Not all homes are the dream size that we would want. There is that tricky thing called a budget that we have to stick to! One of the rooms in the home that can often be the smallest, particularly in British 1950s built homes, is the kitchen. I would love to have a kitchen with an island in the middle. Perfect to have a breakfast bar with, as well as just creating extra worktop space. So, if you haven’t quite got the kitchen on your dreams, what can you do in the meantime? Here are a few ways that you can create more space in a small kitchen.
Install Hooks
It is a good idea to install hooks in as many places as you can. You might want to put some on the side of cabinets to hang things like tea towels or oven mitts. You could even hang hooks inside cupboards or units. Then you can save space by hanging some pots, pans and utensils. Hooks can certainly make up for a lack of drawers. The key is to keep things neat and tidy on them, though. Otherwise, they could look a little bit cluttered.
Rethink Your Cabinets
You could look at different storage solutions for your units and cabinets. Having a larder pull-out cabinet is handy for fitting in a lot of things. We have one in our kitchen, and I love it! But if your kitchen is particularly on the small side, you might not even have room for one to pull out. So looking at somewhere like New Leaf Cabinets & Counters could give you an idea of what cabinets are available. You could check the measurements and see what will fit in your kitchen.
Use the Height of the Kitchen
Unless your kitchen units go right to the top of the ceiling, then there will be some space above them for you to work with. Using that space to store things is a great way to keep things out of the way. Think of storing things up there that you don’t use as often. If you have a blender or a toaster that doesn’t get used daily, they will do well stored up there. Then they won’t just be sat there, using up precious worktop space.
Clean As You Go
One of the key things, when you have a small space, is to clean and tidy as you go along. If you don’t, you will find that the pots and pans pile up in the sink. Then it makes the space much messier and smaller than it needs to be. Plus, I have major OCD and having the place ‘just so’ puts my mind at ease!
Organise Things By How You Use Them
A small kitchen is easier to use if you have things together that work together. Think about having oils and spices on the same shelf, for example. It is easier if pots are in one place and pans are in another. Then you know where you will be looking, and not having to look here, there, and everywhere whilst cooking.
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