Perhaps you love your house, and you’ve live in it for many years. The only thing about your home that gives you stress is the fact that you have a small kitchen. The kitchen is a place where you should be able to work, cook, eat, and even “hang out†occasionally. For people with a kitchen that’s tiny, small kitchen remodeling is possible, and can make a huge difference in the way your kitchen looks, functions, and feels. When looking into small kitchen remodeling, be sure you know exactly what you plan to do before you make any changes, and write them all down on paper. Take a look at the plans several times, and even “sleep on it†for a few days before you begin the remodeling process. This will help to ensure that you’re making the right decision. Remember the basic layout of any kitchen large or small consists of an area for cabinetry, counter space, sinks, and major appliances such as ovens, dishwashers, and refrigerators. If you have some room to expand upon your counter space, a good idea may be to downsize your appliances. For example, a young couple with no children may not need a large, heavy duty dishwasher. By buying a smaller model, you open up more area for the counters. Look at the entire layout of the kitchen and determine where you want the sink and other appliances to go beforehand. You can always change this on paper, but once the small kitchen remodeling process starts, it will be much more difficult. Think about what your counters will do as far as shape. For example, a U-shaped counter may seem like there is less space, while an L-shaped counter will give you more floor space and room to work. Perhaps one of the biggest problems with a small kitchen is storage space. Lack of cabinet room and places to put things like pots and pans can become a major problem. Adding in things like roll tops under the counters can be a great idea for storing small appliances that are only used on occasion. Hanging pot racks is another wonderful way to keep all of your cooking items organized and out of the way.Aside from the actual moving and adjusting of counter space, cabinets, and appliances, there are other things that can be done to create a larger look in a smaller kitchen. For example, using brightly colored tiles as a backsplash behind the sink and the oven will give the kitchen a more airy and lighter feel. Changing out the hardware on cabinets from heavy dark metal to brightly brushed chrome can also “open up the look.†Of course, just like any other room in the house, lighting plays an especially big role in the way a kitchen looks. Using pendant lights over the sink and under the cabinet lights can really do wonders for any kitchen. A built in microwave that serves as an oven hood can be mounted right above the stove to preserve precious counter space. These “micro hoods†are very popular, and can be an excellent way to save space for those with small kitchens. Look in magazines and online to find some excellent small kitchen remodeling ideas. A good idea is to draw the current layout of your kitchen, and then sketch a few ideas for what you’d like the newly remodeled kitchen to look like as far as floor layout and counter layout, as well as cabinetry. A hallway pantry is also another great way to provide storage and keep extra items out of your cabinets and off of your work space. Seating can either be provided in the kitchen (i.e. an eat-in kitchen), or off to the side in a separate dining area. You can also change the size of your sink to fit in a smaller space, in order to increase counter space. Small kitchen remodeling doesn’t have to be complicated. Making little changes can do wonders for the look and functionality of one of the most important and highly used rooms in your house. With a little bit of imagination and careful planning, you can have the kitchen of your dreams and still be able to live in the home you know and love.