Apartments in New York City are typically stylish, but lacking in space, and kitchens are almost always the tiniest room. However, even if the kitchen in your apartment is a little cramped and doesn’t have a lot of square footage, there are some ways that you can still make it fabulous and functional:
Add a decorative backsplash
Even in the smallest of spaces, an eye-catching tiled backsplash can really add drama and finesse to an apartment kitchen, and you can really be as creative with this as you want.
Storage, storage, storage!
In a small kitchen, the last thing you want is to have every available surface covered in clutter, as this not only looks untidy, but can give the illusion of the space being even smaller than it actually is. Whether it’s appliances, cookbooks or dinnerware, clutter is a no-no in a small apartment kitchen, and you can avoid this (and still add style to your kitchen), by having some pull out shelves, appliance garages and cabinets installed. You can choose from a variety of colors and finishes, and if you find a creative and talented general contractor, they could even build you some unique storage around the kitchen doorway, for example.
For open shelving, while it’s a sensible idea to store practical items there that you use frequently, you could also add some decorative items that will make it feel homier, and enable you to express your personality.
Replace cabinet doors with glass
While this tip might not be within the realms of everyone’s budget, it’s a fantastic way to help create the illusion of space. Many people don’t even know that their cabinet doors can be replaced with glass, but aside from making the kitchen look bigger, it can also help ensure that you keep them tidy since people can see right into them!
Add some wall art in the form of stickers
This might not be to everyone’s taste, but wall stickers can be highly artistic and personalized, and are a great way to add some fun or style to an otherwise dull kitchen. And because they’re so easy to swap, you can have different images on your walls every week!
Retro rolling carts
Do these bring back memories of your college days? Nowadays, rolling carts in kitchens can be used to help minimize clutter by adding storage, and add a splash of color to a dreary space. Smart designers paint them in vibrant colors, and you can hang a curtain from them to keep stored items out of sight, too.
If you’ve got plenty of space in your NYC kitchen, but it’s lacking style and functionality, why not go for a full blown renovation, and turn your kitchen into a space you can actually enjoy using? For smaller kitchens, try out the tips above or talk to a local renovation company, who may have ideas of their own about how to improve your kitchen, no matter its size.