The Joanna Gaines-Inspired Wall Design Trick That Opens Up Your Small Kitchen

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The stigmas against small spaces is slowly disappearing, especially with a variety of hacks and tricks from design experts and social media users giving people ways to make a tiny area seem larger. From making a small entryway feel bigger with clever solutions to adding ceiling high shower curtains to extend your bathroom height, there is almost no limit to utilizing DIYs to expand and extend a room to its ultimate. HGTV's Joanna Gaines has a really creative way to open up a small kitchen, especially one that lacks windows and natural light. In a recent post on her Magnolia blog, Gaines showed off a tiny but mighty kitchen design that created a larger-than-life vibe thanks to a wallpaper mural where ordinarily the cut off would make the space seem closed off.

Both stylish and creative, this solution could help people elevate their eating areas and make even the smallest layouts feel bigger. Wall murals have been growing in popularity, especially as a way to add color and interest or dimension in a room. Rather than investing in artwork, a wall mural solves the problem of both painting and covering a large surface area, so it's no wonder people are opting for these over trends like lime washing. 

After all, as the maximalist aesthetic becomes more and more trendy, it makes sense to dig into the perks of a large mural that really elevates a room. While these accent walls are usually designed in a living room or bedroom, adding a wallpaper mural to a small kitchen is a great way to cover a closed off wall and make it feel less cramped. Leaving the surface blank can make it seem more stuffy, obstructing your already limited space. These oversized pieces of art act as a point of interest to make the mind's eye think there is more space.

Keep in mind your mural doesn't have to be of a particular image or design. You can opt for an abstract piece of art or something very basic, too. However, your mural should have a little more structure than just one color. It can be of flowers or shapes, like Tempaper Zebra Black Feather Palm Peel and Stick Wallpaper, or even an ombré creation rather than a landscape like Joanna Gaines' example. A solid wall of color could add to a more closed off aesthetic while something with more structure helps to create a design that opens up the room. A wallpaper mural is also a great way to utilize vertical space in a small kitchen, and you can always add shelves or appliances over it if you need to.

If you plan to try this decor trick, consider your space and your aesthetic before incorporating or investing in the design. Color matters as much as the design itself, so if you need to open up and lighten an area, this may be a good place to use brighter colors or neutrals that expand small spaces. While black has been noted as a paint color that makes a room seem bigger because it helps the corners disappear, for just one wall you want to avoid themes that are too heavy. 

Joanna Gaines' wallpaper mural featured a white backdrop with a gray and black landscape that adds dimension. The negative space in the mural helps to open up the kitchen while still creating a focal point that makes it seem more expansive. Keep negative space and the "less is more" idea in mind for this trick, as large elements might be too much for the small layout. However, you can always try a few different patterns and prints to determine what works for your kitchen, then add in matching fixtures and hardware that complement your mural to help the whole thing flow with the aesthetic! You could even go with a stone or concrete wallpaper style if you don't want a landscape or other designs, as these can still help open up your small area. Wallpaper murals may be the next big thing in creating more space in any room, so why not give it a try to see if it works with your kitchen or cooking space?