How to Make a Small Kitchen Feel Bigger Without Tearing Down Walls
Posted on July 15, 2025
If you feel like your kitchen is a bit too cramped for your comfort, you are definitely not alone. Newer compact urban homes tend to sacrifice kitchen space for larger living areas. If you want to make your kitchen feel larger without having to physically expand the size of the space by tearing down walls, a few strategic home renovation ideas can help. When conducting kitchen renovations in Oakville, there are design choices that can help optimize your space while also creating the illusion of a larger room. If you are looking for an experienced renovation contractor to perform thoughtful home renovations in Oakville, reach out to Rose Building Group today!
Here are some strategies to make your small kitchen feel larger.
Embrace a Light and Bright Colour Palette
If you simply want to create the illusion of a larger space, then you can do so by selecting the ideal colour palette. Lighter colours tend to make spaces feel larger, more airy and open. This is because more light can be reflected off lighter surfaces. Dark colours, on the other hand, contribute to a more compact look since less light can be reflected off them.
When selecting kitchen cabinets, countertops and wall paint, stick to lighter colours. This does not mean that you have to make your entire kitchen white; you can choose light greys, beige or even pastel colours if that suits your aesthetic.
Maximize Vertical Space
Now, if you are actually looking to optimize your kitchen space and add additional storage space for more items, you can do so by maximizing vertical space. You can do this in a few ways.
Adding open shelving can help give you more storage space, which will help you feel like you have more space without actually opening up the space.
Ensure that your kitchen cabinets and pantries are spaced all the way up to the ceiling. This will not only help draw the eye upwards, but it will also give you the storage space of a larger kitchen.
Add Lighting
Light is key to creating the appearance of a larger kitchen. If you are conducting kitchen renovations in Oakville, see where there are opportunities to add more light fixtures. Undercabinet lighting can be functional and elegant while creating the feeling of larger countertops. During your home renovations, you should also see if/where it is possible to add additional windows, as natural lighting can help make your space feel significantly larger and more inviting. If new windows are not feasible, consider swapping out your backdoor for one with larger windows.
Make Your Kitchen Feel Larger with Kitchen Renovations in Oakville
It is not always easy to live in a home with a small kitchen, but at the same time, you may not have the physical space to expand your kitchen. However, the right choice of home renovation ideas can help make your kitchen look and feel bigger while giving you the storage space of a much larger space. If you want to elevate your small kitchen, reach out to the renovation contractors at Rose Building Group for expert home renovations in Oakville.