Do you think that your kitchen is too small to do something in it? Do you often wonder how you can improve the design of your small kitchen? Is hiring a contractor or completely redoing your kitchen not an option? There are some things you can do to help yourself.
Identify and plan accordingly
First of all, take a good look at your kitchen. What is the design? Most small kitchen designs are galley, two-way galley, L-shaped, and U-shaped. You need to identify the type you have. A kitchen layout is one in which your kitchen is placed along one wall. The two-way kitchen has appliances, cabinets, and countertops on two sides of the room, with a hallway in the middle. The L-shaped and U-shaped designs are self-explanatory.
While each of these layouts has its pros and cons, each can be used very efficiently. Take into account the natural flow of traffic in each room. Don’t put extra furniture or utensils in the way of this natural movement. For example, if you have a kitchen layout, place dishes in the cabinet closest to the table, so short, quick steps will get you there. This will allow you to move around the small corner of the kitchen without blocking the hallway where others may be entering.
Put the fridge last
If you have a family with children or teenagers, the most used appliance in the kitchen is probably the refrigerator. You can make the most of your small kitchen layout by placing the refrigerator next to the kitchen entrance. This will allow anyone to walk into the kitchen and grab a drink or snack from the refrigerator, without disturbing the person preparing the food. Also, an easy way to save space is to make sure the refrigerator door opens into the next doorway rather than into the kitchen.
Add a workstation
If you find that your kitchenette layout works well for feeding your family of four, but isn’t big enough to prepare a meal for a larger group, add a portable workstation to the area for the night. There are many different types of workstations available, including those that have cabinet space underneath or those that fold up and tuck away in a closet at the end of the night.
Find one that works for your specific situation. If your small kitchen nook just needs extra space for chopping or putting ingredients, get a workstation that has wheels and can be moved around the kitchen while you work. Another option is to buy one with hooks or a basket to store utensils, so you can keep the station out of the way, but still use the available space.
Efficiency is most important in a small kitchen design. If you can identify the type of kitchen you have, you can make it work for you. Just keep tools close at hand and allow traffic to move naturally, and you’ll minimize your problems.