5 Design Tricks for the Kitchen We Saw in a Great Project

Designer Polina Andreeva created a cozy interior in a Khrushchyovka flat. The kitchen is only 5.5 sq. m. It needed to be transformed into a functional space while staying within a small budget. Fortunately, the reconfiguration was already done before the renovation: the entrance to the kitchen from the corridor was closed and turned into a living room. What other design tricks are there in this kitchen project — we tell you in this article.

Full layout of this apartment

Upper cabinets on one side

To visually lighten the space, the upper cabinet units were made only on the left side from the entrance — from the living room, they are not visible at all. Only a round wall-mounted hood was placed on the central wall. As a result, it was possible to avoid the feeling of clutter on this small kitchen.

Backsplash to the ceiling + vertical cladding

The backsplash on the central wall was almost tiled to the ceiling with glossy mint-colored tiles. The tiles were chosen in the form of long narrow strips and laid vertically — this trick helps make the ceiling look higher than it actually is.

One color for walls and ceiling

Another way to 'lift' the ceiling is to paint the walls and ceiling in one color. Here, the designer chose a warm white shade to avoid drawing attention to it and overloading the small space. By the way, the Roman curtains were taken in a similar light color — this helped visually not divide the room and let more light into the kitchen.

Countertop made of compact board

For the housewife, it was important that the countertop of the kitchen cabinet lasted long and had a wooden finish. With a countertop made of particle board, it's impossible to make a recessed mount sink, only a flush mount one, which can cause the countertop to bulge at the junction points. In the end, they chose compact board — it is fully made of plastic inside, so it won't bulge. Plus, such material has a thickness of only 12 cm, allowing for a recessed mount sink.

Under-cabinet lighting with motion sensor

Aside from general lighting, local lighting was provided in the kitchen. There is a small wall sconce by the entrance, and built-in lighting above the work area. The lighting is equipped with a motion sensor hidden in the cabinet behind a false panel. To turn the light on or off, you just need to wave your hand near the sensor — convenient and no need for switches.