Maximizing Space in a Small Kitchen – Remodeling a Small Kitchen

Having a small kitchen can become very inconvenient. There is not enough space to cook and move around comfortably. You hesitate inviting your friends over at your house for dinner parties. You don’t have enough space for that double oven you so desperately long for. There seems to be an endless list of disappointments and frustrations that comes with having a small kitchen.

The good news is that there are things you can do to lessen these nuisances. Do not let a small kitchen ruin another day of your life. To help you with your dilemma, here’s a guide on how to maximize space in a small kitchen.

5 Ways to Maximize Space in a Small Kitchen

1. Sort your things out. Determine which things you use on a regular basis and which items are just a waste of space and have a better place elsewhere in the house. Place the things you use often in cabinets and drawers. Those that just clutter your kitchen can be put inside boxes and stored in the attic.

2. Get a custom-built extra counter. Even if you have very little space left to spare, consider installing an island or an extra counter. It can even be just a table. This gives you space to store kitchen items especially if you can get cabinets and drawers underneath it.

3. Be an organized cook. Have you seen those reality cooking shows? Have you noticed how the contestants are able to cook with very little space provided for them? How about in restaurant kitchens? Those line cooks get the job done even if they share the counter with another cook. That’s because they are organized cooks. They learned that prepping everything before cooking is very important. They keep their stations clean and put everything within arm’s reach. The next time you watch one of those reality shows, don’t just focus on the recipe; also watch how they cook and keep everything organized.

4. Go white. This may not appeal to all but white does a good job of making any small space look larger. It’s also not a good idea to use dark colors in your already small kitchen. Consider painting your kitchen walls white and buying appliances that are also white. You might be surprised how your small kitchen will look like after doing this. Remember to choose paint that is stain and grease resistant.

5. It’s not impossible. Many people give up easily when it comes to remodeling their small kitchen. They think that they can’t do anything to make more room in the kitchen. If you have this kind of mentality, nothing will really happen. With a little imagination and creativity, you can definitely maximize space in your small kitchen. To help you come up with ideas, here are things you can use to have extra space and storage in your kitchen.

1. Knife Block and Steel Rail System. There’s a good chance that you have a set of knives – and that they are taking up valuable space inside your drawers. It is a good idea to get a knife block and store your knives there. You can also mount on your wall a steel rail system. This comes with hooks and shelves where you can place frequently used kitchen utensils.

2. Pot Rack. Do you have a mountain of pots stacked inside one of your kitchen cabinets? Have you experienced opening that cabinet and the pots welcome you with a kiss on your toe? Start using a pot rack; it’s a very effective space (and toe) saver. You can choose hanging pot gliders or the ones that attaches to the wall with crossbars in it. This frees up an enormous amount of space and allows you to make better use of your kitchen cabinet.

3. Utility Carts and Plastic Baskets. Utility carts also help maximize the space of your kitchen. You can store different items in this handy storage to make room for other items in the counter. Plastic baskets can also be used to store some kitchen items. These can be easily put inside cabinets or on top of the refrigerator. Many items such as extra drinks and baking items can be put up there.

4. Cabinets and Drawers. Depending on the storage space you need, you can also purchase custom cabinets and drawers. These adds a great amount of storage space to your kitchen and can definitely make your counter clean from items. Drawers are your best friend. Many people prefer drawers because you can easily see the items inside it as opposed to a cabinet where sometimes you need to crouch down and look through all the stuff in it.

5. Don’t rule out large appliances. Homeowners with small kitchens tend to rule out large kitchen appliances right away. However, there can still be room for these biggies in your tiny kitchen. A large cabinet can serve as an excellent storage for your kitchen items. A tall and space-friendly refrigerator provides you with the same conveniences a bulky one gives you. You can also place some items on top of the refrigerator such as baking items and extra drinks.