By Lee Dobbins

If you are in a rut where your small kitchen design is concerned then you it is important that you remember that strategize on what you can fit in to it and where.

The most important things to consider when remodeling a small kitchen is that do you have sufficient storage space, what kind of appliances can you include and good lighting.

The best storage solution that you could include in your small kitchen design is by putting in a small island this will not only provide you with additional storage space but also extra space for you to work on. But if it is even too small for an island then it is best that you design the layout on your kitchen galley style. A galley style kitchen puts the cabinets lined up hanging on either side of the kitchen aisle and on the walls so that you are able to take advantage of the limited space that you have without them being an obstacle.

If you want you could take advantage of the ceiling by hanging pots and pans from a rack chained at the centre or anywhere on the ceiling of the kitchen. It also helps to add character and charm to any kitchen.

When installing new cabinets in a small kitchen make sure you include a pantry cabinet which goes all the way to the ceiling and the use top most cabinets for storing those items that you seldomly use.

The colours that you should use for your small kitchen should be as follows:-

Use light coloured cabinets with glass doors and add further storage to the inside of doors where you can place tiny bits and pieces (why not put a spice rack inside a door for your spices and herbs to be kept in).

When installing counters install deeper ones so that they can accommodate appliances and will also increase the amount of workspace that you have available. You also look for the many compact and space saving appliances that are now readily available. But when it comes to the sink keep it big as you need something that is practical for cleaning large pots and pans in.

Another good trick to use in your small kitchen design is to install under cabinet and under the counter lighting. This type of lighting will make your kitchen appear bigger and therefore much more inviting to your guests.

By James Mahoney

If you have a small kitchen to design then the problem of designing a great kitchen boils down to just what you can fit and where. There are many different cabinet designs and surface patterns that can help you provide your small kitchen design with a sense of space.

To create the small but efficient kitchen design, you need to work on three major areas of small kitchen design: storage, lighting, and appliances.

Small kitchens may seem to be a very difficult design challenge, but they can also be functional, beautiful and efficient. Even with a small budget and building restrictions, you can find that there are many options open to you to transform your kitchen into something more ideal for your needs.

To create a more spacious look for your small kitchen design the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) recommends designing more unique storage solutions, mixing natural and ambient lighting, taking advantage of more space saving appliances, and adding personalized touches.

A small kitchen design requires creativity in coming up with storage solutions. Some ideas to try include:

· Putting an island in the center of the kitchen that can provide freestanding storage that is also convenient from any spot in the kitchen.

· Using a galley kitchen design in which the cabinets and appliances line up on either side of a corridor can work out very well for a small kitchen space.

· Today's appliance manufacturers have come up with more compact space-saving appliances make small kitchen design easier, such as refrigerators that are 24 inches deep instead of 30 inches deep, as well as appliances that can be hung underneath cabinets like microwaves.

· Other small kitchen design tricks to create an eating area in the kitchen include using a drop table or a small sized round table with two small chairs that can be tucked into a corner. Or a built-in counter along the wall with chairs to provide an eating nook.

· Another interesting challenge in small kitchen design is creating an illusion of space with under cabinet lighting or under the counter. With the proper type of lighting the kitchen can be made to appear larger and more pleasing.

· The use of light colored cabinets with glass doors.

· Installing deeper counters that can accommodate more appliances and increase work space.

· Flooring tiles can be placed on a diagonal, and in a galley style kitchen hardwood flooring can be run the length of the kitchen.

· For storage you can hang up pots and pans. This is a perfect way to free up cabinet space, and they add a certain charm and character to your small kitchen design. The insides of cabinet doors can be used to hang up everything from utensils, oven mitts, and other miscellaneous items. Pantry storage with units that go all the way to the ceiling with the upper cabinets to provide more space for seldom used items while making the lower cabinets more accessible with rollout shelves, lazy susans, and tilt-out bins.

· Install a large kitchen sink, since larger sinks are considered to be more practical than small sinks when it comes to cleaning pots and pans.

Remember most kitchens are small. When you look in kitchen design magazines you naturally notice that the kitchens featured are large and so you might think your small kitchen in inadequate. But good small kitchen design means being able to create space and incorporating ample storage facilities and being able to fit in all the necessary appliances.