How To Create Space in a Small Kitchen

Here is a new blog post from a guest author contributing to Lang’s Kitchen & Bath’s website.  We hope you find this topic helpful!

There is no denying the importance of the kitchen in a home. You can even say that it is like a hub of the house where the aroma of delicious foods attracts the entire family. Moreover, a significant part of home maintenance takes place inside the kitchen, making it a very frequently used part of the home. 

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Therefore, it is essential that you have a functional and efficient kitchen. This is easier to do when you have a lot of space, but managing a smaller kitchen can be a real headache. In today's post, we are going to tell you about some excellent tips and tricks that will allow you to make the most out of your small kitchen. Keep reading to learn more.

Maximize storage in unused spaces:

In a typical kitchen design, there are numerous spaces that are left unused. Most people may not even acknowledge that they have so much untapped space that could make their kitchen maintenance a lot easier. Here are some familiar places that are left vacant in most kitchens. 

1. The space around the refrigerator: 

The refrigerator is one of the bulkier and space-consuming appliances in the kitchen, and it is essential to its functioning, but most of the time the space around the refrigerator is left unused. In a small kitchen, space is like currency, and you can't even waste the tiniest bit. Therefore, you can create a sliding shelf drawer in the narrow areas on the side of the refrigerator. This will provide an exceptional amount of extra storage space for pantry items. 

The space on top of the refrigerator is also usually left underutilized. You can create a very spacious cupboard in this spot. Though we understand that reaching such a high cabinet will be difficult, you can use it to store appliances that aren't used every day. For instance, you can keep your sous vide machine, pasta maker, and other similar appliances above the refrigerator. Remember to keep a small, collapsible step ladder in your kitchen as well, so that you can reach the cupboard when required. 

2. The space above the cupboards: 

In almost every kitchen, the cupboards are made lower from the ceiling, so that they are easily accessible, but the massive space above them is usually left unused. Though it is understandable that it is a difficult spot to reach, it can still be very beneficial if you create cupboards or shelving. 

By keeping a small collapsible ladder in the kitchen, you can ensure that you will be able to reach high spots, like the space above the cabinets. You can use this space for kitchen essentials that aren't used that often. This space can also be used to store and display your fancy china that is only used on special occasions like a dinner party, or the holidays. 

3. The windowsills:

Another common space that is left unused in the kitchen in the windowsills. Though they may seem insignificant, you can store a lot of stuff on them. However, I would suggest using it for decoration more than storage. Place some decorative elements like an ornamental plant on the windowsill, and keep the drapes open during the day to let in some natural light. Both of these actions can make your kitchen look airier, more spacious and less claustrophobic. 

4. Corners:

Another place that many people leave unused in the kitchen and every other room is the corners. You can create shelves in the corners that can be used for design and storage. Creating specific corner drawers in lower cabinets can give you a significant amount of extra storage space. 

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5. Organize your refrigerator:

Apart from counter space, the refrigerator is one of the most common points that get overcrowded in a small kitchen. If you have a smaller kitchen, you will have to make do with a small or average-sized refrigerator, and sometimes that can be a little problematic. 

To make the most out of your refrigerator, you need to be more efficient with the organization of the food inside it. Firstly, you should use food-grade plastic or glass containers to store food, which allows you to stack your food inside the fridge. You should also consider vacuum sealing your food when you are planning on freezing it for a long time. This can help keep your food fresh and avoid cross-contamination as well. Therefore, check the internet for reviews about the best vacuum sealers for food.

Maximize the use of under cabinet space:

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Space under the cabinets and on the countertop usually stay underused as well in most kitchens. You can add hooks and small shelves on the backsplash, which will help you increase your storage space. These small shelves can be used to store spice containers that you regularly use, and you can hang some cooking utensils like wooden spoons, spatulas, whisks and ladles on the hooks.  

You should also consider adding some led lighting under the cabinet to increase the functionality and style of your kitchen,

Build a sleek DIY center island:

A center island is a very common feature of modern kitchens. They give you a lot of extra working space and storage, but implementing one in a small kitchen seems impossible. Well, instead of a full-fledged center island, you can use a small and sleek wooden table as a center island. You can also put the table aside when it isn’t required. The space under the table can be used for storage, and you can also have some drawers made to increase convenience and storage capabilities. Therefore, if it doesn't hinder your movement, you should most definitely add a sleek center island to your kitchen. 

To sum it all up, just because you have a smaller kitchen, it doesn't mean that you can't get a lot of functionality out of it. If you follow the above-mentioned space-saving tips, you will definitely be able to create some extra working and storage space in your kitchen. We hope that you find this post helpful and informative.

Author Bio:

This post is written by Andrea Smith. She loves traveling, home decorating and hanging out with her friends. She is currently a student of Interior Designing at the California Arts School. She regularly writes blogs at https://homeaddons.com/.