A small kitchen presents unique challenges when it comes to storage, workflow, and functionality. However, with some strategic design choices, you can make a small kitchen efficient, organized and full of style. Here are 5 must-have features to include when remodeling or designing a petite kitchen.
Optimize Storage
In a small kitchen, every inch of storage matters. Make the most of your space with these storage solutions:
Use Floor-to-Ceiling Cabinets
Maximize vertical storage space by installing cabinets that extend all the way to the ceiling. You can use them for dishes, small appliances, baking ingredients, and other kitchen items. Just be sure to include pull-down shelves for easy access to top shelves.
Add Drawers, Not Doors
Drawers provide more accessible storage than deep cabinets. Opt for drawers over doors whenever possible. Drawers keep contents visible and prevent items from getting lost in dark corners.
Install Pull-Out Pantries
Pull-out pantries on casters roll out to reveal hidden storage space behind cabinet doors. They allow you to store bulky items like flour, sugar, rice, pasta, and canned goods in a small footprint.
Choose Tall, Narrow Shelving
Incorporate tall, narrow shelving in corner nooks or next to appliances. These units provide vertical storage for baking sheets, cutting boards, serving trays, and other slim items.
Get Creative with Space
Use every square inch. Attach a magnetic knife rack or spice rack inside cabinet doors. Install pot racks and wine glass racks on walls. Slide narrow shelves into gaps between appliances.
Multi-Purpose Furniture
Furniture that serves double or triple duty is essential in a small kitchen. Look for these space-saving and functional pieces:
Island With Seating
An island or cart provides a prep surface and storage while doubling as a breakfast bar with stools. For small kitchens, choose a mobile island that can roll where needed.
Fold-Down Table
A fold-down table or desk can be stowed against the wall when not in use. Pull it down to create extra counter space for food prep or dining.
Banquette Seating
Built-in banquette seating is a great option for small eat-in kitchens. The cozy seating tucks neatly into an alcove, saving space. Some banquettes have storage underneath the seats.
Butcher Block Cart
A movable butcher block cart can serve multiple purposes. Use it as extra counter space, an island, a buffet, or a bar area. Look for one with shelves below.
Smart & Compact Appliances
Standard ovens, stovetops, and refrigerators need more square footage than a small kitchen can spare. Downsize appliances without sacrificing function:
Mini Fridges
A mini fridge squeezes into tight spaces while still providing refrigeration and a freezer. Opt for a counter-depth model or one that can be installed under counters.
Microwave-Convection Ovens
A microwave with convection technology combines a microwave, oven, and broiler in one small appliance. It saves space and allows for full-size cooking.
Two Burner Cooktops
Cooktops with just two burners take up less surface area than a full stovetop. They work well for singles, couples, or as a supplemental cooktop.
Under-Cabinet Appliances
Mount often-used appliances like a toaster oven or coffee maker under cabinets to free up counter space. Just make sure they have clearance.
Dish Drawers
Dish drawers provide the functionality of a full-size dishwasher in a shallow double drawer system with a petite footprint.
Clever Storage Hacks
Incorporate ingenious storage solutions that maximize every nook and cranny:
Utilize Dead Space
Take advantage of dead space between studs inside cabinetry. Insert dividers or shelving to store spices, oils, baking goods, and other small items.
Hang Pots & Pans
Install racks designed to hang pots, pans, and lids vertically on walls. Hanging cookware clears up cabinet space and keeps items visible and within reach.
Mount Spice Racks
Keep spices organized and accessible without taking up counter space by mounting spice racks inside cabinet doors. Opt for stacked, revolving, or pull-out racks.
Use Magnetic Strips
Adhere magnetic strips on walls or cabinets to hold knives, utensils, and kitchen tools. The magnetic strips keep sharp and oddly shaped objects neatly stored.
Install In-Drawer Organizers
Use cutlery and utensil organizers inside drawers to neatly corral silverware, tools, and other clutter-prone items so drawers stay organized.
Clever Space-Saving Designs
Creative design elements tailored to small kitchens can make the space work harder:
L-Shaped Layout
An L-shaped kitchen layout optimizes workflow and storage by creating distinct work zones while minimizing traffic congestion. Arrange cabinets, appliances, and counters into two legs.
Peninsula Counters
A peninsula counter extends from one wall, creatingworkspace on three sides instead of just two. The extended surface area accommodates multiple cooks.
Mix Upper & Lower Cabinets
Vary cabinet heights for a customized look. Try lowering uppers to 12-15 inches above counters to make them more accessible. Maximize lower cabinet height.
Color Coordinate
Use color to visually expand the space. Painting lower cabinets a deeper hue than uppers tricks the eye. Match wall color to backsplashes and countertops for a cohesive look.
Glass Front Cabinets
Glass-front upper cabinets keep everything visible while reflecting light to open up the space. For lower cabinets, use frosted glass for privacy.
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions about optimizing small kitchens? Here are answers to some common FAQs:
How can I make a small, narrow kitchen more functional?
In a narrow galley kitchen, opt for shallow lower cabinets (12-15 inches deep) to keep the workflow area open. Install pull-out shelves and drawers for easy access to contents in deep base cabinets. Choose appliances that don’t require wide clearance, like a slide-in range or counter-depth refrigerator.
What type of sink works best in a small kitchen?
A shallow single-bowl sink or a compact double-bowl sink can fit in a small kitchen without limiting counter space. Undermount sinks attached below counter level create a seamless look compared to top-mount models. For more workspace, choose a sink with shortened depth.
How do I add seating in a small kitchen?
Bar stools that tuck under a counter or peninsula keep the floor clear when not in use. Or, create a space-saving banquette using benches fitted into a kitchen nook. Some banquettes feature storage drawers under the seats. You can also install fold-down tables or floating shelves that act as an eat-in dining area.
Should I use light or dark cabinetry in a small kitchen?
Both options work! Dark lower cabinets ground the space while light uppers keep things airy. Just avoid stark white and glossy finishes which magnify flaws. For small rooms, limit dark hues to lowers and consider pale neutrals or painted cabinets to prevent overpowering the space.
What backsplash looks best in a small kitchen?
Small kitchens benefit from streamlined and light backsplashes. Think white subway tiles, miniature mosaic tiles, quartz slabs, or stainless steel. Stay away from bold patterns or chunky textures that overwhelm. The backsplash should complement your cabinetry and counters without competing.
How can I add storage without cluttering a small kitchen?
Focus on maximizing vertical storage space with floor-to-ceiling cabinets and shelves that go all the way up to the ceiling. Other storage solutions like built-in drawers, pull-out pantries, hanging pots racks, and mounted spice racks keep necessities accessible without hogging space.
Conclusion
While small kitchens present storage, workflow, and functionality challenges, smart design choices can transform them into efficient and inviting spaces. Strategic layouts, compact and multi-purpose furniture, storage innovations, and space-saving appliances allow you to pack capability and style into a petite footprint. Keep these key features in mind for your next small kitchen project, and you can create a kitchen that lives large despite its diminutive dimensions.
With an emphasis on custom storage, vertical space, mutli-function fixtures, and the right appliances, even the tiniest kitchen can be tailored to maximize every inch. Follow the tips and tricks outlined here, and you’ll have a small kitchen that delivers on both form and function.
