If you live in an apartment, you most likely have a small kitchen which you have to use as both cooking and dining space. You might have always dreamt of designing a kitchen that accommodates your cooking needs and allows you to spend quality time with your family, but now that you’re faced with this small space, you might feel like you’ll never be able to see your dream come true. We’re here to tell you that the last thing you should do is let the kitchen’s dimensions get in the way of planning your perfect cooking space. Instead of worrying that your family won’t ever join you in the kitchen, transform the room into an alluring space with the following design recommendations.
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Use light colours
Suppose you plan the kitchen design from scratch; you probably spent a couple of hours browsing the Pinterest feed looking for colour schemes. Unfortunately, when you have to work with a small space, your choice is limited because you need to stick with light shades. Neutrals are the ideal options because they have the unique ability to make a space look larger. You’ll notice that most small spaces are painted in greys, whites, nudes, and pastel colours.
Don’t feel disheartened if you’re a fan of bold colours; you can still add personality to the kitchen using bright hues, only that you’ll have to keep the proportions balanced. Use light colours as primary shades for large surfaces like the ceiling and walls, and add pops of colour on cabinet doors, worktops, the splashback or handles.
Play with the room’s layout
You can choose from multiple kitchen layouts, but according to the room’s shape and size, some would be more suitable than others. Suppose you cannot figure out what layout to choose for your tiny kitchen; hire a designer to help you create a floor plan. They have experience upgrading all kinds of spaces to their best functionality and performance and will most likely work wonders on your kitchen.
The double galley layout is one of the homeowners’ top choices when it comes to small kitchens because it makes the most of a tight space. The cabinets are installed on both sides of the kitchen (you can leave one free if you think the furniture on one is enough to store everything), and the centre of the room is left open to allow you to move freely.
The U-shape layout is also a great choice because it connects three walls and adds some depth to the room.
Don’t forget about the kitchen triangle rule
Regardless of the size of your kitchen, you should still consider the triangle rule, developed by interior designers in 1940, to cut down construction costs. Kitchen designers find it extremely useful because it helps them create effective spaces. The rule establishes that the three main work areas (refrigerator, sink, and stove) should be installed in such a way as to form a triangle so your cooking space is comfortable and practical.
Take advantage of the height of the room
The one element you can make use of in an apartment is the height of the rooms, as most housings come with high ceilings. If you use kitchen wall cabinets that reach the ceiling, you can maximise storage without taking up too much floor space. Tall furniture units offer plenty of room inside, where you can place kitchen utensils, tools, supplies, and other such things you need when cooking. Additionally, tall units create the illusion of a larger space, so they’ll also make the kitchen more inviting to the eye.
Tall cabinets also allow you to declutter the room and hide everything out of sight. Put the essentials you use daily on the lower shelves so you can easily access them.
Utilise the corner space
For this one, you’ll need the assistance of a professional because corners are usually tricky spaces to deal with. However, when you have to deal with a small room, you need to use them because they have great storage potential. Therefore, you should hire a furniture expert to incorporate a corner pantry into your kitchen units so you can store everything you need and save space.
If you don’t want to build a pantry in the corner of the room, you have the option to create bench seating to encourage your family to spend more time in the kitchen. As mentioned earlier, the kitchen is also a dining area, or even socialising hub, so you need some seating solutions. Add a custom-made banquette in the corner to eliminate the need for chairs, and utilise the underneath space for storage.
Select the right appliances
A large appliance unit will immediately become the focal point of the room, so you need to plan the kitchen design before purchasing new appliances to ensure that you can place them most effectively.
Thanks to the advent of technology, you can find high-quality appliances smaller in size, so you don’t have to sacrifice floor space to enjoy their benefits. This is also the moment to browse the market for multi-functional appliances, so you can use them for multiple purposes and save space. Why use two pieces of equipment when one can do several jobs? For example, you could get a microwave oven allowing you to cook dishes and warm food. It would also be a great idea to install an integrated fridge, which will blend seamlessly with the furniture and create the impression of a larger room.
Suppose you didn’t use the corner space already; you might want to install the sink there to free up some valuable counter space.
And last but not least, consider storing the small appliances you don’t need daily in the cupboards and pantry to declutter the room.
Final words
A small kitchen isn’t ideal, but you can make the most of the space if you follow the above recommendations. Do you have other suggestions? Feel free to share them with us!