A small kitchen used to be a design nightmare. With new design trends and utilizing every inch of space, a great kitchen can be developed without looking cramped or overstuffed. Many smaller homes did not leave much space for the kitchen, so to make it functional and roomy, designs have been developed to increase the usage area.

There are several ways to design a small kitchen. You need to decide what you need to fit in the space and how to do it. You will definitely need to have great lighting, ample storage and of course appliances.

When purchasing appliances for a small kitchen, you will want to get slightly smaller space saving items. Refrigerators, stoves and dishwashers are available in small sizes to accommodate small spaces. As you look at cabinets, you may want to get lighter shades as it will make the space seem larger. Dark colors and grains go much better in larger spaces. Utilizing glass fronts for some of the cabinets can give depth to the room.

The counters should be somewhat deeper to give you more work space as well as more room for table top appliances. As with any kitchen, seating can be difficult to fit in. You can create seating by using a small round table with two chairs that can tuck into a corner. A wall mounted counter to create bar seating is also a great way to use space. The stools can be pushed under the counter to create more work space.

To increase storage, you can build your cabinets almost to the ceiling to give vertical height and extra shelves for items you do not use often. A small island in the middle of the space can give extra counter area to work as well as storage underneath. By hanging pots and pans, you can save the space for these items for other things. For more narrow and long kitchen spaces you may want to line the counters on either side of the walkway to create a galley style kitchen.

Lighting is very important in any kitchen design. For a smaller kitchen it is even more important. You do not want a large hanging light as it may make the room look smaller. Recessed ceiling lighting will make it look more spacious. You should use small track lighting fixtures to illuminate work areas and create the ambiance of a larger space. Track lighting is wonderful to use underneath cabinets to light the counter area. Because you can point track lighting in different directions, you can have smaller fixtures but just as much light.

Just because your kitchen is small does not mean that it is not workable. Using a small kitchen design and track lighting fixtures that highlights the space will give a kitchen that anyone would love. Check with design stores and on the internet for interesting kitchen designs.