8 Cool Ideas for Decorating a Small Kitchen

Designer Julia Kuchkova decorated her 5 m² kitchen. She shared useful tips and great ideas that are easy to apply in your apartment's interior.

Room tour of this apartment (21 minutes)

Kitchen in a Niche

Save useful area and visually expand the living room space by moving the kitchen into the wardrobe zone. The layout was coordinated and legalized. The L-shaped arrangement of the kitchen unit allowed for functional zoning.

Before making such a reconfiguration, it's important to study all existing rules. There are many requirements for kitchen-niches.
Wall-to-Ceiling Cabinets

Antre-sol kitchen units were installed, where the upper shelf is a full storage system. The monolithic structure has no open sections or unused space. The room looks neat, clutter-free, as everything necessary is hidden behind cabinet doors. This is very important when the kitchen is combined with the living room.

Upper cabinet doors are matte. I think it's a mistake to make them without hardware. Fingerprints remain on matte surfaces, and it's hard to clean dirt from the rough texture.

Due to high antresol in the kitchen, a narrow drawer was provided for storing the ladder.

Wooden ladders and steps are quite heavy. But they have an aesthetic appearance and do not scratch the floor surface.
Open Storage

One or more open shelves are an optimal solution for ergonomic kitchen zone design. In this kitchen, shelves are placed above the work surface — necessary items like grains or spices are within arm's reach. Shelves can hold decorative dishes, decor, paintings.

Built-in Range Hood

A built-in range hood was installed above the induction cooktop. It is inconspicuous, so it does not spoil the overall interior of the room. Additional storage space is provided in the cabinet where the hood is built-in.

Backsplash Made of Large-Format Ceramic

A backsplash made from large-format ceramic was installed in the kitchen. It's practical — the material is moisture-resistant, doesn't fade, and isn't affected by external influences. With proper care, the item will last for a long time. There are fewer joints on such a backsplash, and it's easy to maintain.

"Non-Spill" Edge on the Countertop

A low "non-spill" edge was installed around the perimeter of the countertop made from artificial stone. It protects cabinet doors and furniture from liquid spills.

Despite all the advantages of artificial stone, I don't recommend making a sink from light-colored material. It can absorb coloring substances and the sink will darken.Task Lighting

Task lighting on the work surface allows for comfortable cooking. Additional light source expands the space, positively affects mood, and creates a feeling of warmth.

Floor Joint

A silicone sealant was used to create a transition between the tiles in the kitchen and the laminate in the living room. It is resistant to moisture, temperature fluctuations, nearly invisible, and adheres well to smooth and porous surfaces.