Have you run out of space and ideas for organizing a small kitchen? Living with limited kitchen space doesn’t have to feel like playing a never-ending game of Tetris. In fact, by optimizing every inch of a tiny kitchen, you can create a practical, functional and aesthetically appealing space that works for you.
While there are many ways to optimize the space in your kitchen, you’ll need to plan carefully to achieve your ideal results. Each kitchen requires a unique approach based on the layout and your preferences. Think through every choice you make, from storage to lighting to layout. Here are some tips to make a small kitchen work:
If your small kitchen needs more storage space, you can choose from a wide range of cabinets to alleviate your space crunch. Wall cabinets create extra storage without taking up valuable floor space. They’re also easier to access than low cabinets and can be used to reduce countertop clutter. You can take a lot of creative liberty with these options, simultaneously adding convenience and visual appeal. For example, you might choose cabinets with glass doors so the contents are on display, or select a stylish accent color to brighten the room.
Adding more shelving to your walls is one of the best space-saving techniques for small kitchens. Both wall shelves and standing shelving racks are excellent ways to free up space. You can use shelves to store dishes, cookbooks, spices, dish towels and wine — the possibilities are endless. Whether you choose to install floating shelves, corner shelves or spice racks, you can attractively display your items using mason jars, handwritten labels or other methods that appeal to you.
Cooking utensils can occupy a lot of space in your drawers, which could be used for spices, tea or other kitchen items. You can combat this problem by hanging your utensils instead. Consider installing a hanging rack above your stove or under your wall cabinets to hang frequently used utensils, such as spatulas and serving spoons. You could also add a magnetic knife rack to the wall instead of storing your knives in a countertop knife block or using drawer space.
Small kitchens usually mean limited counter space, which can pose multiple problems. A lack of counter space can hamper your ability to prepare and serve food. Replacing large appliances with compact options can help.
Look for sleek devices that fit snugly into corners or can be stored in a cabinet between uses. Replacing a six-slice toaster, large countertop kettle or family-sized blender with smaller options will help free up counter space. Many top manufacturers sell modern, compact products — including blenders, toasters, microwaves, coffee machines and countless other appliances.
Switching to drawers instead of cupboards is a smart idea for organizing a small kitchen. Cupboards can create cluttered storage space, especially when they contain many different, oddly shaped items. Most of us know what it’s like to rummage around, having to remove items to find what we need. Drawers offer the same storage space and a more effective solution for storing your cooking materials.
You can even take your organization further and use adjustable drawer dividers in both shallow and deep drawers, so everything has its place and is readily accessible. Depending on the design of your stove, you may be able to install a drawer underneath it to store pans and baking trays that would otherwise take up space in your cabinets.
Boxes or trays are an excellent option for storing smaller items and those you don’t use often. Choose between rustic woven baskets, clear plastic containers or even metal tins for storage. You can pack them full of recipe cards, cleaning supplies, small utensils, silverware or spices, and slide them under your sink or on top of your shelves or cabinets. If you want to get creative, you can customize and label your boxes to designate a special place for each item and help you find them when needed.
Replacing your regular drying rack with a hanging or in-sink option is a smart way to maximize counter space in your small kitchen. Investing in a hanging drying rack, which you can fix to a wall to free up even more countertop space, leaves more area available for food prep. If your sink is in front of a window, you can’t add a hanging rack for another reason or you want to use your wall space for shelves instead, an in-sink drying rack allows you to dry dishes in the sink after washing them.
You might think a kitchen island is out of the question for your small kitchen, but that’s not always the case. If you’re struggling to fit a table in your kitchen, a petite kitchen island or peninsula could make a great substitute and create more storage space.
Some kitchen islands include a breakfast bar — an overhanging countertop extension with space underneath for stools or chairs. This means you can eat comfortably at your kitchen island and use the cabinet space underneath to store food or cooking items. A breakfast bar can replace a kitchen table and double as extra countertop space when you’re not enjoying meals.
While creating more space is often necessary, making it user-friendly and appealing is also important. Dimly lit kitchens can make the entire space feel confined and cramped. Add bright but unobtrusive lighting fixtures to any underlit areas. Go with flush-mounted or recessed fixtures, or attach lighting underneath your cabinets to ensure plenty of visibility for every nook and cranny. You can use LED strip lights under cabinets or shelves, pendant lights over your kitchen island or cabinet puck lights to illuminate stored contents.
With a careful plan, you can stop feeling constrained in your kitchen. Wolf Home Products offers many innovative storage solutions to help make your kitchen work for you. We take pride in helping our customers construct their dream kitchens regardless of space constraints. Contact a dealer in your area to discuss your options for designing a small kitchen you’ll love.
