Whether it’s your first place or your downsizing after the kids have grown, dealing with a cramped kitchen is one way to get your creative juices flowing. If you’re faced with a kitchen that needs to serve a small family, but has the capacity of little more than a walk in closet, here are a few ideas to get you started.
Tip # 1: Minimize Clutter
Let’s face it; you don’t have much space to work in, so none of it can be wasted. Things that are not essential to cooking or eating should be kept out of this small space, or at least be kept to a minimum. If you absolutely must have that cute porcelain cow dish, make sure it does double duty – perhaps as a sugar bowl or creamer.
Tip #2: Adjustable shelves are a Great Investment
The things you use in the kitchen often will come in different sizes. I have yet to see a box of cereal, a box of pasta, or a can of soup that share the same size or shape. It’s amazing how many different sizes and shapes can exist in the world—especially if they always seem to have the same amount of food! If you don’t feel comfortable transferring everything into different containers, consider investing in some adjustable shelves. That way you can easily adjust your shelf height to accommodate those larger items, or make the areas smaller to get rid of wasted space.
Tip # 3: Make use of Vertical Space
Take a moment and reach up to the sky. Really stretch out your arms. See the amount of reach you have? Why not use that in your kitchen? If you look closely at many restaurants and bars, you’ll see that they make use of vertical space through the hanging of glasses, knives, or stirring utensils. Why not use the same idea in your kitchen? It can be as simple as placing a board with hooks along the top of your window, or putting a few clothes hooks at strategic places around the kitchen.
Tip # 4: Keep it Easy to Clean
You know that your kitchen is going to get messy. It’s what happens when you have a vibrant home life. It’s a good idea to be able to clean things up quickly and easily. One of the best ways to make clean up easier is to store messy or spill-able items on shelves that can keep the messes contained. This can be as simple as having a simple lip around the shelves, and putting a simple easy to wipe material such as vinyl on the shelf itself. For those bigger or unexpected messes, consider designating a shelf for your cleaning materials. Many people choose to keep everything below the sink, but there are many other options available.
Remember, keeping things organized in your small kitchen will allow you to make the most use of what you have.