A 4-square kitchen is perhaps the smallest kitchen there can be. Such kitchenettes are found both in houses of Stalinist buildings and in Khrushchev-era buildings. Of course, a small kitchen is not always a reason to change your apartment; you can furnish such a small room functionally and comfortably.
Style selection
When arranging a small-sized kitchen, it is important to choose a style for it that will look organic in a small area.
Room size 5 sq. meters is not suitable for creating such pompous and heavy interiors as Renaissance and Baroque - they require the use of expensive natural materials, and a lot of space is simply needed to implement such projects.
The best options would be the following interior styles:
- Country is a rustic style loved by many, simple and uncomplicated. To create it, you can use synthetic materials that imitate natural ones.
- Classic style - suitable for both urban kitchens and country house kitchens. The elegant and simple interior looks great even in a small room.
- Provence is the lightest and most romantic style. Thanks to the use of white and light shades in its creation, even the smallest kitchen will look spacious and filled with light.
- High-tech is a strict style that involves the use of lightweight synthetic materials. Suitable for people who like laconic forms and maximum functionality of space.
- Minimalism - the name speaks for itself. To equip such a kitchen, you need a minimum of decor and maximum functionality.
- Modern - suitable for lovers of so-called luxurious simplicity. The interior is created using expensive natural and cheaper synthetic materials; it looks elegant, stylish and at the same time quite practical.
U-shaped location
Too many items are not suitable for small spaces. Many housewives think that in this way they will solve the problem of lack of storage systems. Often an overly busy environment is oppressive and negatively affects the aesthetics of the room.
This option is only possible with a lightweight “crossbar” design between parallel lines.
Choice of colors
White kitchen - this color can be called the ideal choice for arranging a kitchen measuring 5 square meters. meters. This tone can make objects move away, which means the room will look more spacious and bright.
White color can be used in the decoration of walls, ceilings, and furniture. To prevent the kitchen from looking like a hospital ward, it is recommended to install a wooden floor in a natural wood shade.
The facades of the set may not be bright white - tones such as ivory, powdery, coffee with milk, and eggshell will help to enliven the interior.
Brown kitchen - this color should be used very carefully so as not to make the room too dark. It is preferable to choose the lightest shades of brown.
For example, the walls of the room can be painted the color of coffee with milk. It is recommended to make the countertops and floors brown. As for the headset, it is better if it is also light.
If the kitchen is located on the south side and is provided with sufficient sunlight, the windows can be decorated with light brown curtains with yellow or golden patterns - they will harmonize perfectly with the beige-brown shade of the walls.
A yellow kitchen is an excellent choice for a room whose window faces the cold north side. Light yellow walls will be a good backdrop for light gray furniture. You can also use yellow tones in the decoration of facades.
Gray kitchen - this color is perfect for decorating a small kitchen, but you should choose its lightest shades. When creating a high-tech interior, you can combine gray with a metallic tone.
The floor in the room should be made of dark gray porcelain stoneware. The set should be light gray; it will go well with gray synthetic stone countertops.
Gray walls won't look dull if you combine them with brighter curtains or window shades.
Purple kitchen - this color should be made additional by choosing a lavender shade as the main one. The lower facades of the furniture, countertops, and some decorative elements can be purple.
It is also recommended to dilute this color scheme with white or light gray. Light purple walls will be an excellent backdrop for creating a kitchen interior measuring 5 square meters. meters.
Storage systems
For a cramped kitchen, it is very important to make the most efficient use of all corners and areas of the unit. The modern market offers many options for fittings for organizing functional storage systems:
- The lower tier can be equipped with pull-out shelves, each of which will house items in one row. It is better to make several shallow shelves, then it will be easier to find the necessary thing.
- To store some items, such as boards, baking sheets and wire racks, you can use dividers that allow you to place things vertically, then it will be easy to take them out and put them back.
- Nonstick pans are easily scratched if stored in a stack. To carefully place such dishes in one of the narrow cabinets, you should make hooks.
- To hang light items, towels and napkins, you can use the cabinet doors: attach small hooks or holders for jars of spices on the inside, and hang a convenient towel holder on the outside.
- The free end parts of the set can be equipped with open shelves for small items.
- It is useful to place several hooks inside the cabinets for hanging small items, so they will be visible and you won’t have to look for them for a long time.
- It will be convenient to use hard-to-reach corner areas if you equip the modules with retractable fittings in the form of shelves, baskets or carousels.
- You can place transparent plastic boxes with rarely used items right under the ceiling, and if the renovation is still ahead, then it is better to plan a set for a small kitchen with a third row.
- It is more convenient to store knives on a magnetic holder that is attached to the wall. This element will ensure safety when working with sharp objects and save space.
- Often the space under the sink is used ineffectively. To put things in order, you can install a thin rod for hanging spray bottles, and attach a light pull-out shelf for household chemicals to one of the walls.
- For tall drawers, you can additionally purchase insert shelves, this will allow you to use storage space more efficiently.
Like in the kitchen 5 sq. meters to finish the walls, ceiling and floor
There are many options for wall decoration, each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. Each of them should be considered in detail.
Vinyl wallpaper is a good way to decorate walls. The main thing is to choose wallpaper in light shades. Can be used to create a classic interior style, art deco, Provence and country style.
Decorative plaster is a great method that is ideal for a small kitchen. Can be used to create country, Provence, and classic styles. Decorative panels - suitable for creating art deco, high-tech and modern styles in a small kitchen.
Ceramic tiles - it is better to avoid this method of finishing walls in a small room, as the tiles will visually make the kitchen even smaller and create a box effect in it. Ceramic tiles can only be used when finishing the kitchen apron and work area.
Decorative concrete is an excellent way to decorate walls in a 5 km meter kitchen when arranging a high-tech and minimalist style. Concrete can be painted or left in its natural color, which will fit perfectly into industrial design.
Painting walls with water-based or acrylic paint - this finishing method is ideal for decorating a small kitchen. It will go well with country, Provence, hi-tech, and minimalist styles.
There is no need to experiment with finishing the ceiling; the best options are simply painting it white, or using stretch ceilings also white.
To furnish the floor, you can use tiles, porcelain stoneware, laminate. You should not create a two-level floor - it will make the room even more cramped.
Laminate boards laid diagonally will help visually expand the space.
Furniture selection
To ensure that the room does not look too overloaded with furniture and cramped, and is comfortable and convenient not only for the housewife, but also for all household members, it is recommended to use sets with tall cabinets, deep niches and many drawers, shelves and modules.
Due to its greater capacity, such a set will significantly save space. Ideal furniture options for furnishing a kitchen of 5 sq. meters: mini-sets, modular furniture, mobile kitchens and transforming sets.
In a small kitchen, it is better to use a round table, choose furniture from lightweight materials, and avoid massive and bulky items that take up a lot of space.
Every item in the kitchen should be as functional as possible. For example, a sofa corner should definitely be equipped with a niche under the seat in which you can store various kitchen utensils.
All cabinets should stretch upward as much as possible, thereby stretching out the kitchen space. Horizontal stripes on the walls will help to visually expand the room.
Which color to choose
You can visually expand the area through the correct use of the color palette. To change the perception of space, the room is decorated in pastel colors. Bright colored surfaces can make a room feel cramped.
Here are some tips for decorating a small kitchen space:
- the ceiling and walls can be decorated with one cold shade;
- low ceilings should be made a couple of tones lighter than the walls;
- the wall farthest from the entrance can also be decorated with a lighter shade to lengthen the room;
- the shade of the walls should match the color of the furniture;
- if you want to use several colors, you can combine the following shades: gray-brown, sand-beige, white-cream.
Selection of household appliances
It is possible that some household appliances will have to be abandoned completely, or simply installed in another place.
For example, it could be a refrigerator - it can be placed on the balcony (it must be covered and insulated), or in the corridor (if there is enough space there).
Another solution to the problem is to purchase a small refrigerator built into the lower or upper section of the unit and hidden behind the facade.
Instead of a massive food processor, you can use a compact immersion blender; it is also worth purchasing one oven with a grill function, instead of a full-fledged oven and microwave.
Designer tips
The layout of a 5 square kitchen should be simple. It is better when compact furniture is installed with a properly designed system of storage cells.
If you don't have enough space, choose a mini-fridge, a narrow hob, or a custom-made cabinet.
You can visually increase the area by installing mirrors.
A panoramic window will also increase the space.
If this is not possible, instead of the main chandelier, you can install local lighting, which will make your stay comfortable, zone the space, improve the quality of lighting, reduce energy costs, and add several.
How to properly arrange household appliances and furniture
In such a small kitchen, it is necessary to use all existing wall surfaces. As additional places for storing various kitchen utensils, you can use wall shelves, high pencil cases, and narrow floor shelving structures.
As for the shelves, in such kitchens they can be made almost to the ceiling - the most rarely used household items will be placed on top.
Designers also advise making full use of the window space by adding shelves underneath and around it.
A wide window sill can be further enlarged with the help of a hanging tabletop, and turned into a kind of dining table or work surface.
You can also combine the work area and countertop, window and stove, then there will be some space for arranging a small dining area.
In the kitchen, measuring only 5 square meters. meters, it is difficult to find a suitable place to install a full-fledged dining table.
It can be built using a folding tabletop installed along the wall, which is opposite the wall with the set.
When folded, such a table will take up virtually no space in the kitchen. If the tabletop is expanded, then a small family can easily fit behind it.
All household appliances that you cannot do without must be built-in. A two-burner hob will help save space; instead of a full-fledged stove, it should be placed on the work surface.
Presence of decor
It is better to avoid unnecessary elements in the design. Details that decorate the interior are needed, but there should not be many of them. It is better to be guided by the principles of minimalism. You can diversify the design using the necessary elements:
- curtains;
- lighting;
- dishes.
Small objects, even those involved in functional processes, are best hidden from view. Small decorations are not used for decoration. This is especially important to understand for those who have chosen country, Provence or other design trends that involve the presence of various accessories as their style.
A small kitchen can and should be decorated beautifully. The right approach to organizing space will not only provide the desired level of aesthetics, but will also ensure the convenience of the space.
How to decorate a kitchen of 5 square meters. meters
Some tricks will help to visually expand the room: a large mirror on the wall, the use of glass shelves, a glossy floor, a glossy stretch ceiling, a crystal chandelier, the use of translucent and shiny accessories.
Ideally, you should use one or two materials that are similar in texture and in the same color scheme. The simpler a room looks, the larger and more spacious it seems.
The use of decorative elements in the kitchen should be thoughtful. You should avoid large vases with lush bouquets and huge flowerpots with lush vegetation.
A thin orchid in an elegant vase, or a long candle in an elegant candlestick would look much better in such a room. You can place a simple glass bowl of fruit on the dining table.
Correct lighting
The main rule: there should be a lot of lighting. In a small kitchen, you should install several lighting sources at once.
There must be spotlights built into the set; it is recommended to place a large chandelier above the dining table.
You can also use LED backlighting. It is important that natural light freely penetrates into the room, so you should avoid installing dark curtains on the windows.
To create the illusion of a large space, designers advise installing more mirror and glossy surfaces in a small kitchen, and using glass and translucent plastic when arranging facades.
Methods for remodeling a kitchen with an area of 5 square meters. meters
One of the best ways to solve the problem of a too cramped kitchen is to combine it with the living room. It should be understood that such redevelopment is possible only after official approval from the relevant government agencies.
However, you can use a little trick and not demolish the wall between the two rooms, but install a spacious arch in it instead of a door. A separate work area for cooking is formed in the kitchen, and a dining area in the living room. The arch can be replaced with a sliding coupe-type structure.
Another way to remodel a kitchen is to combine it with a balcony. As in the first case, the wall between them can not be completely demolished, but the lower part can be left and turned into a bar counter.
This design can simultaneously serve as a dining table. It is necessary that the balcony is well insulated. It can also accommodate a refrigerator to further save space in the kitchen.
Door or arch?
A door that opens inward is a space eater, which is already scarce. You can change this by rearranging the stitches.
If your kitchen has a gas heater or stove, then according to building codes there must be a door. But it can fold like an accordion and move apart like on a train.
In addition, the width of the doorway is not regulated. You can narrow it by 10-15 cm, gaining space for a corner cabinet.
If there is no gas in the kitchen, then the door can be removed altogether, replacing it, for example, with a classic-style arch or curtain. At the same time, the design of your 4 sq. m kitchen will not suffer much, and more space will be added.
Idea: Use the space above a door or archway for shelves.
How to make a small kitchen more spacious and cozy
The interior of the room should be dominated by light shades. Too bright or saturated colors visually bring objects closer together, which means they will be superfluous in decorating a small kitchen.
However, it is still worth using some color accents; this will help enliven the room, give it individuality, make it special and more comfortable.
For example, a window can be decorated with bright curtains; the same color scheme should be used when decorating a kitchen apron.
The highlight of the room can be an apron made of ceramic mosaic, glass or mirror tiles.
You can visually enlarge the room with the help of a long cornice covering the entire wall with translucent, light and barely noticeable tulle on it.
All decorative items present in the interior must be metal, glass or mirror to reflect light.
A painting decorating a free wall can also become a bright and catchy spot in a bright small kitchen.
Bottom line
Using all these secrets and tips, you can furnish even the smallest kitchen profitably and rationally, and at the same time create a pleasant, free design.
Did you like the article? Subscribe to our Yandex.Zen channel
Great article 0
Kitchen 5 sq. meters (real photos)
If you have a small kitchen, you may be interested in looking at our photo gallery, which features 300+ photos of a small kitchen from professional designers.
