to bring the plant indoors until the weather warms again.

Dwarf varieties of trees are an excellent choice for large pots or ground planting in small gardens.

There are literally hundreds of fruiting or flowering dwarf varieties available to the home gardener. Many will also possess leaves with interesting shapes, patterns, or colors, that are sure to add interest and variety to any landscape.

Patio Trees: The term, Patio Tree, is used to describe trees that are generally small, as trees go, and are also quite attractive at close range. Their branches will not shed annoying quantities of leaves, or drop messy fruit that will litter, or stain patio surfaces.

In addition, all will have “tame” root systems that do well in large containers, or if planted in the ground will not crack pavement or greedily take water and nutrients from surrounding plants.

Finally, fragrant herbs and low-growing plants with colorful flowers make good choices for containers in small gardens. (e.g., Gardenias, Lavender, Jasmine).

Tips on planting in containers

When planting in containers, remember that the root system, cannot search beyond the container for food and water. This means the plant will be totally dependent on the nutrients and water you provide.

Remember to always use a good quality potting soil, and add an appropriate amount of granulated or slow-release fertilizer when planting.

All plants grown in containers will over time, need an application of a good quality liquid fertilizer. Also, when planting in containers, pack the potting soil in tightly to ensure there are no air pockets, or voids that could harm the roots.

Finally, always choose a container with drainage holes in the bottom. Without good drainage, fertilizer salts will build up in the soil and can then harm the plant.

Container gardening is an excellent way to maximize space, and enliven
small gardens or patios.

A wide array of plants suitable for container culture are available to the home gardener, and with a little care and planning are sure to enrich any outdoor living space.

The types of patio trees available to you will depend upon which area or region of the country you live in. Some options include:

Acer (Maple): Patio types are: Acer buergeranum (Trident Maple), A. cercinatum (Vine Maple), A. davidii (David’s Maple), A. palmatum (Japanese Maple).

Lagerstroemia Indica (Crepe Myrtle): with attractive foliage and large clusters of flowers that can range in color from pink to cranberry to a deep or hot red depending upon variety.

Magnolias: available in many regions both hot and cool, have showy displays of tulip to saucer-shaped flowers with a wide selection of colors.

Prunus: (Flowering Cherry) (Flowering Plum).

Dwarf Citrus: such as lemon, lime or orange, make good additions to small gardens and tend to hold their fruit for many months.

Good Luck and Happy Gardening!

With the ability to take moderate sizes of kitchen appliances, small kitchen can still be remodeled and maximize its function without having to add extra space. The idea is to maximize the space left and conceptualize small kitchen remodeling ideas that will enhance its visual balance. This will create a visual impression focused on space utilization.



How to do that? Here are some tips:



1. Storage space



To maximize space, you need to incorporate storage spaces in places which will provide double function. For instance, you can hang a wooden rack on your window without blocking the light. With this, you can display plates and other kitchen utensils. Decorative as it may look, the function is still there and the space maximized.



2. Colors



Always use light colors. They tend to create visual impression of a bigger space. Dark colors appear gloomy and compact. Using these colors in a small kitchen will only create a condensed area.



3. Customized cabinets



To maximize space in your small kitchen, it is best that you let you have your cabinets custom-built. In this way, proper sizes are allocated leaving no unused spaces behind.



4. Customize furniture



If you really cannot do away with furniture such as placing a small table in your kitchen whenever you want to eat meals in it or simply enjoy looking at your wife cook dinner, it is best that you have your furniture customized.



For example, you can have a drop down table built beside the wall. Once used, you just have to easily fold it and additional space is rendered.



5. Lighting effects



Light can do wonders in small areas like your small kitchen. Halogen lights or accent lights can create bigger space and better visual projection. The trick of the eye cannot simply be underrated and the way you have envisioned things in your kitchen will promote harmony and comfort even if you only have a few square meters of an area in your kitchen.

Remodeling your small kitchen shouldn’t be a difficult task. When you put your small kitchen remodeling idea on paper, just remember your budget. Read on to find out some tips on redesigning our small kitchen.



A kitchen should be a place where preparing food and cooking is comfortable. Your first small kitchen remodeling idea should be to incorporate as many cabinets as you can into the kitchen area. An example would be providing cabinets underneath the sink as well as above. With all these cabinets, it’s easier to keep your pots, pans, glasses, plates, wine bottles and canned goods.



Storage sections can also be made integral parts of your walls to reduce obstruction. Built-in ovens and sliding shelves are just some examples. These will make the pathways in your kitchen cleaner, and you’ll also be able to organize your things better.



The refrigerator will inevitably be part of your kitchen. However, make sure to place it in the right location. You don’t want to place it near the cooking area as this may cause malfunctions in appliances. You also don’t want to place it where it will block your way while you’re cooking. The best location to place your refrigerator in is between the entry point to your kitchen and dining area for better accessibility.



The sink, stove and refrigerator are the three essential components of any kitchen. Their sizes should be based on what you really need. For instance, you might not cook a lot, so you might need just a small stove. On the other hand, you might want a larger sink to handle more plates.



If you want more proficiency in the kitchen, pair the sink and stove. Your next small kitchen remodeling idea should be to have some kind of serving bar that serves as a preparation and breakfast table. This is of course if you really want to enlarge a very tiny space.



Keep in mind water, gas and electricity supplies. Try to bring in enough sunlight and ventilation with unobstructed windows by the sink while keeping the stove away from windows. These are practical things you should remember to make your kitchen better to work in.



Lighting is still an important factor in widening the space of a small kitchen. A small kitchen remodeling idea is to utilize indirect lighting. This is a great way to create a wonderful ambiance and extra depth to your kitchen.



Certain paint colors can also make your kitchen appear larger. Cool colors are the best ones to use since they create the illusion that something is further away than they actually are. Blue, green and purple are considered cool colors. If you do wish to use warm colors such as yellow, red and orange, apply them as accent colors. The thing with warm colors is that they appear to come towards you, which is why a space can feel smaller.



An extra small kitchen remodeling idea is to make use of a monochromatic color scheme. When using a monochromatic scheme, you use various shades of a single color. If you like the color blue, you can use dark, medium and light blue in different parts of your kitchen. The color scheme will make the kitchen appear less cluttered and therefore larger in size. Moreover, the varying shades trick the eye into seeing more depth.



An ideal small kitchen remodeling idea would be to merge your personal style and practical methods. Think about your decisions twice and keep in mind your budget. Study more free tips and ideas from the World Wide Web to perfect your remodeling plans.

Every small kitchen remodel job requires good planning. You must first determine the amount of money you plan to invest by figuring the budget for your small kitchen remodeling project.


Once you have planned your budget, you should stick to it as closely as possible for the best results. Keep in mind while planning your small kitchen remodel, that without good planning, many kitchens are of poor design. Many will suffer from lack of good lighting, storage or ample counter space.


In the United States, large open kitchens often act more as desirable showplaces and entertainment centers in many homes. Nevertheless, everyone cannot afford or even has need of a large kitchen. A profession cook is more at home in a small, well organized space since they find them to be very efficient.


For instance, in a smaller kitchen, there is not much distance to cover between the refrigerator and the oven. However, it still takes a great deal of planning to design an effective layout for single wall or two-way galley shape kitchens found in many small apartments in large cities.


The most efficient small kitchen remodel layout features the advantage of incorporating a working triangle between the distance of your major work areas such as the sink, stove and refrigerator. Designed correctly, this setup requires fewer steps while working which is a wonderful benefit for any cook. For instance, for extra food storage and preparation, you can install a butcher block, an island or peninsula when you have extra floor space. On the other hand, you might consider adding a pantry or pullout pantry to be located near the refrigerator.


You should consider replacing any standard size appliance with a smaller model. When choosing a dining table or breakfast nook, the same idea would apply. When you purchase a kitchen island or butcher block, be sure to purchase a smaller slim model. This gives you all the modern options you need in a small kitchen remodeling project, while also providing you with more counter space and storage area.


You can reduce clutter by making sure you have ample storage. For instance, you might choose to install tall cabinets that reach to the ceiling. This will create an illusion of having a larger more spacious kitchen. A clutter free room is very attractive, so remember to create the space to put everything away.


You will have more storage in a small kitchen remodeling job by adding built-in cabinets or fitted cabinets. Freestanding cabinets used in a small kitchen remodeling cause you to loose valuable counter space and preparation area while creating obstacles that do not allow you to use all your available space.


When doing a small kitchen remodel, glass doors, folding doors, pocket doors or no doors at all can work well. This can save floor space while allowing more natural light to come into and reflect around the room. Alternatively, when you finish cooking, you might want to conceal the area by using folding doors.


Keep in mind after finishing your small kitchen remodel job that you do not create clutter with too many utensils and tools. Having a large set of cookware does not make one a great cook. With limited space, it is sufficient to keep three or four good quality knives and five or six pots and pans.


Remember that neutral colors reflect light in a small space. When you wish to add bright colors, add color with your accessories, small appliances, ceramics or colorful tile.


Another essential aspect is to include natural and artificial lighting, since this will create an illusion of a brighter and larger kitchen. This will create a positive, energy-filled environment for you, your family and friends. You might consider adding such lighting as under the cabinet lights, wall sconces, pendants, recessed lighting or chandeliers.


You can create an attractive, efficient area that enables you to perform various functions when using small kitchen remodel ideas. When small kitchens are proper in design, everyone enjoys an area that functions efficiently for years to come. Since your kitchen is likely to be one of the most popular areas in your home, read as many small kitchen remodeling ideas as you can find to improve the comfort and functionality of this important space.


Copyright 2008 InfoSearch Publishing