Do you have a small kitchen? Use colour to think big.

To create the illusion of space, harness the power of cool neutrals. As a rule, cool shades like pearly white and dove grey will visually enlarge a room, while dark tones create an intimate mood. Do you have a low ceiling? Choose a colour a couple of shades lighter than your walls to create a vertically elongated, flowing look. Are you decorating a 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 shades. Not only do they fool the eye into seeing a larger space, a wash of colour throughout your kitchen is a guaranteed way to inspire culinary creativity. Paint an archway or space between shelves with a dash of bright colour to draw the eye away from cramped areas.