by Raven Lebeau

Created on: April 16, 2009   Last Updated: January 29, 2010

Anyone who cooks, even occasionally, probably wishes for a bigger kitchen. While actually increasing the square footage of the kitchen is not financially realistic for most of us, there are ways to make a small kitchen look and function like a larger one. Here are a few ideas for making the most of the kitchen space you have:

1. Clear out the clutter.

Cluttered counter tops are what make a kitchen feel truly tiny, butou can't clear the appliances and storage containers off the counters because your cabinets are too full of other things, like your seldom-used appliances and odd-sized dishes.

The solution? Pare down. If you have items you want to keep, but don't use often, such as fine china or specialty appliances, consider storing them in a closet or attic to make more room in your kitchen. Give away duplicate items such as pots and pans or extra dishes. Once your cabinets and drawers are cleaned out, you can use them to store the items that are now on your counter tops.

2. Purchase a pot rack.

A pot rack is handy way to store your pots and pans in such a way that they enhance your kitchen decor. It also keeps them out of your cabinets so you have more room for storing food and appliances. Be sure your pot rack is installed correctly. Hanging heavy pots and pans from the ceiling requires proper support!

3. Paint the walls in a light, solid color.

Busy wallpaper will make any room look smaller. A light, bright coat of paint will help make your kitchen appear larger and more cheerful. The same applies to cabinets. If you are choosing new cabinets, opt for a light, natural wood or an off-white paint.

4. Organize your storage space.

A corner cabinet will be more useful for storing canned goods if you purchase a "lazy susan". Your other cabinets will store more items if you make sure they contain enough shelving to keep everything organized. In your pantry, you may want to invest in some mesh bins for storing items like bagged bulk goods or potatoes. When you have the proper shelving and containers to store things, you can pack more items into the same amount of space, helping your counter tops stay clear.

5. Make your kitchen table a drop leaf one.

So-called "drop leaf" tables can be partially collapsed. A smaller table will help make the kitchen look larger, but you will still be able to fold out the leaves to make a larger table if guests come to visit if you need work space for a project.

Taken together, these small changes should result in a kitchen with more workspace and a feeling of openness usually associated with larger kitchens. 

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