How I Used Joanna Gaines’ Trick to Make My Tiny Kitchen Feel Massive

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 glorified hallway. For years, I felt like I was cooking in a closet, bumping my elbows every time I tried to salt my pasta water with my favorite Diamond Crystal kosher salt. But then I saw joanna gaines’ trick for making small kitchens look bigger and honestly, it changed everything. It’s not just about painting things white—it’s about the ‘Upper Cabinet Delete.’ I finally got the guts to rip mine out in early 2026, and I’m never looking back. If you’re tired of feeling claustrophobic while making dinner, here’s the real tea on how to pull this off without spending a fortune at Target.

The ‘Upper Cabinet Delete’ is Scarier Than It Sounds

Okay, so here is the core of the trick: Joanna loves swapping bulky upper cabinets for open shelving. I know, I know. You’re thinking, ‘But where do I put my 15 mismatched coffee mugs?’ Real talk, you donate them. I went to IKEA and grabbed their simple wood shelves for about $30 each, which is way cheaper than the custom Magnolia ones. By removing that heavy block of wood at eye level, the room literally opens up. It’s like your kitchen can finally breathe. I was terrified of the dust, but if you use the stuff on your shelves every day—like your plates and everyday bowls—it doesn’t even have time to get gross. Plus, it forces you to be a bit more intentional about what you actually keep.

Why Vertical Lines Matter Most

Joanna often runs tile all the way to the ceiling now. In her 2026 spring collection, she’s been pushing these skinny vertical subway tiles. It draws the eye up, making your 8-foot ceilings feel like 10. I found some similar ones at Home Depot for $2.50 a square foot and did it myself over a weekend. It was annoying as heck to grout, but the height it adds is insane.

The Color Palette Secret (It’s Not Just White)

Everyone thinks ‘small kitchen = bright white,’ but Joanna’s actual secret is using ‘Alabaster’ by Sherwin-Williams or her own ‘Marketplace’ cream tones. Pure white can feel like a sterile hospital wing. You want a warm, creamy vibe that reflects light without being blinding. I repainted my kitchen last month and spent about $65 on a gallon of high-quality semi-gloss. It makes the walls recede. Also, pro tip: paint your shelving the exact same color as the wall. It makes the shelves ‘disappear’ and keeps the focus on your pretty jars of spices or your fancy Costco olive oil. It’s a visual trick that makes the boundaries of the room feel fuzzy and distant.

The Power of a Single Statement Piece

Instead of five small appliances on the counter, Joanna picks one ‘hero.’ For me, it’s my copper KitchenAid+stand+mixer&tag=foodxplorely-20" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank">stand mixer. Everything else? It goes in the bottom cabinets or a rolling cart from Walmart. Keeping the counters clear is the cheapest way to make a kitchen look twice as big. If you can see the back corner of the counter, the room feels deeper.

Lighting: Stop Using Those Boob Lights

You know the ones. Those flush-mount ceiling lights that look like, well, you know. Joanna’s trick for small spaces is using oversized pendant lights. It sounds counterintuitive to put something big in a small room, but it creates a focal point that distracts from the narrow walls. I found a gorgeous brass pendant at a thrift store for $40 and rewired it. If you hang it a bit lower over your prep area, it creates ‘zones.’ Even in a tiny kitchen, having a dedicated ‘prep zone’ makes it feel like a professional workspace rather than a cramped corner. It’s all about the vibes, honestly. Good lighting hides a lot of architectural sins.

Adding a Mirror Where You Least Expect It

This is a weird one she did in a recent ‘Fixer Upper’ spin-off. She put an antique mirror behind the stove or as part of the backsplash. It sounds like a nightmare to clean (and it kind of is, use Windex daily), but the reflection makes the countertop look like it goes on forever. I tried a small mirrored tray for my oils first to see if I liked it, and it really does help.

A Recipe for Your New ‘Big’ Kitchen: One-Pan Lemon Gnocchi

Since you’ve cleared off your counters using Joanna’s tricks, you actually have room to cook! This is my go-to recipe for small kitchens because it uses exactly one sheet pan and zero fancy equipment. I buy the shelf-stable gnocchi from Trader Joe’s (the $3.99 pack is fine, don’t overthink it). Toss them with some halved cherry tomatoes, a bunch of garlic, and way more butter than you think you need. Roast it at 400°F for 20 minutes. The gnocchi get crispy on the outside and pillowy inside. It’s low-mess, high-reward, and you won’t feel like you’re trapped in a cage while making it. Finish it with a squeeze of lemon and some flaky salt.

The ‘No-Chop’ Prep Method

In a small kitchen, chopping is the enemy of space. I use kitchen shears to snip my basil directly over the pan. I buy pre-peeled garlic from the grocery store. It saves me about 15 minutes of cleanup and keeps my tiny counter clear of cutting boards. It’s a lazy hack, but in a small space, efficiency is king.

⭐ Pro Tips

• Use heavy-duty toggle bolts (like the ZipIt brand) if you’re installing open shelves into drywall without a stud. I learned the hard way when my plates crashed at 2 AM.
• Stick to a 3-color palette maximum. If you have too many colors, the small kitchen starts to look like a chaotic junk drawer.
• Buy matching glass jars at the dollar store for your flour and sugar. Uniformity makes a small shelf look organized instead of cluttered.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, your kitchen doesn’t need to be 500 square feet to be your favorite place in the house. Joanna Gaines’ trick is really just about clearing the visual clutter so you can focus on the food. Rip out those uppers, grab some paint, and try that gnocchi recipe tonight. Trust me, you’ll feel like you moved into a mansion without the massive mortgage. Now go clear those counters!