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Many of us have a least one room in the house we wish were bigger, but when it's a kitchen you use everyday, it becomes a more important challenge. But it can be done! You can grow to love your small kitchen!

MINIMIZE

The most essential step you can take to make your small kitchen work for you is to get rid of absolutely everything but the bare necessities. Go through your cabinets and drawers and keep only what you use every day. If you can't part with something (after all one day you might have a bigger kitchen) pack it away. If you do use it occasionally, store it in a spare closet or a hutch out of the kitchen.

ORGANIZE

It may be helpful to take the drastic step of take everything out of all your closets and drawers and putting them on a kitchen or dining room table. You can then see clearly what you have. Sort your items according to use and then place them back in the closets in a spot most convenient to their purpose. Stop by Lowe's or Target and pick up some organizers to help you fit more items in your cabinets. They have an organizer for everything! The more efficient you can make your cabinet space the more you can keep in your kitchen. But you want some extra space left when you're done minimizing and organizing to accommodate the next step. If you need some help with this step visit some of the many websites, e.g. www.onlineorganizing.com.

EMPTY COUNTER TOPS

Your counter tops should be empty. I know you think that's impossible, and it is a challenge, but you will feel your kitchen grow by leaps and bounds if you avoid cluttering your counter tops. Even your toaster and coffee pot can go in an easy to get to space in your cabinets. You can invest in a slide out drawer to place them on to make them easier to get in and out. If you can't imagine doing this, invest in small duplicates for everyday use. Store your large coffee maker in a cupboard for when you have company and buy one that's just big enough for your every day needs.

DECORATE

To make your kitchen look larger paint with a light color and avoid wallpaper. A patterned print will make your room look smaller and busier. You want to keep things as simple as possible. Leave the window over the sink curtain-less or use a rod sleeve made of a fabric with a very open print or a solid preferably lighter than your walls. When choosing the color for your walls, a very soft, buttery yellow is perfect if it is a color you like and goes with the rest of your houses' color scheme. Avoid putting anything on the walls but if you must, use only small, light colored items.

If your cabinets are dark, consider painting them white. If they have not been painted before, hire a professional painter or research the procedure, as they must be done properly to hold up under normal kitchen wear. Light colored cabinets will make your room look much larger. If you can afford it and your cabinets are in good basic condition you can have them refaced. Check out Sears for an estimate. They do a great job and have many color options.

FLOORING

To make your kitchen appear larger, a light color floor will also do wonders. If you choose ceramic, go with something without a pattern and use a matching grout color. If you like linoleum, again minimize the pattern and design as well as the color. If you can't afford to re-do your dark floors, try covering them with light colored throw rugs.

A small kitchen does not have to be a problem. If your space is efficient and organized think of all the steps you'll save while you're working! You won't have to walk miles for each activity like you do in a large kitchen!

Learn more about this author, Dorothy Sander.
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