How do you remodel a small kitchen to make it look bigger?

The most effective ways to make a small kitchen look bigger are: (1) remove upper cabinet doors or replace with glass fronts, (2) use light colors on cabinets and walls, (3) install under-cabinet lighting to eliminate shadows, (4) use large-format tile on the floor, (5) add a mirror backsplash or high-gloss tile, and (6) maximize vertical storage to keep countertops clear.

What is the average cost to remodel a small kitchen?

A small kitchen remodel (under 150 square feet) in Georgia typically costs $10,000–$30,000 depending on scope. A cosmetic refresh runs $3,000–$8,000. A full small kitchen remodel with new cabinets, countertops, and appliances costs $15,000–$30,000.

Should I add an island to a small kitchen?

Only if you have at least 42 inches of clearance on all sides of the island. In most small kitchens (under 150 sq ft), a fixed island reduces usable floor space. Better alternatives are a rolling kitchen cart, a peninsula, or a fold-down wall table.

How can I add storage to a small kitchen without remodeling?

Quick storage additions include: magnetic knife strips, over-door organizers, pull-out cabinet organizers, a pegboard wall for pots and pans, a rolling cart with shelves, and stackable shelf risers inside cabinets.

What kitchen layout works best for a small kitchen?

The most efficient layouts for small kitchens are the galley (two parallel runs of cabinets) and the L-shape. Both maximize counter and storage space while keeping the work triangle compact. Avoid island layouts unless you have at least 200 square feet of kitchen space.

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Kitchen Remodeling

Small Kitchen Remodeling: 10 Ideas That Make a Big Impact in Georgia Homes

Oconee Remodeling Team 7 min readJuly 18, 2025

Small kitchens are one of the most common challenges in Georgia homes — especially in older neighborhoods. These 10 remodeling ideas maximize every square foot without a costly addition.

The Small Kitchen Challenge in Georgia Homes

Many of Georgia's most desirable neighborhoods — particularly in older areas of Athens, Watkinsville, and the surrounding communities — were built in an era when kitchens were purely functional spaces. If you're living with a small kitchen, you know the daily frustrations: limited counter space, inadequate storage, and a layout that makes cooking for more than one person feel like a contact sport.

1. Extend Cabinets to the Ceiling

The space between the top of standard upper cabinets and the ceiling is wasted space. Extending cabinets all the way to the ceiling adds significant storage without consuming a single square foot of floor space — one of the highest-value investments in any small kitchen remodel.

2. Replace Upper Cabinets with Open Shelving

Open shelving makes a small kitchen feel dramatically larger by eliminating the visual weight of upper cabinet doors. Replace some or all of your upper cabinets with floating shelves in wood, metal, or painted MDF.

3. Install a Galley Layout

Converting to a galley (two parallel runs of counters and cabinets) maximizes every linear foot of wall space and creates the most efficient work triangle possible. Galley kitchens are used in professional restaurant kitchens for a reason — they're the most efficient layout for cooking.

4. Use Light Colors Throughout

Light cabinets (white, cream, soft gray, or sage green), light countertops, and light walls reflect light and make a small kitchen feel open and airy.

5. Add Under-Cabinet Lighting

Under-cabinet LED lighting eliminates the dark shadows that make small kitchens feel cave-like. LED strip lights are inexpensive ($50–$200 for a typical kitchen) and have an outsized impact on how the space feels.

6–10. More Small Kitchen Wins

Additional high-impact strategies: choose a single-basin sink (frees up counter space), install large-format floor tile (fewer grout lines = more spacious look), add a peninsula instead of an island, maximize the backsplash height all the way to the upper cabinets, and install pull-out cabinet organizers to double effective storage capacity.

Ready to Transform Your Small Kitchen?

Oconee Remodeling LLC specializes in small kitchen remodeling across Bogart, Watkinsville, Athens, and the surrounding Northeast Georgia area. Contact us today for a free small kitchen consultation and estimate.

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