7 Ingenious Space Saving Ideas for Small Kitchens

Photo by Jarosław Ceborski on Unsplash

Homes of grandeur have always been a kind of status symbol and a show of wealth. However, the 21^st century marks the beginning of the “tiny home” phenomenon. People from all walks of life are now trading their large houses for small and efficient properties to simplify and declutter their lives. However, a diminutive home, while cosy, requires you to be smart with your space. Here are seven space spacing ideas for small kitchens:

1. Hanging racks

When it comes to items such as cookware sets that you use on a daily basis, it’s a good idea to keep them within easy reach. Hanging racks will meet the mark as a convenient storage option that takes up no floor or cupboard space, but houses your cookware sets easily. The best part is, your beautiful copper, stainless steel or ceramic pots and pans will look stunning displayed on the wall, or hanging overhead.

2. Pull-out pantries

Kitchens can often have a lot of wasted space, so why not use nooks and crannies to your advantage by purchasing a pull-out pantry on wheels? They are narrow but suitable for a range of food items. As kitchens are slowly getting smaller, such a pantry will be handy for your family.

3. Wall-mounted cabinets

If you start to sweat every time you have to open your kitchen cupboards, for fear of being lost under a pile of Tupperware, it might be time to look at wall-mounted cabinets. While the majority of your floor area might be in use, take a look up and notice the abundance of wall space. Remove that tacky print you received for Mother’s Day 17 years ago and instead turn the blank canvas into a storage space that can house many of your kitchen appliances and utensils.

4. Compact kitchenware

Do you need that six-burner stove, or does it just look nice? How about that double dish drawer, or double door fridge? If your appliances don’t suit your space, it might be time to downsize. However, downsizing doesn’t mean you need to downgrade. Top brands are bringing out ranges of compact kitchenware items to suit space-restricted homes, and by using less energy in the process, you’re doing your part for the environment. 

5. Get smart with drawers

Every kitchen has drawers, but how well utilized are yours? Most people don’t organise their drawers optimally, so getting creative can save you plenty of room. Tactics like two layers of cutlery in one drawer, or using the toe-kicking area at the bottom of your cabinetry as a drawer for oven trays can challenge conventional storage layouts.

6. Stack, stack, stack

Our desire for smaller homes is getting stronger. At the same time, we seem to be constantly accumulating more stuff, with nowhere to stash it. Therefore, always be on the lookout for items you can stack. For example, the average mug set doesn’t stack well at all, but you can now purchase mugs that are purpose-made for layering. The same goes for pot sets. Where possible, always choose stackable items over those that aren’t. It’s an incredibly simple strategy that can make a big difference when space is at a premium.

7. Build up

Some people find that building kitchen cabinets up to the ceiling isn’t necessary because you can’t reach it without a chair. However, how often are you going to use that breadmaker or yogurt maker anyway? Cabinetry built to the ceiling enables you to hide away unused appliances, keeping them out of your more commonly-used cabinets.

It may seem like a smaller space means more clutter, but that’s only true if you don’t know how to utilize less space to your advantage. Take notice of these seven space-spacing tips and reap the rewards of a small yet well-organized kitchen.