10 Decorating Mistakes That Make a Kitchen Look Smaller

Hey there! Are you about to embark on a kitchen renovation? Here is how to avoid the 10 common decorating mistakes that can make your kitchen look smaller!

10. Overloading With Upper Cabinets

Kitchen Cabinets Uppers Too Bluky
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While upper cabinets provide valuable storage space, they can make our kitchen feel closed-off and small. Instead, consider open shelving or glass-fronted cabinets to create a lighter, airier atmosphere. This way, you’ll maintain storage without sacrificing the feeling of openness.

This is especially true in older kitchens that have cabinets free hanging over a peninsula style countertop.  Consider taking those particular cabinets downs to open the view between spaces. 

9. Using Dark Colors On Walls and Cabinets

Dark Kitchen
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Dark colors tend to absorb light and make a room feel smaller. In a kitchen, opt for lighter shades on walls, cabinets, and countertops to create a brighter, more spacious feel. If you love the idea of darker hues, use them as accents rather than primary colors.

8. Not Maximizing Natural Light

Natural Light In A Kitchen
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Natural lights work great in creating a space, so don’t overlook their importance in your kitchen. Keep window treatments minimal and ensure they don’t block the light. You can add reflective surfaces, like glossy tiles or a mirror, to spread light throughout the room.

7. Cluttered Countertops

15 Update Counters
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A clutter-free kitchen is key to making your space feel larger. Keep countertops as clear as possible, and only display items that you use regularly. Store the rest in cabinets or drawers, and create a lifestyle of putting things away when you are done using them.

6. Over-the-top Patterns

Too Much Pattern
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While patterns can add personality to your kitchen, too many bold or contrasting designs can make the space feel chaotic and cramped. Instead, choose one or two patterns and stick with a cohesive color scheme to develop a pleasing look.

5. Ignoring Vertical Space

Ignoring Vertical Space
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Don’t forget to utilize your kitchen’s vertical space! By installing shelves or hooks on walls and the insides of cabinet doors, you can store items without taking up valuable counter space. This helps to keep your kitchen looking clean and open.

4. Poor Lighting

Traditional Kitchen Italian Bad Lighting
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A well-lit kitchen feels more spacious, so make sure you have a combination of ambient, task, and accent lighting. Recessed or under-cabinet lights can brighten countertops, while pendant lights or a chandelier can create a focal point and add warmth to the room.

3. Oversized Appliances

Large Appliances
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Large appliances can overwhelm a small kitchen, so consider your space when purchasing new items. Smaller, more compact appliances can still pack a punch and help your kitchen feel more open and airy.

2. Skimping on Storage Solutions

Very Little Storage 1
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A well-organized kitchen is crucial for making the space feel larger. Put your money into storage units like drawer dividers, pull-out shelves, or even a pot rack to ensure your kitchen is clutter-free and streamlined.

1. Neglecting Focal Points

Kitchen Focal Point
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Establishing a central point in the kitchen can effectively attract attention and impart a sense of expanded space. This could manifest as a striking backsplash, an exquisite light fixture, or even a captivating piece of art. Opt for something that mirrors his unique aesthetic, ensuring it harmoniously coexists with the rest of the room’s elements.

Home Trends Going Out of Style

Man Regretting
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Jump on board the time machine, and let’s check out some old home design trends that are so yesterday. We’re talking about things that used to be cool but now make us go, “Huh? Here are 15 outdated home trends that need a major makeover!

What is a Terrible Home Design Trend?

Upset Women
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Sometimes we dream of building a new home, and what great ideas we have for it.  But we don’t want to make big mistakes, what are the horrible new home trends that we want to avoid?

10 Home Renovations that can Decrease its Value

Suprise Renovations
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With increasing interest rates and mortgage prices, getting the most value for your home is imperative. Homeowners and real estate agents speak about the renovations that could decrease the value of your home and why. Here are the renovations to look out for.

Declutter Fast: 7 Items Experts Say Must Go!

Cluttered Desk Lady Shutterstock 95079337
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Every home needs to be organized and arranged to exhibit its beauty. If your space is untidy, here is how to declutter fast get rid of these seven items decluttering experts would take out now!

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Cassity Kmetzsch started Remodelaholic after graduating from Utah State University with a degree in Interior Design. Remodelaholic is the place to share her love for knocking out walls, and building everything back up again to not only add function but beauty to her home. Together with her husband Justin, they have remodeled 6 homes and are working on a seventh. She is a mother of four amazing girls. Making a house a home is her favorite hobby.

We love hearing from fellow Remodelaholics, so let us know what you like about this and leave any questions below in the comments. If you've followed a tutorial or been inspired by something you've seen here, we'd love to see pictures! Submit pictures here or by messaging us over on Facebook.

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