Making The Most Of A Small Kitchen

I've had all sizes of kitchens in my life except for the gargantuan kind with 3 islands and a refrigerator the size of a mack truck.  I've lived with a micro-kitchen where I didn't even need to take a step to get to the other side...I just had to turn.  I've lived with a lot of space as well, both storage space and physical space.  My current kitchen is what I'd call a smallish to medium sized kitchen.  But the problem is that it behaves like a very small kitchen because of the poor layout and underutilized and unorganized storage spaces.

I think this is where many people find themselves.  Their space is not being used to its potential and therefore they think they need a new kitchen, when in fact they just need a tune up.

Today we'll show you some things you can do to amp up your usable space and to make it look stylish as well.

Refrigerator

The first thing to do when you have a small refrigerator is to get into the habit of regularly throwing out old food that you won't be eating and expired condiments.  And while you're at it, quickly swipe down your shelves.  A little bit of dirt and grime on all of your shelves means that the stuff furthest from the light is hard to see.  Oh, and replace those bulbs when they burn out.  I mean, c'mon!

Second it to take a good look at everything you regularly keep in your fridge and determine if it's organized in the best way.  Optimize your shelving by adding storage bins.  Refrigerators are deep and items that you don't use very often, can get shoved to the back and be lost in no-man's land for ages.  Add storage bins and lazy susans to your shelves so that you can always reach whatever is in the back.

Source:  firsthomelovelife.com

Another option to consider for a small home is to purchase a refrigerator without the freezer and have a chest freezer in another part of the house.  Freezer's tend to get used less often than a fridge and would make a trip to another room now an then a viable option.

Use Your Oven For Storage

When you aren't using it, your oven is just a big empty box with shelves sitting unused for much of the day.  Why not use that space to store a few things.  Now, it probably wouldn't be wise to store, say your dishcloths, in there in the event that you forget and turn the oven on by accident.  But it's an ideal spot to store cast iron pans, and glass baking dishes.  Just remove them when you need to use the oven, and put them back when it has cooled back down.

Source:  apartmenttherapy.com

Another option is to buy this beauty.  This Bertazonni Pro Series range has the look and functionality of a high end range, but comes in at a mere 24" in width.  This would make any home look better.

Source:  bertazonni.com

Hang Whatever You Can

Wall space, inside cupboards, refrigerator surfaces and ceilings are all spaces where you can hang equipment.  Use a magnetic strip near the stove for your most-used knives, hang pots and pans, coffee cups, install shelving to hold more things...you get the idea.  Here are a few pictures to help you out.

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Source:  stagetecture.com

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Source:  indostyle.biz

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Source:  livesimplybyannie.com

Lighting

When you have a small kitchen, lighting it correctly is key.  Nothing will make you want to go into your kitchen less than a dank dark space.  Install under cabinet lighting so that your work surfaces will always be well lit.  Optimize natural light by keeping windows free of shades or drapes and consider opting for shelving rather than cabinets near a window so that light will reach more spaces..  Do whatever you can to make it a bright and workable space.

Source:  hgtv.com

Source:  kitchencove.net

Source:  Michelle Schwake for Stafford Family Realtors