Small Kitchen Remodeling - Home Renovations

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Updated December 10, 2014.

Small kitchen remodeling is a game all by itself. With larger kitchen spaces you have certain freedoms that you dont have with smaller spaces. By the same token, those larger spaces make for a less effective environment for the cook.

But generally, the classic 10 x 10 kitchen (100 square feet or less) is considered the benchmark of small kitchen sizing.

When you remodel a low-intensity, low-function room such as a living room, great room, or bedroom, youre dealing with few services (no running water, few electrical needs, etc.) and inexpensive materials (some drywall, trim, etc.).

By contrast, kitchens, on a square foot basis, are expensive to remodel--garbage disposal. extra lighting, extra electrical needs, plumbing, ventilation, and more. Also, the materials tend to be expensive:  granite, stainless steel. Corian, marble, custom or stock cabinets, etc. Less space means less cost.

The small kitchen can often represent the tipping point in the do-it-yourself vs. hire-a-pro question. Because youre dealing with smaller spaces, renovating a small kitchen can become manageable.

For example, laying 80 square feet of ceramic tile might be only a weekend project for the small kitchen; laying 375 square feet of tile can be a huge hassle requiring the services of professional tile-setters.

Is the small kitchen remodel the same as a big kitchen remodel-except on a smaller canvas? In some ways, yes. But there are surprising differences that you should be aware of. Take these steps when remodeling your small kitchen.

While not an exhaustive list of how to remodel a small kitchen, here is a list of the basic steps youll be taking:

Most small kitchens are longer than they are wide (though there are many square-shaped small kitchens, including the one pictured here). But these are great designs that provide you with lots of opportunities. Forget placing a kitchen island. It wont happen. Instead, learn to embrace designs that are right for these smaller spaces.

Find Easy Areas to Scale Down. Big double sinks or farmhouse sinks eat up valuable counter space. Also, think long and hard about whether you really want bigger appliances. Side-by-side fridges are great, but you want to conserve width when it comes to the appliances. Are you a single person or a couple? More economical dishwashers are available, too. If you have any out-of-kitchen area available (i.e. can you put in a pantry around the corner?), use that for items you dont use frequently, such as canned goods or appliances.

Determine Your Values. Along with the above tips, you really need to make hard choices. Or, who knows - sometimes it an easy choice. Is storage a number one priority? Then youll need to maximize kitchen cabinets at the cost of appliances. Do you really want a breakfast bar. It possible, but you may need to sacrifice counter space for cooking to get that breakfast bar. There is nothing wrong with any of this. It your kitchen; youre allow to make these choices as you wish!

Use Stock Cabinetry. One of the great things about remodeling small kitchens is that you get to use easy-to-install DIY cabinetry. In fact, you can often find this type of kitchen cabinetry right on the shelf at home improvement stores or places like IKEA. This cabinetry is usually a simple DIY install. If you buy the cabinets flat (like at IKEA), it usually more work putting than cabinets together than it is to install them in the kitchen.

Maximize Cabinet Depth. There is so much space in the backs of cabinets that we rarely use. Maximize your usage by installing lazy susans and roll-out shelves.

Use Larger Floor Tiles. It seems counter-intuitive, but larger floor tile makes your small kitchen appear larger.

Employ Lighter Colors. Since the light you get in your kitchen is as much reflected light as it is direct light, you can increase a small kitchen light intensity by using brighter-colored wood species for the cabinetry and neutral tones for the counters, as well as for the wall paint.

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