The Genius Mirror Idea That'll Make Your Small Kitchen Feel Bigger

Say what you will about open-concept homes, but more openness does lend itself to potential room expansion. It's when you have a tightly relegated spot for areas like kitchens that you have to get creative — or spend big bucks on a much more expansive renovation. Before you grab that sledgehammer because your kitchen feels like it was made for Mrs. Fieldmouse from "Thumbelina," consider a much easier facelift that will make your kitchen appear much larger. Fortunately, bathrooms are not the only spaces improved by mirrors. 

The key here is the strategic use of mirrors, which are known to make a space look larger than it is. This trick of the eye works because mirrors create long sightlines, which, along with reflecting the room at you, create a space illusion. That's why adding mirrors to your otherwise humdrum cabinets is such a genius move and one of many small kitchen ideas to make your space seem bigger. 

"As the saying goes, 'mirrors expand space'," Chris Alexakis from Cabinet Select told Livingetc. "Mirrored cabinet doors reflect light and visually double your space, giving your kitchen a grander feel. They also add a touch of glamor, making your kitchen a chic spot for your morning coffee." Best of all, you can hire a contractor for this project, or you can do it yourself. 

Mirroring cabinets is not terribly complicated, and doing it yourself is easily a weekend project. To get started, all you need are mirrors cut to size, sanders, mirror glue, clamps, and caulk. This project will be simpler if you have flat-faced cabinets, though inset cabinets with borders will give the same size-altering results. Knowing how to decorate with mirrors in small spaces is important.

Before you begin, you'll want to take down your cabinet doors and sand them with medium-grit sandpaper or a sander. Clean the remaining dust off of the cabinets. From there, refer to the instructions on your mirror glue. The manufacturer will indicate the pattern (often straight lines or an "s" figure) for gluing your mirror. After you apply your glue, affix clamps gently to the cabinet to hold the mirror in place. You can also use other objects like books if you don't have enough clamps.

Every mirror adhesive has its own ideal curing time, but you'll generally need to wait 24 to 48 hours. Glue manufacturer Liquid Nails warns against sealing the mirror around the edges because that can trap moisture and possibly ruin your cabinets. After a day or two of waiting, you will have some fabulous new mirrored cabinets and a visually spacious kitchen.