10 Big Ideas for Brightening a Dark Kitchen
There’s no lovelier place to start your day than in a bright, light-filled kitchen. yet what if yours is actually a gloomy cavern where the lights are always on? Should you start again, or can you tweak what you already have? Whatever stage you’re at, there are many ways to maximise the light in a room. Here are 10 ideas to consider.
Stephen Kavanagh Architects
Liberate the windows
If you’re replacing your kitchen – or installing your first one – think hard about the structure of the units: This particular alone can have a huge impact on how light enters along with is actually reflected about the room.
Keeping the kitchen units away coming from the windows, for example, will improve the flow of both space along with light, especially if you use full-length windows or doors.
Kitchen units at a window can ‘entrap’ the overall space along with impede the relationship we crave between the inside along with outside spaces.
If you have a long wall, just one-wall kitchen, rather than units on both sides of the room, can allow the table to enjoy the space both inside along with outside the window at the same time – even if you don’t have floor-to-ceiling glazing, as This particular lovely bright room has. Where wall space is actually limited, wall units along with an island can achieve the same effect of freeing up the window wall.
How to make the most of just one wall kitchen
If you’re replacing your kitchen – or installing your first one – think hard about the structure of the units: This particular alone can have a huge impact on how light enters along with is actually reflected about the room.
Keeping the kitchen units away coming from the windows, for example, will improve the flow of both space along with light, especially if you use full-length windows or doors.
Kitchen units at a window can ‘entrap’ the overall space along with impede the relationship we crave between the inside along with outside spaces.
If you have a long wall, just one-wall kitchen, rather than units on both sides of the room, can allow the table to enjoy the space both inside along with outside the window at the same time – even if you don’t have floor-to-ceiling glazing, as This particular lovely bright room has. Where wall space is actually limited, wall units along with an island can achieve the same effect of freeing up the window wall.
How to make the most of just one wall kitchen
Optimise Design
Harness the garden
Having made sure there are no units blocking the windows, you can add to the effect by generating the outside space work hard to reflect light. Painted walls, pale paving along with careful planting will all help here along with further blur the boundary between inside along with out.
Having made sure there are no units blocking the windows, you can add to the effect by generating the outside space work hard to reflect light. Painted walls, pale paving along with careful planting will all help here along with further blur the boundary between inside along with out.
Ambient Architecture
Max the glass
If your space demands that will kitchen units be placed across the window wall, make the area of glass facing the garden as large as possible. This particular may mean sacrificing overhead cupboards.
On different walls, the idea may be possible to introduce windows above the wall units, as seen here. A little window at low level could also provide useful ventilation, as well as a shot of light or even sunlight.
If your space demands that will kitchen units be placed across the window wall, make the area of glass facing the garden as large as possible. This particular may mean sacrificing overhead cupboards.
On different walls, the idea may be possible to introduce windows above the wall units, as seen here. A little window at low level could also provide useful ventilation, as well as a shot of light or even sunlight.
See the sky
If your kitchen is actually just one-storey space, the idea may be possible to introduce a skylight – always a powerful source of light.
Depending on the orientation of the room, an angled roof light might even allow some precious sunlight to enter a space that will has never enjoyed sunshine before.
If your kitchen is actually just one-storey space, the idea may be possible to introduce a skylight – always a powerful source of light.
Depending on the orientation of the room, an angled roof light might even allow some precious sunlight to enter a space that will has never enjoyed sunshine before.
NONA
Be floored
Where natural light is actually truly limited, the right white will work wonders in all areas of your kitchen.
This particular includes the floor, the first element to be installed in your fresh kitchen along with the largest horizontal, light-reflecting surface.
A low-sheen floor will be best for both light reflection along with maintenance. A finish that has a subtle pattern or veining will be forgiving of the odd bit of dirt or dust between cleanings.
Poured terrazzo is actually a wonderful, joint-free option here, with terrazzo tiles a not bad alternative. Stone, porcelain or ceramic tiles would certainly work well, too, with cushion-backed vinyl a not bad choice if you prefer something softer underfoot.
Where natural light is actually truly limited, the right white will work wonders in all areas of your kitchen.
This particular includes the floor, the first element to be installed in your fresh kitchen along with the largest horizontal, light-reflecting surface.
A low-sheen floor will be best for both light reflection along with maintenance. A finish that has a subtle pattern or veining will be forgiving of the odd bit of dirt or dust between cleanings.
Poured terrazzo is actually a wonderful, joint-free option here, with terrazzo tiles a not bad alternative. Stone, porcelain or ceramic tiles would certainly work well, too, with cushion-backed vinyl a not bad choice if you prefer something softer underfoot.
Ruth Maria
Pick pale units
In a dark kitchen, the idea makes sense to use white units, given the amount of space they occupy. If you fear blandness, injecting just a little shot of colour will provide a wonderful contrast along with add a personal touch to your scheme.
Painting or replacing existing doors is actually always a great option for a quick refurb – along that has a canny way to update along with brighten a dated space.
In a dark kitchen, the idea makes sense to use white units, given the amount of space they occupy. If you fear blandness, injecting just a little shot of colour will provide a wonderful contrast along with add a personal touch to your scheme.
Painting or replacing existing doors is actually always a great option for a quick refurb – along that has a canny way to update along with brighten a dated space.
Woodale
Work your worktop
As the highest horizontal surface inside kitchen, the worktop can be used to reflect light – along that has a white surface will work the hardest. A low-sheen white worktop, coupled with white units – or units in a pale hue if you balk at an all-white room – would certainly seriously challenge the darkest of caverns.
Choose coming from a wide range of options, including quartz, marble along with Corian – or laminate where budget is actually limited.
As the highest horizontal surface inside kitchen, the worktop can be used to reflect light – along that has a white surface will work the hardest. A low-sheen white worktop, coupled with white units – or units in a pale hue if you balk at an all-white room – would certainly seriously challenge the darkest of caverns.
Choose coming from a wide range of options, including quartz, marble along with Corian – or laminate where budget is actually limited.
Woodale
Splash out on your splashback
Depending on your room structure, your splashback is actually most likely to span both your hob along that has a length of wall between your worktop along with your overhead units. just one sheet material, such as polished glass or stainless steel, is actually a great solution here when seeking to maximise light.
White tiles will work well, too; consider a brick or different offset pattern for visual interest.
Depending on your room structure, your splashback is actually most likely to span both your hob along that has a length of wall between your worktop along with your overhead units. just one sheet material, such as polished glass or stainless steel, is actually a great solution here when seeking to maximise light.
White tiles will work well, too; consider a brick or different offset pattern for visual interest.
Noel Dempsey Design
Polish up
The reflective qualities of polished surfaces are well known. coming from stainless-steel appliances along with metallic light fittings to worktops along with floors, there are myriad ways to harness This particular property in your kitchen.
So how far will you go? A mirrored splashback will amplify both space along with light – along with your arm muscles as you buff the idea after a fry-up! If your sink faces a wall, a mirror here can allow you enjoy a view of your garden as you work.
Keep stainless-steel surfaces shiny along with streak-free by rubbing them down with baby oil. Your appliances will be as pristine as the day they left the factory.
See how a mirrored splashback works in This particular Victorian conversion
The reflective qualities of polished surfaces are well known. coming from stainless-steel appliances along with metallic light fittings to worktops along with floors, there are myriad ways to harness This particular property in your kitchen.
So how far will you go? A mirrored splashback will amplify both space along with light – along with your arm muscles as you buff the idea after a fry-up! If your sink faces a wall, a mirror here can allow you enjoy a view of your garden as you work.
Keep stainless-steel surfaces shiny along with streak-free by rubbing them down with baby oil. Your appliances will be as pristine as the day they left the factory.
See how a mirrored splashback works in This particular Victorian conversion
DMVF Architects
Raise the roof
Ideally, you can accentuate whatever height you have to improve the flow of light, yet you can also look at the surface of your existing ceiling. A natural timber ceiling, for example, will eat precious light. Painting the idea will transform the idea into a light-reflecting surface. the idea will still be timber, yet that has a unique along with warm aesthetic of its own.
In a room of regular height, where serious structural work is actually not an option, flush light fittings, such as a track with spotlights, will make best use of the height available.
Have you tackled a dark kitchen? What tips can you share? Let us know inside Comments below.
Ideally, you can accentuate whatever height you have to improve the flow of light, yet you can also look at the surface of your existing ceiling. A natural timber ceiling, for example, will eat precious light. Painting the idea will transform the idea into a light-reflecting surface. the idea will still be timber, yet that has a unique along with warm aesthetic of its own.
In a room of regular height, where serious structural work is actually not an option, flush light fittings, such as a track with spotlights, will make best use of the height available.
Have you tackled a dark kitchen? What tips can you share? Let us know inside Comments below.
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