Before and After Kitchen Remodel - Tips on Making a Small Kitchen Appear Larger

Hello!

One of my friends just finished an amazing kitchen remodel.  I know all of you guys enjoy seeing before and after pictures so I sent a text saying, "Send me your before and after pics" and immediate I got a response "You mean I'll have to clean my kitchen?"  hee,hee.....my type of friend!  

So here is what my pickleball friend had to deal with when she moved into her new home.  What's wrong? Haven't you always dreamed of having a pink and baby blue kitchen?  HA!

Her husband is one of those men that can do ANYTHING - The Mr. Fix It Man 

Extreme.  I'd LOVE to go into flipping homes with him.  I would tell him my vision and he would whip it out (ya, if only life was that simple!)

And a few months later - this beautiful kitchen evolved :-)  Her husband did ALL of it :-)

Is that a flashlight and a bag of chips on the counter?? hee,hee.....I guess she's a real person - LOL!

Aren't you impressed!?  I just LOVE looking at photos of complete disasters and then the gorgeous outcome.  

I thought this before and after kitchen remodel by Mike Taylor Kitchens was "post worthy" too!  I love how they made the space feel larger with the all light colors and the mirrored pantry door - just little tricks of the trade :-)

Talking about tricks of the trade - let me give you 4 simple optical illusion tricks to make your small kitchen appear larger :-)

• Banish those bags of chips and flashlights - hahahahah!! (she'll never share another picture with me!)   No seriously, in a small space the less clutter you have on  your counters the larger the space will appear.  Try to put your tea kettle away instead of on the stove and skip the fun accessories like wicker baskets or iron fruit bowls that seem to fit well in the big kitchen spaces.

• Skip using small tiles on your floor.  You might think that's the right move in a small kitchen but the opposite is true.  Small tiles just makes the space appear busier than normal.  If you use larger tiles it gives you more of a continuous visual line.  It creates an illusion of MORE floor area. Another trick would be to lay the tiles or wood in a diagonal pattern to create the illusion of extra width.

• In general, going LIGHTER instead of DARKER in your color scheme will help make the space feel larger. Try making the "big ticket items" like cabinets, walls and flooring light in color.

• Use recessed lighting instead of hanging pendant lighting.  Pendant lighting although pretty, will cut into your visual space making it appear more cluttered and in return, smaller.  You can also use under cabinet lighting to bring uncluttered brightness into your space and create a larger feel.

There you have it my friends!  If you have a fun before and after picture I'd love to see it :-)  Maybe I'll use it for my next post!

Please see my full disclosure policy regarding this sponsored post