Small kitchen design
In today’s housing climate, it’s not uncommon for new homeowners to have to compromise when it comes to setting aside space for the kitchen. However, this doesn’t mean you have to compromise on style and functionality. For centuries, some of the world’s finest culinary masterpieces were born in tres petite Parisian kitchens. If the French can make their tiny kitchens seem sexy, so can you. With the right approach, it’s possible for you to bust the myth once and for all that size really matters!
Open Heart, Open Stomach
Most of us mere mortals may not be using our kitchens to produce the perfect crème caramel or boeuf bourguignon. Nonetheless, as a place for nourishment and connection with loved ones, for many the kitchen truly is the heart of the home. Therefore, it’s crucial that your kitchen is an attractive space to recharge and regroup. Keeping your home’s heart open requires careful planning and provides an opportunity to exercise your creative muscle.
Start by choosing your layout. Single wall designs are en Vogue in small apartments and houses due to their ability to create a sense of openness. Alternatively, if work room is a priority for you, U or L shapes are more generous when it comes to bench space, while also being ideal for smaller kitchens. In addition, pull-out workspaces or wheeled butcher blocks are clever and aesthetically pleasing ways to add more food prep area to your kitchen.
Hidden Treasure
Once you have chosen a layout, consider where appliances can be placed in order to optimise space. Where possible, try and buy smaller appliances. Integrating appliances into the cabinetry not only looks chic, but maximises floor room. Importantly, don’t forget to think about appliance door placement. This will help you avoid the awkwardness of damaging other appliances, cabinets or the bench top every time you grab something out of the fridge or open the dishwasher.
Clever Storage
To think outside the box, you need to think in the box! Getting smart when it comes to storage is an essential part of designing a functional small kitchen. When width and length is lacking, make the most of height by installing floor to ceiling shelving. Adding open shelving units to bare wall spaces provides extra storage while also giving your kitchen a homey touch. Get the most out of your drawer space by utilising dividers or even spice rack inserts for shallow drawers. Finally, mug hooks and pot racks are rustic space savers that will make you feel like you’re cooking in a period romance film.
Less Really is More
Minimal space necessitates minimalist design. As counter-intuitive as it may sound, minimalism can make small spaces feel a lot larger. Keep it simple with light colours, similar textures and clean lines. Timber veneer benchtops, white cabinetry and stainless-steel appliances are timeless and bring lots of light into the room.
Another way to brighten up a room is to simply clean your kitchen. There’s nothing quite like a spring clean to declutter your kitchen of unnecessary items and restore order. Stocking only one set of good quality, matching kitchenware allows you to maintain both a stylish and sustainable small kitchen space.