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COMPACT KITCHEN Tricks that

Lucy’s choice: COMPACT KITCHEN

Stretch your kitchen space with clever design tricks and easy updatesthatwillmakeitfeelmilesbigger

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While a large, spacious kitchen is the dream, many of us have much smaller spaces to work with. But there are lots of tricks to make a small kitchen look bigger that don’t involve knocking down walls or a major refurb.

How do I make a small kitchen look bigger?

‘Think about the work triangle,’ says Lizzie Beesley, head of design at Magnet. ‘One of the benefits of small kitchens is you can easily access all areas. Place your cleaning, cooking and preparing areas in separate zones, with plenty of floor space in between.’ Natural light makes any room feel more spacious, so keep window treatments to a minimum. Plants on the windowsill will keep it from looking bare.

Which colours are best?

‘Your colour scheme has a big impact on the impression of space,’ says Darren Watts, design director at Wren Kitchens. ‘Light colours will naturally reflect light, but don’t feel limited to bright white or cream – light greens, yellows, blues and greys can work well too.’ Small doses of colour can help to energise the space. Strategically placed dark-coloured base units can help ground the layout.

What about flooring?

Again, light-reflective, pale finishes are a good idea. The size and scale of flooring also has an effect – tiny tiles can make a space feel overly busy, while large floor tiles create an illusion of more space. In a small galley kitchen, flooring that runs along its length will draw the eye along.

Should I opt for open shelving or cupboards?

With narrow galley kitchens there’s a tendency to cram in lots of units, but this can feel too enclosed. Break up the space with a run of open shelving on one side and use a decorative splashback to make this side of the kitchen the focal point.

IDEA TO STEAL

A high-level shelf makes the most of wall space

Lucy dispensed with window dressing to let in maximum light, but added softness with a textured rug

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