How to prepare for decorating a small kitchen

The first thing to think about when preparing to decorate your small kitchen is the design. Whether you're planning a complete design overhaul or just want to spruce up your kitchen and keep your existing layout, you'll still need to consider design elements before anything else.

For tips on the best colour schemes, lighting hacks and decor ideas to enhance a small kitchen, check out our handy decorating guides. Once you've decided on these basic elements, you can decide whether you'd like to incorporate a breakfast bar or island, what type of cupboards or shelving you'd like, and how you'd like to accessorise. When you know exactly how you want your kitchen to look, you can begin preparing to decorate.

When preparing to decorate any room or space, first consider what tools and equipment you will need to complete the job and how to get the room ready. Before you begin, make sure you have some cleaning products, including antibacterial solutions and scrubbing brushes. Ensure that you buy the correct paint, rollers, cutting-in brushes, gloss, filler, masking tape and dust sheets as required.

The first thing to do is thoroughly clean your kitchen. As we all know, kitchens can get particularly grubby and paint will struggle to stick to dirty walls, while crumbs and debris will slow down your decorating process.

Clean your walls thoroughly, either with a good antibacterial cleaning solution or a natural one (apple cider vinegar mixed with lemon and hot water works particularly well). Make sure you remove any grease and spills. After this, make sure that all surfaces, appliances and cupboards and thoroughly cleaned.

Once the cleaning is out of the way, remove any portable appliances and empty the cupboards and drawers. Cover any furniture, such as a dining table and chairs or work surfaces, with a dust sheet. This will keep you from dripping paint on beloved items of furniture!

Painting your kitchen should be pretty straightforward, though there are some rules that you can follow that will make the painting process a whole lot easier.

Firstly, you should fill in any gaps or cracks in the wall with wall filler. This will make the surface of the walls far smoother, and the overall finish will be blemish free. After this, paint the ceiling. If you paint the ceiling before the walls you will ensure that no ceiling paint drips onto freshly painted walls.

Next, apply more masking tape and paint your skirting boards, doors, and coving with the gloss of your choice.

Finally, mask off any skirting boards and coving, cut-in the walls with a cutting-in brush and then paint them with a roller. It may take a few coats of paint before the walls are completely covered, depending on the colour of the walls when you begin.

Adding the finishing touches is, for many of us, the most exciting part of decorating a kitchen. Whether you choose your kitchen accessories before decorating, or decide to wait until after to pick them out, this is where you can really get creative.

Soft furnishings, though unusual in a kitchen, can be a great way to add a splash of colour or a touch of homely warmth. Why not consider purchasing some stools with soft tops to place alongside your breakfast bar, or grab a stylish rug to warm up that cold tiled floor?

If accessories aren't your thing, then you can channel your personality into the tiny details, such as your cupboard handles, decorative china, or chic and matching appliances. Particularly in vogue right now, for example, are copper appliances. Why not pair a copper-look kettle, toaster and microwave with an ultra modern copper light fitting for a touch of minimalistic glamour?

Once you've added those final finishing touches, your favourite prints are framed and hung, the food is back in the cupboards and appliances are set up and ready to go, your small kitchen will be the perfectly decorated haven you always dreamed it could be.

To see the above pictured kitchens in person, head to your nearest Wren store. We also have stacks of guides if you feel like you need a bit more kitchen advice and inspiration.