No home renovation is complete without a kitchen renovation. The kitchen is one of the most important places in any home. Thus, it needs to be well considered in order to be functional and appealing. If you have a big kitchen then you have the freedom to make lots of changes. You can add a breakfast bar, for instance, or a kitchen island.
However, a small kitchen comes with some limitations. You have to be careful when planning any changes to a small kitchen. But with care and some innovation, you can turn your small kitchen space into a stylish yet practical kitchen. The following ideas will help you when it comes to designing your new small kitchen.
Understand what you’ve got to work with
In any home or kitchen renovation project, you need to understand what you’ve got to work with. On then can you come up with a plan that suits your kitchen perfectly. It’s unlikely you’ll be able to knock down an adjoining wall to extend your kitchen outwards, so you need to think outside the box. Take into account the space you have to work with, the kitchen design you’d like and how these two elements can work together.
Get rid of what you can
Decluttering is one of the most important aspects of any renovation project. It is especially more important when renovating a small kitchen. During the decluttering phase, you need to be serious about the situation and get rid of any unwanted items that are only taking up space.
Make the most of this time to do a thorough spring clean. Go over every item in your kitchen and decide if you really need to keep it. Your goal should be to avoid cluttering your renovated kitchen.
Additionally, knowing what you have and intend to keep can make it easier to get the most out of your new kitchen design. For instance, you can include a dedicated cupboard for regularly used appliances, like a kettle, blender and toaster.
Pick a layout
Not all kitchen layouts may be suitable for every small kitchen. For a small kitchen, galley and L-shaped layouts often work the best. They both provide practical storage space while maintaining bench space for preparing food. It can also be more convenient than some larger kitchens as everything you need is in close proximity.
For instance, a galley kitchen is typically longer than it is wide. Counters and cabinets may run the entire length of the space either on one wall or both. Space for a refrigerator, stove, oven and sink is also included.
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Consider built-in appliances
For many homeowners, renovations are about making better use of space. In a kitchen, this means less clutter and having more room to cook. By using built-in appliances, rather than freestanding appliances, you can save space in your small kitchen. Necessary appliances, like fridges, ovens, stoves and dishwashers are factored into the layout.
To save even more space, it can be helpful to choose built-in appliances that are compact. Consider your needs, for instance, the size of fridge your household requires, and apply that to your kitchen design.
Prioritize storage and bench space
As we’ve said, bench space is important for a functional kitchen. It can be difficult to cook anything otherwise. However, to get the most bench space possible, you need to prioritize storage solutions too. If you have great storage solutions, you won’t need to clutter your bench space with appliances and kitchen implements.
There are lots of things you can try, like customized cabinetry and drawers. Look at having variation in your storage, like drawers of different depths. Remember, your storage solution should be convenient. You should be able to get the items you need easily. To do so, you may need to try some innovate door and cabinet tricks, like having the door lift up rather than swing out to avoid cluttering the space.
Don’t forget to make use of in-unit storage solutions such as dividers, plate holders, spice racks and under-sink cleaning caddies as well. This can help you utilize the storage space to the best of your abilities.
Lighting to opens the space up
Our final recommendation for your small kitchen layout is to take lighting seriously. You need to keep your kitchen space bright and well lit. When this happens, the space feels bigger.
Mirrors and the glossy surfaces can bounce the light around and make the space appealing. For instance, you could use a mirrored or shiny splash back.
Having a view to the outdoors can also make the space seem bigger. If you position a mirror correctly, you can even make it feel like there’s a second window by reflecting the outside.
Avoid using dark colors where possible as they can make the space feel smaller. Try to use neutral or light colors instead. Also figure out kitchen safety at home.
Final words
The above ideas will help you reinvent your small kitchen space for the better. With careful planning, you can have a gorgeous and functional small kitchen that meets all your needs.
