Making the Most of a Small Kitchen

When living in an apartment or small house, it’s likely your kitchen space will be limited significantly. You may feel overwhelmed and overcrowded, but there are many tricks you can use to make the most of your small kitchen space. Take advantage of some of these design tips and tricks to make the most of your space.

Use unoccupied vertical space. Height is your best friend in any small space, and especially in the kitchen. Tall, narrow shelves can fit into tight corners and create pantry space where there had not been any before. Hooks with adhesive backs can be stuck to walls, the sides of cabinets and refrigerators, and the insides of doors–use them to hang utensils so that they aren’t cluttering up drawers or taking up counter space. Magnetic knife blocks can keep your knives and scissors out of the way as well.

Create more cabinet space. Oftentimes, cabinets in small kitchens will have tall, shallow shelves that aren’t very functional. You can make use of the extra height by adding additional shelves. There are plenty of wire units that hang from the shelf above them without requiring any adhesive or screws; alternatively, there are extra pegs you can buy to add another wooden shelf.

Store little-used items elsewhere. We all have some kitchen items that we rarely need to pull out–carving knives, griddles, beverage dispensers for parties, etc. These items don’t need to take up your cabinet space. Keep them organized in baskets on top of your cabinets, or store them elsewhere so that you can free up storage space in your cabinets and drawers for your more frequently used items.

Periodically go through your utensils and tupperware. Over time, we tend to collect items without realizing it. You may save that plastic to-go container because it’s a convenient size, or buy a fancy kitchen tool that seemed like a brilliant invention at the time but that you’ve never used. Make time to go through your kitchen cabinets a couple times a year and get rid of items you no longer use or that are worn out. This will cut down on clutter and allow you to take advantage of every inch of space you have in your kitchen.

Raise your cleaner bottles. Cluttered under-sink storage is a common annoyance in most households. You can free up space on the floor of the cabinet by installing a simple small tension rod from which you can hang your bottles of cleaning products.

Invest in a folding dining table. Small-space kitchen dining sets have come a long way. You can get a table and chairs that fold easily to be tucked away when not in use. Some tables fold completely in half, while others have two leaves that fold down to leave a small area to be used as an extra counter or island.

Limited counter space means that your stovetop needs to double as a work space. You can purchase covers to place over your electric or gas range stove so that you can take advantage of this extra preparation space.

One of the best things you can do with a small kitchen space is consult with a designer who transforms kitchens every day. The designers at West Coast Design Build Florida are responsible for some of the most beautiful kitchen renovations in Sarasota – will yours be next? Call us today.