Whether you’re a fan of ‘Location, Location, Location’ or you just enjoy talking house, you’ll be aware of the terms ‘upsizing’ and ‘downsizing’. Whatever the reason might be for increasing or decreasing the size of your home, it isn’t always possible (or the right call) in this economy.
So if you’re on the fence, ‘rightsizing’ might be a better option. Rather than moving, rightsizing is all about tweaking your current space, and kitchen ideas are the perfect place to try.
Kitchens are a worthy investment, and getting the design right has the ability to completely change how your home functions. It might not be that your home is too small, but rather that the heart of your home isn’t functional for your family’s needs.
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Here’s how to give rightsizing a try.
1. Think about storage
Kitchen storage ideas are essential in a well-functioning home, and updating it to suit your family’s needs will rightsize your space and prevent that niggling ‘we need to move’ feeling.
‘Before considering finishes or colour palettes, it’s important to think about how you truly use the space – from cooking and entertaining to the flow of daily life. Intelligent storage should be at the heart of any design: well-planned internal drawers, larder units, and corner solutions can dramatically improve functionality, while making full use of vertical space with tall cabinetry helps keep work surfaces clear and clutter out of sight,’ recommends Tom Howley, creative design director at the eponymous kitchen company.
Tom Howley’s own research found that 38% are improving their home for long-term living and 30% already consider it their forever home, so even tweaking your internal cupboard storage will give a space a new lease of life.
M&S
Set of 3 Wooden Stacking Boxes
The warm tone of these kitchen storage boxes from M&S will make a pantry feel welcoming and homely, while also keeping unsightly things stored away.
Amazon
Storivo 24 Pack Airtight Kitchen Food Containers
I bought this set when mouse-proofing my kitchen and it’s been perfect for years now – I love that you can change the labels.
Making use of wall space is essential in a small kitchen – these can be attached to a wall or the inside of a pantry.
2. Switch up a colour scheme
Often, a kitchen is ‘fine for now’, with the view of renovating it in the future. If this is the case, then a simple kitchen colour scheme refresh could be all it needs in order to prolong it’s lifespan and make sure you’re happy with it in the interim.
As Ideal Home’s Senior Digital Editor, Jenny McFarlane explains, ‘Before we renovated, we gave our old kitchen a budget-friendly refresh by repainting the cabinets and painting the tiles which instantly made the space feel more us. It took a little effort but it was absolutely worth it.’
If you have a higher budget, respraying the cabinets offers a more professional finish. However, repainting the walls or cabinets yourself will ‘rightsize’ your kitchen.
3. Be strategic
The fastest way to ‘rightsize’ your kitchen and make it a productive room in your home is to be strategic with every design feature. If you’re renovating this space, then think carefully about the flow of a layout and consider how each and every cupboard will be used.
‘Then when we designed our new kitchen, we made sure to build in plenty of personal touches from the start, including a dedicated charging drawer, a hidden coffee station and open shelving we can style and chance whenever we fancy,’ Jenny continues.
Tom Howley adds, ‘Every inch counts, so it’s important to be strategic with your layout and storage. You can maximise counter space by integrating appliances where possible, for example, building your microwave into the cabinetry. Opting for a boiling water tap will also eliminate the need for a kettle taking up worktop space.’
Whether it’s a tlie choice or a storage idea, being strategic with your thinking will make sure it lasts for the long haul.
As we head into the second half of the year, now is the time to start thinking about kitchen trends for 2027 – these are the 3 design moments in 2026 that I predict will have staying power.
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