Eight Small Kitchen Decorating Design Ideas 2011

With budget smarts and a knack for DIY adventures, homeowners transform this kitchen into a bright and cheery gathering space. Cottage and vintage-inspired details bring charm to the tight space .


Although this kitchen's floor plan is on the small side, it appears spacious and inviting thanks to a few design tricks. Blocks of darker colors (on the floor and island) ground the area, while crisp white and creamy bisque on the appliances, trims, ceiling, and walls keep the room light. Small pockets of color, in the form of vintage accessories, give rhythm to the space and keep your eye dancing around the room .


Tucked away in a wooded neighborhood, this kitchen remodel drew inspiration from its surroundings. The old cabinets and countertops were removed and recycled, given to the neighbors for their own remodel. The kitchen stayed within its original footprint, but a skylight was installed to bring in more natural light .


To make the small kitchen feel more open, the cabinets were run to the ceiling, giving the appearance of higher ceilings. The light maple cabinet finish and buff-color granite counters and travertine tile backsplash play off the natural theme of the room and create a soothing, cohesive look .


Clean lines, plenty of white, and an abundance of light spell success for this small kitchen. The room feels unconfined by its 11x11-foot footprint. Although small in square footage, several smart design strategies open up the area for a statement-making space. Understated and sophisticated finishes, such as the white backsplash and glass-front cabinets, keep the room simple and inviting .


Too much white can be a little dull, but the neutral hue perks up when used in standout ways, such as on these beaded-board cabinets. The grooved design adds texture to a flat, white surface. Wide white crown molding between the cabinets and ceiling tops the room with a final detail .


Although a colorful tiled backsplash would have added visual interest, a clean, white mosaic version was a more fitting choice for this kitchen. The simple design stays in step with the room's airy vibe. Accessories and extras, such as a copper light fixture and potted plants, introduce color


This small kitchen aims to be big with dramatic flourishes of black cabinets, a contrasting white subway tile backsplash, and unique cork flooring. Plenty of planning, down to every detail of the pantry, also makes this kitchen a star .


An inefficient layout and dilapidated features inspired a complete overhaul of this small kitchen. Though the space was modernized, the look stayed in step with the rest of the home, a 1920s Mediterranean-style house .


While a double oven would be a dream for a serious cook, limited space demands a creative solution. This kitchen is outfitted with a single oven on the wall facing the cooktop and combination microwave and convection oven. The dual-function appliance performs two jobs while only occupying a sliver of space .


In this 9x8-foot kitchen, every inch of space is used effectively to give the cook a clean, comfortable space to work. Upper and lower Shaker-style cabinets maximize storage. The white-painted cabinets and the stainless-steel appliances, fixtures, and hardware keep the kitchen light. Glass-front doors on the upper cabinets create the perception of greater depth and increase the visual space of the kitchen .


Stacked refrigerator drawers take up less room than a standard refrigerator, leaving more room for cabinetry. Open shelving above the appliance garage gives the eye a rest, breaking up the expanse of white cabinetry. Black granite countertops balance all the white in the room and provide a strong, stylish work surface .