Some of us are unfortunately stuck with a small, inefficient kitchen with no storage space and no personality at all. If you have this problem and a tight budget, these tips will help you make the most of a small kitchen and brighten up the room as well.
Lack of storage space is often cited by homeowners as the reason they dislike their kitchen. New kitchen cabinets can be very expensive however. A less expensive option is to buy a free standing cupboard or two to add additional space. You can find inexpensive cupboards at department stores. To give your kitchen real personality, try second hand or thrift stores. Simply paint an old cabinet to match your decor, or go with a whole new vibrant color. Try painting the doors a different color than the cabinet for a unique look.
A fresh coat of light color paint will make a small kitchen look bigger and brighter. This is one of the easiest and fastest ways to change the look of a room. Inexpensive chalkboard paint is a great alternative for a dull space as well. Some inexpensive color chalk, one color per family member, and no one will miss a message again. Paint a large area with the chalkboard paint and write important messages in big letters. It is a great way to personalize a kitchen and have some fun at the same time.
Use inexpensive plastic storage containers to make the best use of limited food storage cabinets. You can not only stack the containers, your food will stay fresher for a longer period of time. Incorporate as many space saving devices as possible in your cabinets. Buy or make an inexpensive pot rack to hang pots and pans above the stove. Move items that you do not use often, like the Christmas dishes to another room if possible.
If your kitchen floor is in good shape, just dark or boring, try inexpensive self stick floor tiles. They can usually be placed on an existing tile floor. You simply peel off the paper and place on a clean floor. You can even cut them with scissors to fit. Consider a plain white or black and use bright rubber backed throw rugs to add splashes of color. A black and white checkered tile with a red throw rug, for example, is bright and cheery.
A few dollars and a little imagination could change your kitchen from a boring, tiny room into a bright and cheerful place your whole family can enjoy.
Harto writes articles for local Indonesian companies. Other articles written by the author related to plastic storage containers and plastic boxes containers can be found on the net.
