If your kitchen feels cramped and tiny, welcome! You’re officially part of the itty-bitty kitchen committee. (I’m a card-carrying member, too.) For those of us without a spare $15,000 lying around to knock down a wall (or the patience to move), we can at least trick the eye into making our kitchens appear larger. And according to Joanna Gaines, the secret isn’t doing a crazy reno; it’s in the colors you choose and where you put them.
“Anything from the countertop up, keep light in a space that’s small,” Gaines says in an HGTV video.
You can see this approach in action even in her larger projects (check out her stunning Airbnb for reference). And the good news? Whether you’re a renter or a homeowner, there are plenty of ways to make your kitchen look and feel bigger without calling in a contractor.
Adding a backsplash is like putting some icing on your kitchen cake. A light backsplash keeps the eye moving up instead of feeling overly boxed-in, which is key when you’re working with small kitchens.
Lighten Up Your Upper Cabinets
Upper cabinets can be very visually heavy in small spaces — especially if they’re dark. Gaines suggests keeping them light to let the space breathe.
If you want to replace them:
If you want to repaint them:
Even when Gaines leans into darker colors (like in this rich green butler’s pantry) she typically keeps those choices contained to separate spaces.
Add (or Fake) Better Lighting
Gaines loves under-cabinet lighting, as it tricks the eye into thinking your space is larger and more inviting.
Gaines likes to draw the eye upward with one statement feature, like with a light or custom range hood.
Renter-Friendly Ways to Get the Look
You don’t need to own your space to make it feel bigger.
