Making Space in Tiny Kitchens

We’re not all blessed with a roomy, spacious family-sized kitchen. Whereas this is often painted as the ideal – the hub of the home from which a quality lifestyle radiates – for many people the reality is something far more modest. Unless you expand your kitchen fit-out to include a single-storey extension, you may simply not have the available space to make it any bigger.

However, this shouldn’t deter you from having an attractive, supremely functional fitted kitchen that works for you and even exceeds your expectations. In fact, the main advantage of a custom designed kitchen is that it will maximise the available space, even if that space is tiny, which is why you should always speak to PD Designs if you’re working within the confines of a tiny kitchen space!

Why Small is Beautiful

Let’s flip this: there are distinct advantages to having a small kitchen. For starters, it leads to you developing smart cooking habits. These include keeping on top of what you’ve got stored in your fridge and freezer, and ensuring that you always have the essentials in.

A tiny kitchen requires that you learn about what you really need, so you don’t stockpile numerous pans, plates, gadgets and utensils. The kitchen becomes an altogether more pared back space for you to work in more efficiently.

And this doesn’t mean you can’t derive the same pleasure from using a small kitchen as a larger one. There’s something deeply satisfying about developing your own ways of working that suit you and your space perfectly. Familiarity equals contentment.

Kitchen Layout is Crucial

With available space at a premium, what you do with it takes on a whole new dimension. Having a tiny but dynamic fitted kitchen area requires some serious planning, and working out ways of turning what seem to be disadvantages into benefits.

The key to tiny kitchen spaces is accessibility. Because everything will, inevitably, be close at hand, you make it feel that much more convenient. So, think about plenty of hooks to hang pans and utensils on, where they’re easily within reach, and where they won’t be taking up cupboard space. Don’t reserve a drawer for your sharp knives or take up countertop space with a knife-block, but instead get a wall-mounted magnetic strip where your various kitchen knives be instantly accessible but out of harm’s way.

Where you can, consider installing a small island to add to your countertop surface area. Or if space is more limited, think about having a small kitchen peninsula which can double up as an informal eating area? Basically, use all the available space you can, but do it inventively, so your kitchen doesn’t end up looking crowded.

Additionally, you could think about mounting other cupboards higher up, so that you keep more workspace free at cooking level, or having a cupboard that fits a corner space. And what about the layout of your kitchen countertops themselves? It may be that a u-shape works best, or alternatively two opposite countertops running parallel to one another. Having a sufficient working surface is crucial in a tiny kitchen.

Where you can, choose open shelving to complement cupboards, so that you keep the kitchen feeling accessible and light. And the same applies for your choice of colours – generally, the lighter shades will work better for small kitchen spaces. Don’t, however, shy away from adding contrast with, perhaps, a darker set of worktops.

Make the Most of Your Storage

Smart storage is an absolute must for a tiny kitchen. Even with appliances, utensils and other gadgets stripped back to the essentials, storage can still prove to be a challenge, so the right storage solutions will make more space for you.

We mentioned accessibility earlier as an advantage, but you don’t have to limit your storage to being within arm’s reach. If you can go higher with shelves and cupboards, do it, and install a sliding ladder for ease of access – it also gives the kitchen a cool, grocery-style feel.

Where you’ve got open shelves, use plenty of large storage containers such as baskets and plastic items to keep smaller kitchen items in. This keeps things from getting cluttered and will help with your streamlined kitchen habits. Additionally, use pipes as shelving to hang hooks off, where you can then hang your mugs and other items by their handles instead of them taking up cupboard space. Or why not think about mounting a descending horizontal, storage rack from the kitchen ceiling, as a grid from where you can hang pans on hooks?

Where you’ve got narrow spaces, install customised, sliding cupboards for storing small grocery essentials, such as spices and sauces. You can also get specially designed crockery drawers to keep your plates and other items on their sides, rather than stacked on top of one another. This allows you to have them hidden away so that you’re freeing up more space.

Also, consider a fitted, slide-out wine rack, and a pull-out cutting board which will slide neatly away when not in use. And remember, whatever your needs, PD Designs have probably got a custom-made storage solution that will be perfect for you.

Develop Your Lifestyle to Match

To make the most of a tiny kitchen, you need to develop a lifestyle that will harmonise with it. Having to work with a tiny kitchen space focuses the mind on the task, so you don’t end up trying to do too much at once – this focus is vital in a small space, especially if you’re entertaining guests.

You might also develop the habit of cleaning as you go, making your whole cooking routine that much more streamlined. Because there’s nothing worse in a tiny kitchen than a huge pile of dirty dishes and utensils steadily mounting up.

Learn to be ruthless with your kitchen space and operate a one-in, one-out rule – most of us accumulate more kitchen stuff than we need, so prioritise what you have so that you keep your kitchen clear of clutter.

For your food, develop smart shopping habits. You don’t have a large pantry, but you can buy what you need for a week’s food and cut down on waste. It’s all in the planning. With a small kitchen, you can pretty much see all the groceries you’ve bought, which should encourage you to get what you need and use it up.

But always remember, your kitchen should be a place of pleasure, and of relaxation and reward, whatever its dimensions.

Get In Touch

With our years of expertise behind us, PD Designs have got the right fitted kitchen for you, regardless of space, whether you’re in Rossendale or Hebden Bridge, Colne or Clitheroe. We can give you something bespoke and made buy hand, just for you, that will make your home feel that much more special.

You can email us at sales@pd-designs.com, or phone us on 01282 602222. Or, you can also complete the contact form on our website and we’ll respond to you as soon as possible.ki