Brighten Small Kitchen Designs with Light Wood and Countertops

Small kitchens don't have to be dark, dreary rooms where the utilitarian task of cooking must be endured. Instead, relish what you have and even kick it up a notch by brightening small kitchens with light, airy colors.

The food preparation area of this small kitchen features light-colored wood cabinets with a contrasting warm-grey countertop and blond-wood dish drain and cutting board. To avoid the claustrophobic feel of a wall of cabinets, there is a simple tiled backsplash (which picks up the color of the countertop). Storage problems are solved with ample cabinets under the sink. Visual clutter on the countertop is kept to a minimum with only a coffee maker at the end of the counter.

Successful small kitchen designs take advantage of any natural light. If you don't have a window in your small kitchen, use a mixture of overhead lighting and some smaller ambient light for a warmer, more personalized look.

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