How to Expand a Kitchen

One of the defining features of any home is the size and design of its kitchen. A kitchen with ample space for food storage and preparation and a striking design can impress visitors and family members. You can expand your kitchen in a number of ways, as a reflection of abundance and prosperity.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Contractor
• Tiles or other flooring
• Paint or other wall treatments

1. Research the kitchen project experience of a contractor before you make a hiring decision. You should ask an experienced contractor to provide a portfolio of photos, sketches and recommendations to see her design aesthetic.

2. Shut down gas, electric and water supplies to your kitchen as you begin to move appliances in and out of your kitchen. You may need to re-route pipes and wires as you expand your kitchen into surrounding rooms. Failure to shut down utilities in the kitchen can lead to leaks, flooding and electrical issues.

3. Retain parts of adjoining walls with living rooms and dining areas to help expand your kitchen while maintaining boundaries. You can create the appearance of separation between dining and kitchen areas with pillars, partial walls and other decorating tools.

4. Shop for cabinets that provide built-in organizers and create space-efficient storage. You can utilize a wraparound cabinet system that runs from the main wall into open space above your countertops to exploit unused space.

5. Add preparation areas into the countertops and cabinets to expand space in your kitchen without excessive construction. You can use inexpensive cutting boards and prep tables with rollers for easy access during meal preparation.

6. Choose a tile type, color and size early in the expansion process. You need to lay down tile and make sure your flooring is completely secure before you bring in appliances to complete your kitchen.

7. Select the paint type and color carefully as you begin to place the final touches on your expanded kitchen. You should consider eco-friendly paint to eliminate the problem of chemicals and dyes potentially affecting your family.

Tips & Warnings

• Decrease the size of your kitchen island to expand your kitchen without knocking down walls. You can open up walking space in your kitchen and allow greater access to preparation areas simply by decreasing island counter space.
• Purchase kitchen carts and other mobile storage options to keep your expanded kitchen free of obstacles. You can mobilize storage units during mealtime to access the implements you need for meals.