Do you think your kitchen is simply “too small” for your needs? Well, think again. Careful planning and expert renovation will make the most of this important room, turning it into a practical workplace and the spot where friends and family love to gather. Just take it easy and maximize what you’ve got. Check out these small kitchen ideas for inspiration.

Use every square inch of space. Choose kitchen features that will make the most of your limited square footage. Trendy and convenient,  an undermount sink saves 3-4 inches of countertop real estate, even more when topped with a sliding cutting board. Squeeze out even more counter space with ingenious small kitchen ideas like a custom cover for your stovetop or under-cabinet appliance storage.

Scale down. Forget that 6-burner chef’s range. How often does a home cook have six pots on the go, anyway? Not frequently enough to justify the 36-inch wide space that beauty will gobble. A standard stove is 30 inches in width, while ultra-slim versions manage to fit 4 burners into a mere 20”.

Make your minuscule kitchen feel bigger. Use space-enhancing interior design tips like pale shades of wall paint and reflective surfaces such as stainless steel appliances or high-gloss thermofoil cabinets. Light-colored floors add even more to the illusion. While monochrome white flooring is not the most practical solution, try a hot new fashion – tile flooring in wood grain or faux marble.  

Discover unexpected spots for storage. Go vertical; extend cupboards ceiling-high and install shelving above the kitchen door. Stack your oversized dinner plates on end in a handy European drip rack. Install a pullout storage unit custom-built to fit that narrow space between your fridge and the wall.

Think out of the box. Sure, you may not have room to set up Grandma’s heirloom maple table, but you can still have that eat-in kitchen you want. Install a convenient dining counter, complete with tres chic stools, instead.

Go for the island you’ve always dreamed of. Just add flexibility to your room layout by going for an island on wheels, which you can stash in an out-of-the-way corner when necessary. Opt for a butcher-block top to make your island multitask.

Take down a wall. Have a non-load-bearing interior wall removed and you’ve automatically gained at least 4 ½ inches of space … and given your kitchen a trendy new open floor plan. A smaller scale alternative is creating wall niches between the studs; install open shelving to display everything from your best vintage soup tureen to your spice jars.

 Make your mini-kitchen pop. Choose a single intriguing theme (think French country or industrial chic, perhaps). By unifying your decor, this trick will give a huge helping of zest to your teeny tiny space.

Feeling inspired by these fabulous small kitchen ideas? Now find a kitchen remodeling contractor to bring them to life!

Updated November 14, 2018.