4 Tips to Make Your Kitchen Feel More Open

A spacious, open kitchen offers plenty of flexibility, visually expands your space, and makes social interaction easier. If you love chatting with friends and family while you prepare meals and enjoy an airy, open feel in your home, a few adjustments could make your kitchen more welcoming.

This article describes four tips to make a kitchen feel bigger and more open, including details on how to:

Read on to discover more ideas for opening up a kitchen and improving the visual flow of your home.

An efficient kitchen layout makes it easier to reach the items you need and improves your cooking workflow. Some of the most popular and efficient kitchen layout options include:

• The U-shape kitchen: This layout features counters, cabinetry, and appliances installed on three walls and one open side. Providing plenty of room to maneuver is key to a successful U-shaped kitchen design.
• The L-shape kitchen: This design has cabinets, counters, and appliances on two of the four sides. Leaving two sides open helps give the room a spacious look.
• The single-wall kitchen: Using this design layout limits appliances, counters, and cabinetry to one wall. This style can help make a small kitchen feel big because it offers plenty of space around the work area.

All of these types of kitchens can accommodate islands, and in some cases, a peninsula that makes up part of one side. Essentially, the more visual access you allow to different parts of the kitchen, the larger and more roomy it feels.

One thing to focus on when designing or upgrading your kitchen layout is zones. Creating separate areas for food prep, cooking, and cleanup helps improve the efficiency of your kitchen and make it feel more open. Remodeling or upgrading your kitchen cabinetry helps optimize the layout by putting frequently used kitchen tools and supplies exactly where you need them.

Light colors and reflective surfaces give your kitchen a more open, airy feel. When choosing cabinet, backsplash, and counter shades, consider white, cream, and pale pastels. Glossy finishes and glass accents reflect natural light coming in through a kitchen window. Plants can also enhance the open feel by adding an element of nature to your kitchen.

Rely on Cabinet Coatings for color and material recommendations tailored specifically to your kitchen space. Our commitment to quality craftsmanship ensures that your kitchen cabinets will provide enjoyment and efficiency for years to come.

Efficient lighting can help bolster the effect provided by the specific materials used in your kitchen. Keep in mind that kitchen lighting and color work together, so use warmer bulbs in areas with wood tones and bulbs with cooler light temperatures for modern spaces that feature more metallic elements and crisp lines.

Ambient lighting, such as ceiling lights that illuminate the whole room, keep the entire space feeling bright. Task lighting focused on specific areas, such as under-cabinet lighting above a food preparation zone, provides extra illumination exactly where you need it. Accent lights draw attention to decorative features and help guide the eye through the room, improving the visual flow of your kitchen. Also, consider natural light from windows and spillover light from adjacent rooms when designing your kitchen layout.

Clutter can disrupt the visual appeal of your kitchen. Keeping the layout clean and streamlined helps make the room look larger and more open. Knowing how to make a small kitchen feel big involves understanding the way cabinets and appliances contribute to the overall look. The style and number of cabinets affect the overall look and efficiency of the space.

Below-counter cabinetry can be used to store countertop appliances out of sight when not in use, freeing up counter space. Minimalist cabinets with clean lines and few ornate details give a smaller kitchen a roomier feel. Kitchen island cabinets can also add extra utility to this work area.