4 Things You Need For Your Dream Kitchen
Kitchens of every size should be equipped for both function and style. The kitchen is where many vital household activities occur, including cooking, eating, conversing, entertaining, and scheduling. With so much activity in one place, your kitchen layout must be comfortable, functional, and attractive.
But have you decided to make your small dream kitchen ideas a reality in a home designed by a custom home builder? If so, you can plan with a kitchen designer, lighting specialist, HVAC contractors, the closest specialists, and other professionals that can make your space your own.
A small-scale kitchen remodel or a complete renovation may be necessary to create the best kitchen for your family. Since kitchen remodeling is usually the most expensive and challenging area to remodel, you need to make sure you get all the components correct the first time.
Ensuring your kitchen design works for your daily requirements is more than simply selecting beautiful appliances and finishes. You need to make intelligent design decisions to create an accessible and safe space. Deciding on the placement of electrical and plumbing services, appliances, walkways, storage areas, and more can be complicated. Also, make sure you do not need any water damage specialists to come in and repair areas that may need attention.
If you are working with limited space, it can be even more challenging. Here are some small dream kitchen ideas that might be helpful if you are remodeling your cozy kitchen.
An intelligent kitchen layout can make any gourmet feel right at home cooking in cramped quarters. Placing the appliances and cabinetry against opposite walls, full-height cabinets are a good option for taking full advantage of your wall real space.
Luxurious Countertops
No list of small dream kitchen ideas would be complete without beautiful countertops. Quartz countertops have emerged as one of the most requested materials for a custom countertop. But there are several more that deserve to be on the list of small dream kitchen ideas.
- Concrete Countertops
- Granite Countertops
- Lava Countertops
- Marble Countertops
- Porcelain Countertops
- Resin Countertops
- Solid Surface Countertops
- Stainless Steel Countertops
- Tile Countertops
Beautiful Flooring
Quality flooring worthy of being on the small dream kitchen ideas list comes at a price. As with so many things, you typically get what you pay for when it comes to luxury flooring.
From clay tile flooring to options for wood flooring, let’s look at the other options for those looking for products that are desired by design trendsetters.
- Exotic Hardwood Flooring
- Forbo Marmoleum Flooring
- Hand Scraped Hardwood Flooring
- Luxury Vinyl Tile
- Mosaic and Designer Ceramic Floor Tiles
- Natural Stone Flooring
- Reclaimed Hardwood Flooring
Upscale Appliances
These are the finest luxury brands you should consider for your small dream kitchen ideas list. As some of these brands are very expensive, other more mainstream appliance brands offer more upscale units that are more cost-effective than those mentioned below, and you probably won’t have a need to call the Maytag repair people!
- BlueStar
- Cove
- Dacor
- Gaggenau
- JennAir
- La Cornue
- Miele
- Sub-Zero
- Thermador
- Viking
- Wolf
You can further customize your kitchen with specialty appliances. Consider adding these to your small dream kitchen ideas list if you have space and room in the budget.
- Coffee makers
- Microwave drawers
- Speed ovens
- Steam cooker
- Undercounter refrigerators
- Wine units
Adequate Lighting
Good lighting in the kitchen is critical. Many things happen in this area besides cooking and eating. It is a homework area, visiting area, work area, game area — the list goes on. Make sure you include practical light fixtures on your small dream kitchen ideas list.
The type of lighting you choose depends on what area is being lit. Here is an explanation of the type of light you can choose from.
- Fluorescent lighting, which has a long life and low energy usage, now comes in many different shades, from warm to cool
- Halogen lighting produces a crisp white light appropriate for task lighting
- Incandescent lighting provides soft, warm yellowish light, typically used for recessed cans or downlights
Here are eight different types of lighting fixtures to add to your small dream kitchen ideas list.
- Cabinet Lighting
- Decorative Pendant Lights
- Dining Area Fixtures
- Directional Recessed Lights
- Mini Pendants
- Multiple Lamp Fixtures
- Recessed Lights
- Spotlights
- Track Lights
- Under the Cabinet Lighting
There is one other way to get more light in your kitchen — window installation. If you are doing some serious renovating in your space, add a bay or box window over your kitchen sink. If you have a dining area adjacent to your kitchen, a large bay or bow window would be perfect and let in a lot of light. Give serious consideration to adding this to your small dream kitchen ideas list.
In addition to the four ideas above, you can do many other things to update or improve the look or function of your cozy kitchen.
Kitchen Cabinet Refacing
Kitchen cabinets are costly to replace. Sometimes even if you have a generous budget, replacing them is impossible. So why not try refacing your cabinets.
Some cabinets need more work than just a coat of paint or stain. If you see wear and tear on your cabinets, consider refacing them. This changes the look of all the visible parts of the cabinet. The cost of cabinet refacing is approximately half of what it would be to have them replaced.
Painting Kitchen Cabinets
If you want to transform the look of your cabinets without the cost of refacing or a brand new cabinet installation, painting them could be the answer. While it’s essential to allow for paint costs, you will be saving money by doing the painting yourself.
Replace Kitchen Cabinet Knobs
If you want a quick update to your kitchen, it can be done by simply changing the cabinet hardware. This small change is relatively inexpensive, and the results are amazing! This DIY project only takes a few hours to do. If you choose new hardware, be sure it fits where the existing hardware is. When you shop for the new hardware, take an existing piece with you to ensure you get the proper size.
Install Roll-Out Shelves
If you have a small kitchen, cabinet organization can be pretty challenging. However, the solution is easy to remedy. With roll-out shelves, you can say goodby to disorganization and missing items. You can get kits from the local hardware store that provide detailed installation instructions.
Make sure you take all the measurements and decide what type of roll-out shelf you need. The traditional shelf functions similar to a shallow drawer, perfect for pots and pans. A roll-out wire basket may be what you need for lids or small containers.
Add Door Storage
Storage always seems to be the most common problem when it comes to kitchen cabinets. Most of us don’t think to use all the space available on the door of the cabinet. It’s quick and easy to hang hooks to create organization for various size lids.
For smaller items you don’t know where to put, screw in small wire or plastic baskets to the back of the door. The options are endless and entirely customizable for whatever your needs are — just use your imagination.
Install Drawer Organizers
Drawer organizers can help if you’re tired of searching for one utensil you need. Find three or four small pieces of wood and size them according to your cabinet or drawer size. Use wood glue to attach them, then wait for them to dry before organizing your utensils or other small items.
Add Shelf Liners
Give the inside of your kitchen cabinets some attention. Cabinet liners can help protect the finish of your cabinets and spruce up their look. Shelf liners come in a range of colors or styles. You can choose to introduce a new pattern into your kitchen or go with a simple white. They are easy to clean if you have spills or crumbs that gather on the shelf. This project takes a few hours to finish, based on how many shelves you have.
Wallpaper Cabinet Door
Did you know wallpaper is no longer limited to walls? The latest trends show that patterns in the kitchen are hot. One way to get the look easily is with wallpaper. Removable wallpaper works best, so you don’t damage your kitchen cabinets. The look of the wallpaper between cabinet moldings is creative and encouraged for this DIY project!
Your kitchen cabinets present the opportunity to get your dream kitchen look without the dream kitchen price tag. If you love DIY, with a few hours, you can easily upgrade your cozy kitchen cabinets.
Focus on Seating
The kitchen isn’t truly cozy unless it has comfortable seating. If you want your kitchen a relaxing place to spend time, it needs to have a pleasant spot to sit.
If there is space for an eat-in kitchen, centering the seating around furniture, like a dining table or an island, is an easy way to create a cozy kitchen.
Even if you lack space, you can still give your kitchen some depth. With the use of an island or small table to expand counter space, then select a few chairs or barstools—it then becomes a great place to sit for a mid-afternoon snack or cocktail.
Add Some Color
Want to save money while adding some personality to your kitchen? Purchase a few gallons of paint and add a new color to your kitchen walls. After a fresh paint job, your kitchen will have the boost it needs.
For additional flair, choose a bold color for an accent wall, and paint the rest of the walls a more subdued color.
There are other ways to give your kitchen some added pizzazz. Try adding some knick-knacks or decorative towels or some interesting wall art to create a focal point in your kitchen design.
Find Ways to Reduce Clutter
Do you avoid your kitchen because of the mess on your countertops? You are not alone! Research has discovered that clean, open spaces are far more appealing than cluttered countertops. Fortunately, this is an easy and straightforward problem to fix — and it doesn’t cost a cent.
Unfortunately, the smaller your kitchen is, the more critical it is to be organized. Remove junk mail, sticky notes, food items, utensils, or other items that really should be somewhere else. Reduce the number of knick-knacks or decorations taking up space on your counters. This helps create a calmer atmosphere in your cozy kitchen. Make sure your family agrees with staying organized.
Think of ways to increase the amount of useable space in the kitchen. Hanging pots and pans overhead can be stylish and efficient but can make the room look crowded. Hang a magnetic knife strip on your wall to give your kitchen some visual depth while improving accessible areas at the same time. Use one for knives and another for lighter pans.
Don’t underestimate the power of putting things away when you’re done with them. If you keep your cabinets and drawers organized, it will help you to stay organized.
Go Natural
A cozy kitchen isn’t only having a feeling of warmth or a small space. It’s about having a sense of soul, which can come from plants. Some well-placed greenery is a terrific way to make your kitchen feel alive.
There are dozens of low-maintenance plants that will look great in your cozy kitchen. Decorate your window sill with planted herbs or other edible greenery. You can accomplish two things — decorate your kitchen and fill your space with home-grown produce.
Keep Things Clean
This may be a no-brainer for some, but we all have seen enough kitchens to know that not everyone gets it! It makes no difference how much work you put into your tiny kitchen or how much you spend doing it if you do not give it the attention needed to keep it clean and healthy.
Clean up as you cook to reduce the time it takes to clean up after a meal. Set aside time during the week for the regular cleaning of spaces you cannot get to daily.
Hopefully, some of these small dream kitchen ideas will help you — whether you are remodeling or building from the ground up — it is certain to be a fun and rewarding experience to create the kitchen or home of your dreams!
