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Decorating a small space can be tricky, but throw in a tight budget and you’ve got yourself one potentially stressful situation. Luckily, Whitney Leigh Morris of Tiny Canal Cottage is a veritable expert on decorating small spaces —remember her dreamy tiny garden makeover? It’s safe to say that she was well-equipped to handle the challenge of updating her home’s mini kitchen. “We wanted to brighten and simplify the kitchen, as we’re spending more and more time in there as a family now that baby West is eating solids,” says Morris. Here’s how she did it!

In this image: Beachcrest Home Worley Natural Area Rug, $31.99

Working with a strict budget (and Kim Lewis, a tiny house designer), Morris gave her kitchen a complete facelift. By prioritizing certain parts of the space and sticking to a chic neutral color palette, the decorating duo created a light and cozy kitchen where the decor complemented the rest of the 362-square-foot cottage.

According to Morris, the best way to go about a mini makeover is picking and choosing which parts of the room take precedence. If you have certain fixtures or elements that are perfectly functional or don’t need immediate attention, put them on the back burner for the time being and instead focus on other areas to update.

In this image: Cambria Torquay Countertops; Dunn Edwards “Muscat Blanc” velvet-finish Everest paint; Pom Pom at Home Carmel Napkin in “White”, $62.99 (set of four)

In this tiny kitchen, renovating the appliances and cabinetry was postponed to a later date. Instead, Morris focused on the backsplash, countertops, paint, and sink area. With the addition of a few fun accessories and decor pieces, these changes gave the kitchen a completely refreshed look.

“We would love to refinish the cabinets and replace the appliances in the future,” explains Morris, “but our main priority within our spending range were the countertop and tile, as we felt like they would hugely transform our tiny space —and they certainly have!”

Pulling inspiration from natural materials and colors, Morris incorporated linen materials, wooden accent pieces, and plenty of greenery in her new space. And since the kitchen is connected directly to an outside patio, there’s lots of natural light to make the space feel even more like an extension of the outdoors.

In this image: Kohler Single-Bowl Kitchen Sink in “White”, $389.63; Kohler Purist Single-Hole Kitchen Sink Faucet in “Vibrant Polished Nickel”, $532.95; Fireclay Tile Backsplash and Bar Tile in “French Linen”, $45.00/square foot

Her biggest tip to those who are about to undertake a

home renovation

Small space or not, it helps to get a second opinion.

“Even though I consult on small-space decor projects for clients every day, I get particularly anxious whenever Cottage updates are underway. Kim helped me pick out the materials for our mini makeover,” says Morris. “ I find it’s always helpful to have an outside opinion when I’m working on my own home —it helps me get out of my bubble and see things differently.”

Follow Whitney Leigh Morris on Instagram @whitneyleighmorris for more tiny cottage updates! 

Related Reading:

Whitney Leigh Morris: Tour This Gorgeous 362-Square-Foot Canal CottageHow To Create A Dreamy Garden In A Small SpaceHow To Convert A Closet Into A Nursery