5 Inexpensive Design Ideas for Kitchenettes

Kitchenettes are small, and the limited space often presents a challenge if you enjoy cooking a lot. At the same time, you can benefit from having a small space to design. You don’t have to worry about decorating a larger space, which costs more money.  Here are 5 inexpensive design ideas for kitchenettes that will save you money:

1 – Paint Kitchenette Cabinets

Simply painting the kitchenette cabinets, can have a dramatic effect on the decor. Your landlord may not have a problem with that if the color you choose won’t turn off future tenants. You could also agree to restore the original color before you move out. Choose a bold color that will brighten up your kitchenette, unless a bold color would contradict your decorating theme. For example, a bold red would not work well in a minimalist style apartment.

2 – Houseplant

Always try to make room for a houseplant. Plants add “life” to kitchenettes. They can be tough to fit though, because you’re limited on counter top space as it is. The solution is to buy a smaller plant. You can also buy a fake plant if necessary, if you don’t have the time to care for a real plant. A touch of green from a plant in your kitchen space, even a fake one, makes it look authentic. Try to fit one in.

3 – Decorate Shelves

Some kitchenettes have shelves instead of cabinets. When you stack dishes, pots and pans on shelves, it will give your kitchenette a cluttered look. Store your pots and pans elsewhere and decorate the shelves instead. For example, you can add decorative plates, glasses, flowers and other collectibles on the shelves. You can also paint the shelves to make them standout and match your apartment decor. You may need to store kitchen items under the sink or in another room, to make up for the loss of shelf space.

4 – Stainless Steel Finish

If you want to give your kitchenette a contemporary look, and make it appear new, then consider applying a stainless steel finish.You can do that using faux steel film. It’s a self-adhesive sheet that you can apply to any smooth surface, to make it look as it were made of stainless steel. For example, you can apply it around the body of a counter to give it a chic look. Before you invest money in a stainless steel film though, you should check with your landlord to make sure they don’t mind you using it.

5 – Kitchen Art

It’s tough to fit artwork into kitchenettes, but you should be able to find some space on the wall. Put your framed piece, or a kitchen poster that reflects your favorite foods or a country where you favorite foods come from. You might decide just to post a favorite quote instead. Whatever you choose, art is a design element that you should try to include.

Don’t feel hopeless about designing your tiny kitchen. You’ll be amazed what you can do with kitchenettes, and for not much money.