How Joanna Gaines’ Trick for Making Small Kitchens Look Bigger Saved My Tiny Apartment

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Purchases through these links support our site at no extra cost to you.

Look, my kitchen is basically a hallway with a stove. I’ve spent years trying to cram my Costco hauls into three cabinets while bumping my elbows on the toaster every time I try to boil water. Honestly, I thought the whole ‘Magnolia’ aesthetic was just for people with massive Texas farmhouses until I actually tried Joanna Gaines’ trick for making small kitchens look bigger this month. It’s May 2026, and I’m finally cooking without feeling like the walls are closing in. Here’s exactly how I did it without spending a fortune.

The ‘Vertical Illusion’ is actually a lifesaver

Okay, so the big secret isn’t just painting everything white—though that helps. Joanna’s real move is taking your cabinets or shelving all the way to the ceiling. In my place, there was this awkward 12-inch gap above the cabinets that just collected dust and old cereal boxes. I followed her lead and added some simple DIY risers. It makes the ceiling feel ten feet tall even though I’m in a standard rental. I spent about $85 at Home Depot on some basic MDF and trim to close that gap. It’s a bit of a weekend project, and yeah, painting the top bits is annoying as hell, but the visual payoff is insane. My kitchen feels twice as airy now.

Stop using dark hardware right now

I swapped my heavy black iron pulls for some brushed brass ones I found at Target for $6 a pop. Joanna always talks about light-reflecting surfaces, and she’s right. The brass catches the morning sun and makes the whole room feel less like a cave. It took me maybe forty minutes with a screwdriver, and it’s probably the best $60 I’ve spent since 2024.

The ‘Only Three Things’ countertop rule

This was the hardest part for me because I love my gadgets. Joanna’s trick for making small kitchens look bigger relies heavily on ‘visual quiet.’ Basically, if you aren’t using it every single day, it goes in a drawer or a lower cabinet. I had to be brutal. My massive KitchenAid stand mixer? It’s gorgeous, but it’s now living in the bottom pantry. My air fryer? Under the sink. I only kept my Nespresso machine, a wooden bowl of lemons (very Jo-Jo), and my massive jar of Diamond Crystal kosher salt on the counter. It felt empty at first, but suddenly I had actual room to chop onions without moving three other things out of the way.

The magic of the ‘Floating Shelf’ swap

I ripped down one bulky upper cabinet and replaced it with two chunky floating shelves from the 2026 Magnolia Home collection ($42 each). It opens up the eye line. I put my everyday white plates there. If you’re worried about dust, don’t be—if you use the plates every day, they never get dusty anyway. Just don’t put your ‘fancy’ wine glasses up there to rot.

Lighting is the hill I will die on

Real talk: most small kitchens have one depressing ‘boob light’ in the middle of the ceiling that casts shadows everywhere. Joanna always layers her lighting. I went to Walmart and bought these $15 rechargeable LED under-cabinet strips. They stick on with magnets. I also swapped my old 2700K bulbs (which are way too yellow and make everything look dingy) for 3000K ‘Soft White’ LEDs. It mimics natural daylight without looking like a hospital operating room. When those under-cabinet lights are on, the ‘depth’ of the kitchen increases because you can actually see the back corners of the counters. It’s a total vibe shift for under $50.

Mirrors in a kitchen? Yes, really.

I hung a small, framed antique mirror right above my prep area. It sounds weird, but it bounces light from the window across the room. It’s a classic Gaines move to use ‘found objects’ that serve a purpose. Just make sure it’s not right next to the stove unless you enjoy cleaning grease off glass every night.

The ‘Small Kitchen’ Lemon Garlic Pasta Recipe

Since I finally have the counter space to move, I’ve been making this one-pot pasta that doesn’t require a million bowls. You can prep the whole thing on a single cutting board. I grab the ingredients from Trader Joe’s for about $12 total. It serves two people comfortably and takes maybe 15 minutes. The key is using fresh lemon zest to brighten the flavor, which matches the ‘bright and airy’ vibe we just gave the kitchen. Plus, using one pot means you aren’t filling up your tiny sink with dishes immediately after eating. Trust me, nothing makes a kitchen feel smaller than a mountain of dirty pans.

One-Pot Lemon Garlic Butter Pasta

Boil 8oz linguine in salted water. While that’s going, mince 4 cloves of garlic. Drain the pasta, keep 1/2 cup of water. In the same pot, melt 3 tbsp salted butter, sauté garlic for 1 minute, toss the pasta back in with the water, juice of one lemon, and a ton of parmesan. Use Diamond Crystal salt to taste. It’s simple, cheap, and delicious.

⭐ Pro Tips

• Use 3000K LED bulbs to avoid the ‘yellow cave’ look without it feeling like a sterile office.
• Paint your base cabinets and upper cabinets the same color to create a seamless vertical line.
• Clear your fridge magnets. I know, it’s sad, but a ‘naked’ fridge makes the room look 20% larger instantly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, you don’t need a 4,000-square-foot house in Waco to feel like you have a ‘designer’ kitchen. Joanna Gaines’ trick for making small kitchens look bigger is really just about clearing the clutter and tricking the eye into looking upward. Start by clearing your counters tonight. Seriously, go do it. You’ll feel better immediately. Then, grab some paint and some pasta, and enjoy your ‘new’ space.