How to Redo a Small Galley Kitchen

Consider putting in cabinets with a clear glass or opaque front. Glass cabinets will give your small kitchen a more open feel with a bit of added depth. If you don’t want completely clear cabinets that show their contents, frosted glass cabinets will still help open up the room.

Avoid large patterns or tiles on the floor, counters and backsplashes. Large patterns make a room look smaller. Instead of picking large tiles where only a dozen or so will fill up the room, use smaller sizes that will require 48 tiles. If you are putting in a wood floor, choose thinner planks instead of wide planks.

Put unnecessary items like coffee makers and toasters inside a cabinet when you aren’t using them. Clearing clutter on top of your counters will make your kitchen feel large and cleaner.

Install built-in appliances instead of using freestanding ones. Install your microwave on a shelf above your stove, and put extra kitchen cabinets over your refrigerator. If you have a freestanding range-top, install an oven beneath it instead of in a separate place.

Use accent lighting and task lighting instead of only using overhead lighting. Accent and task lighting makes your eye go further into the room, making it seem larger than it really is.

Remove the door to your kitchen if you have one. Opening up the kitchen to other rooms will make it feel bigger by creating extra space.

Hang opaque window coverings that allow natural light, causing the eye to travel outside the space. If your kitchen doesn’t get a lot of natural sunlight, consider skipping window treatments all together or installing shades that are non-obtrusive when they are up.