How to make the most out of your small kitchen

Prioritise your positioning

Just because your kitchen is small, doesn’t mean it can’t be both practical and stylish — bijoux kitchens in the world’s finest city apartments are some of the most impressive and functional spaces. 

Start by prioritising the positioning of your kitchen layout so that cupboard doors don’t open onto each other and you aren’t knocking your knees on sharp corners. If you have a galley kitchen, consider ultra-slim cabinets and drawers to maximise on floor space so that you can move around with ease while you orchestrate your meals. Make sure that you position your key appliances so that your workflow is smooth — for example, placing your saucepans near the stove and the crockery cupboards near a slimline dishwasher. 

If you have a small, U-shaped kitchen, you can utilise the ‘kitchen triangle’ (the sink, the stove and the refrigerator forming a triangle layout) — an oldie, but still relevant. You might need to factor in some narrow pullout storage for pantry items so that the prized triangle layout isn’t fragmented by food cupboards.
 

Capitalise on kitchen storage

In a small kitchen, you have to be clever with storage. That is much easier now that neat and tidy storage solutions have become so on-trend and Instagrammable — home storage is now a hobby in itself and there are so many stylish options on the market.

Check out these quick tips:

✔ Ditch the doors — drawers are more practical in a small kitchen as they are easier to organise and utilise every inch of space. There are many attractive drawer handles available, from copper half-moons to marble or concrete knobs. Well-chosen handles will make lines of drawers in a kitchen look both stylish and orderly. 

✔ Sit on your stuff — every inch of space needs to be thought about in a small kitchen. If you have room for a bench in the corner of the kitchen, you can create a dining nook with a pull-up table top. You can then use under-seat bench storage for items such as tea towels and tablecloths, oversized pans or large dry goods such as rice, pasta or pet food.

✔ Forget dusty cupboard tops — continue cupboards and storage right up to the ceiling when planning your kitchen. There really is no need for the dusty gaps above kitchen cupboards. If you aren’t able to get custom-fit cupboards, then you can buy lacquered boxes with wood style veneer lids that fit flush with the sides for a neat profile. These boxes not only look smart, but they are also easy to wipe down clean to avoid any dust.

Rethink your sink

The kitchen sink is a focal point in the kitchen, often beneath the window. It needs careful planning to maximise the use of your kitchen.

Consider:

✔ Investing in an instant hot water tap — to save some worktop space as you can retire the kettle.

✔ Choosing an undermount sink rather than an overmount sink — this will save on countertop space as it allows for a flat draining area that can also be used as a continuation of the worktop for preparing food.

✔ Getting a food waste disposal unit fitted to your sink — another space-saver for a small kitchen as you can free up some room by getting rid of that smelly food caddy.

Maximise wall space

To make the most out of a small kitchen, don’t forget to maximise your wall space. You can take many items off the countertops — radios, coffee makers, storage jars — simply by installing shelves. Shelves aren’t just practical, they can be stylish too. Moving your Roberts radio to a shelf, and adding a couple of carefully placed cookbooks and some trailing plants can make the space look more inviting. You can also free up cupboards and draws by hanging utensils and saucepans on hooks on the walls.

If you have an open-plan kitchen, you can create a divider wall by placing a cube shelf modular unit across the open part of the kitchen. Plenty of light will still be able to get through to your small kitchen space. Again, there is so much scope to make these shelves stylish — alternate circular or square storage baskets on the shelves, along with plants, lamps and photo frames.

FAQ:

What is the best layout for a small kitchen?

A galley kitchen is considered to be the best layout for a small kitchen. The name originates from cooking on a ship, where space is at a premium and everything has to be within a hand’s reach. The galley is formed by two walls opposite each other, with a walkway in between.

What colours make a smaller kitchen look bigger?

Lighter colours make a smaller kitchen look bigger. Paint the walls with light colours or white and make sure that your cupboards and appliances are light in colour too. To maximise the effect, make all the cupboard doors and walls one consistent colour to remove any visual barriers, making the room appear larger than it is.

How can I make my kitchen look expensive?

There are lots of things you can do to make a kitchen appear more expensive. They include:

• Using high-quality materials for countertops, flooring and splashbacks
• Adding eco-friendly technology such as an instant steaming hot water tap 
• Using an interior designer to add finishing touches 
• Installing smart lighting and appliances