Small kitchen? Use colour to think big

To create the illusion of space, harness the power of cool neutral colours. As a rule, cool shades like pearly white and dove grey will visually enlarge a room, while dark tones create an intimate mood. Low ceiling? Choose a colour a couple of shades lighter than your walls to create a vertically elongated, flowing look. Narrow space? Use a darker shade on shorter walls and a light shade on longer walls to make a confined kitchen seem wider.

Small spaces also love bright hues. Not only do they fool the eye into seeing a larger space, a wash of colour throughout your kitchen is a sure-fire way to inspire culinary creativity. Paint an archway or space between shelves with a 'pop' of bright colour to draw the eye away from cramped areas.