The kitchen isn’t just a place where onions are chopped and water boils; it’s the heartbeat of the home. It is where love simmers, tea brews, and life is stirred into every pot.

But what if your kitchen is tiny? And this has a high possibility of happening due to the fact that most Kenyan landlords double up as architects and interior designers.

So the next time you have a corridor for a kitchen and no budget to get a bigger one due to this thing called inflation, worry not.

With a few tricks, you can make that tiny kitchen seem roomier, warm, welcoming, and wonderfully homely.

With a little charm and creativity, your little hearth could be the heart of your home.

Here are 10 deliciously doable tips to help you along. 

Add a splash of colour 

A little paint can go a long way. Choose warm, inviting shades like mustard yellow, blue, olive green, or burnt orange to make the space feel cosy rather than clinical.

Even colourful mugs or a bold kettle can give your kitchen a lived-in glow. 

Hang up some art or quotes 

A framed food quote or a cheerful painting of avocados can instantly inject personality into your tiny kitchen.

It makes your kitchen feel like a space you want to linger in, not just dash through. 

Add mirrors 

Tiny, cute mirrors, when well-placed, can give your kitchen an airy feel. They bounce light around and create the illusion of depth, instantly making the space feel larger.

When placed strategically, they reflect windows, tiles, or open shelving, doubling the visual space without knocking down a single wall 

Add a little green 

Plants bring life and colour into any space.

A few herbs on the windowsill, a trailing plant or even some hanging ones will bring some vibrancy into your kitchen, giving the illusion of space. 

Get creative 

Your kitchen is your playground. Feel free to make a blackboard wall where you write lists of things that you should shop for.

It could also double up as your little one’s playing ground or the place where you design the week’s menu. 

Open shelves add space 

Open shelves create the illusion of roominess. They also give you a chance to show off your most beautiful or sentimental kitchen items.

Think vintage mugs, heirloom bowls, or that oddly adorable teapot shaped like a cat.

You can also use the shelves to store the things you use most to ease access to them. 

A colourful rug or mat for spice 

A small kitchen doesn’t mean it has to feel bare. A patterned runner or cushy kitchen mat can warm up cold tiles and give your feet something soft to land on during early morning tea missions.

It can also be the pop of colour that enlivens your space. Remember to add sentimental things to your space, such as a child’s drawing on the fridge. Just don’t clutter it. 

Colourful tiles 

Use tiles to trick the eye. You can use geometric tiles to create a backsplash.

You can also tile vertically to create the illusion of height or horizontally to make the room seem wider. 

Warm lighting is the secret 

Ditch the harsh white fluorescent bulbs and swap them out for warm LED bulbs or even a cute lamp on the counter if space allows.

A warmer glow softens the space and makes midnight fridge raids feel magical. 

Make room for seating 

Even in a tiny kitchen, a single stool tucked under the counter can turn your kitchen from a task zone into a conversation space.

You can also make an island of your own and tuck in a few chairs to create space where the chef can even entertain company.