Thinking of the kitchen as the heart of a home can lead us to imagine a grand, light-filled locale with plenty of room for entertaining friends and family. The reality more often is an overcrowded, disjointed space. But designers and builders undertaking a small kitchen reno know that with the right lighting, storage and appliances, even the tiniest of kitchens can be maximized to be the cozy, functional gathering spot we long for.

A successful small kitchen renovation that focuses on three key areas can really make it work:

Design and styling

Use visual sensibility tricks to make a space appear larger and brighter even without knocking down walls.

• Cast the right lighting. Dark kitchens can feel closed in, so illuminate all the assets. Recessed bulbs and under-cabinet LED strips add adjustable brightness without taking up valuable headroom. Keep window treatments simple to let in as much natural light as possible.
• Incorporate the shelving. Open or floating shelves reduce visual weight and reveal more usable space. Plus, they boost total storage capacity when they're stretched across the kitchen's full width.
• Match the cabinets and walls. Using the same color for both lets the eye travel continuously, and the lack of interruption makes things feel bigger. Modern appliance design makes this easier than ever with coordinated sets, particularly Samsung's Bespoke line, which has versatile, personalizable finishings for a truly seamless look that will nestle right into any kitchen setting.

Storage and organization

Take advantage of every square inch to maximize functionality.

• Increase the prep space. An easy way to create usable surface area is by incorporating an over-the-sink cutting board or a roll-up drying rack. For a more involved small kitchen reno, consider how the right appliance can do double duty. An induction cooktop, when it's not in use, can provide additional workspace while a stovetop with traditional burners could have a flat, fire-safe covering that sits atop it.
• Make it mobile. Sometimes a large island in the middle of the kitchen just isn't in the cards. Consider instead a cart or island-like cabinet on wheels that can be brought out and tucked away easily, providing extra storage and workspace without taking up prime real estate.
• Don't forget vertical surfaces. Remodeling is a chance to smartly use what space you do have. Hooks or pegboards — whether on the walls, cabinets or doors — can be a place to hang lightweight and often-used items like measuring cups and other kitchen tools, coffee mugs or potholders. Even the margin between the refrigerator and the wall might fit a slim, slide-out rack to hold spices or other small pocket-pantry items.
• Go all the way up. Use any space between the tops of cabinets and the ceiling — especially the spot above the refrigerator — for stowing underused or decorative items.

Right-sized appliances

Provide full-size performance with way less bulk — and a smaller carbon footprint.

• Not-too-deep freeze. When space is tight, a small kitchen refrigerator can strike the ideal between compact and everything you need it to be. Rather than the traditional 30- to 36-inch width, Samsung's Bespoke Bottom Freezer Refrigerator is a slim 23-3/8 inches. Plus, its glass finish is customizable in three colors, and it's Energy Star® certified.
• Compact cooking. A built-in induction burner, like Samsung's 30" Smart Induction Built-In Cooktop with Wi-Fi, sits flush with the countertop, making for a continuous surface that's visually and functionally useful in tight kitchen spaces. A compact range is another space-saving option: Samsung's Flex Duo™ Freestanding Gas Range comes in just under standard size — 29-13/16 inches wide and 23-11/16 inches deep — but with five burners, dual convection and Wi-Fi connectivity, it compromises nothing on functionality.
• New generation dishwashers. Full-size dishwashers usually measure 24-inches wide, but more compact dishwashers now offer the same kind of performance — enough power and space to handle a day or two of an average family's dishes — even in a diminutive package. Consider something like Samsung's Whisper Quiet Dishwasher, which is just 18-inches wide and cleans and dries in 60 minutes.
• In-kitchen washer and dryers. A small, well-designed kitchen can fit a washer and dryer while not compromising space or amenities. Stackable compact models can be trimmer than standard ones by 3 or 4 inches and are still packed with new tech. Samsung's Smart Front Load Washer with Super Speed features vibration reduction technology, and the Extra-Large Smart Dial Front Load Washer with OptiWash has automatic dirt sensing and even learns washing habits. When paired with their matching dryers, either set can make for a powerful vertical laundry system that doesn't dominate kitchen space.

No matter what kind of challenges builders and designers face with a small kitchen reno, a little creativity, thoughtful planning and selective appliance choice can make the most of any space, achieving the personalized, dream-kitchen living people want at the heart of their homes.