Kitchen Guides
10 Genius Ways to Maximise Space in a Small Kitchen
Don't let a cramped kitchen get you down – design experts share 10 clever ways you can make the most of compact quarters
Storage, bench space and aesthetics can all be challenges in a space-starved kitchen. But with a little planning, you can make them work. Here, four design experts reveal their top tips for making a small kitchen look and perform its best.
2. Choose consistent finishes
“Sticking with one finish for all your cabinetry faces creates a clean, cohesive look and makes a small kitchen appear larger. It also gives a touch of elegance to the space, however small it might be,” says Ruffé.
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“Sticking with one finish for all your cabinetry faces creates a clean, cohesive look and makes a small kitchen appear larger. It also gives a touch of elegance to the space, however small it might be,” says Ruffé.
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3. Add in one show-stopping element
Just like any room of the home, the kitchen needs a hero piece – that one thing that instantly draws the eye, says Ruffé. “Introducing one bold, statement feature, such as a fabulous stone benchtop, can add personality to a small kitchen and give it gravitas. It can also add an element of surprise, as you might not expect to see such a beautiful, sumptuous material in a small space,” he says.
Just like any room of the home, the kitchen needs a hero piece – that one thing that instantly draws the eye, says Ruffé. “Introducing one bold, statement feature, such as a fabulous stone benchtop, can add personality to a small kitchen and give it gravitas. It can also add an element of surprise, as you might not expect to see such a beautiful, sumptuous material in a small space,” he says.
4. Dial up lighting
Don’t underestimate the power of a well-considered lighting scheme, says Ruffé. “Good lighting can make all the difference, particularly in a cramped kitchen,” he says. “Flooding the backsplash with diffused light is a great trick to employ as it visually broadens it, making the kitchen appear bigger than it actually is. Plus, it adds a touch of warmth and cosiness to an eat-in kitchen in the evening.”
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Don’t underestimate the power of a well-considered lighting scheme, says Ruffé. “Good lighting can make all the difference, particularly in a cramped kitchen,” he says. “Flooding the backsplash with diffused light is a great trick to employ as it visually broadens it, making the kitchen appear bigger than it actually is. Plus, it adds a touch of warmth and cosiness to an eat-in kitchen in the evening.”
Find a kitchen designer to help you maximise space in your kitchen
5. Maximise corner cabinets
“In large kitchens, designers tend to avoid using corner cabinets as it is more functional to close them off and have drawer banks on either side of the corner cabinet. However, in small kitchens, we don’t have the luxury of space and have to make practical use of whatever we can get,” says Graeme Metcalf, industrial designer at Dan Kitchens.
“Corner cabinets are full of space – it’s just annoying to reach into them,” he says. “Storage manufacturers have taken note and come up with a variety of solutions that give you better access. My favourite is the Le Mans unit (where curvy shelves twist out of the cabinet towards you), but you’ll also find shelving carousels and magic corners (which have shelves that extend towards you). While not as space efficient as standard shelves, they at least mean you don’t have to squeeze your body into a confined space to reach for items at the back.”
“In large kitchens, designers tend to avoid using corner cabinets as it is more functional to close them off and have drawer banks on either side of the corner cabinet. However, in small kitchens, we don’t have the luxury of space and have to make practical use of whatever we can get,” says Graeme Metcalf, industrial designer at Dan Kitchens.
“Corner cabinets are full of space – it’s just annoying to reach into them,” he says. “Storage manufacturers have taken note and come up with a variety of solutions that give you better access. My favourite is the Le Mans unit (where curvy shelves twist out of the cabinet towards you), but you’ll also find shelving carousels and magic corners (which have shelves that extend towards you). While not as space efficient as standard shelves, they at least mean you don’t have to squeeze your body into a confined space to reach for items at the back.”
6. Pay attention to scale
“Large-scale features and bold patterns can overwhelm a small kitchen and make you feel confined,” says Metcalf. “To create a more comfortable space, minimise the number of different colours and textures in the space, specify small-size tiles for backsplash and flooring, and select muted tones and textures.”
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“Large-scale features and bold patterns can overwhelm a small kitchen and make you feel confined,” says Metcalf. “To create a more comfortable space, minimise the number of different colours and textures in the space, specify small-size tiles for backsplash and flooring, and select muted tones and textures.”
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7. Opt for pantries with internal drawers
“We always try to incorporate a full-height, minimum 60-centimetre-wide pantry cabinet into a small kitchen,” says Metcalf. “There are several ways to fit them out. You could stick to fixed or adjustable shelves, but these make it hard to access the items at the back. A pull-out pantry gives you access to the items at the back, but they are heavy to move, can be overloaded and block traffic through to other parts of the kitchen. We find the most efficient solution is to use internal drawers instead of shelves. They suffer from few drawbacks other than the extra cost.”
Here’s how to bring a pantry into the kitchen
“We always try to incorporate a full-height, minimum 60-centimetre-wide pantry cabinet into a small kitchen,” says Metcalf. “There are several ways to fit them out. You could stick to fixed or adjustable shelves, but these make it hard to access the items at the back. A pull-out pantry gives you access to the items at the back, but they are heavy to move, can be overloaded and block traffic through to other parts of the kitchen. We find the most efficient solution is to use internal drawers instead of shelves. They suffer from few drawbacks other than the extra cost.”
Here’s how to bring a pantry into the kitchen
8. Measure up before buying appliances
Appliances that are too big can overwhelm and clutter up a small kitchen,” says Colin Jones, product adviser at Appliances Online. “It’s hugely important to choose the right-size appliances for a small kitchen, as standard ones may take up too much valuable space,” he says. “The most important thing is to take detailed measurements of your kitchen’s cavity spaces and benchtops. This is so you can work out what you can comfortably fit into the kitchen without overcrowding the food preparation and storage areas, as well as allowing you space to move around when appliance doors are open.”
Appliances that are too big can overwhelm and clutter up a small kitchen,” says Colin Jones, product adviser at Appliances Online. “It’s hugely important to choose the right-size appliances for a small kitchen, as standard ones may take up too much valuable space,” he says. “The most important thing is to take detailed measurements of your kitchen’s cavity spaces and benchtops. This is so you can work out what you can comfortably fit into the kitchen without overcrowding the food preparation and storage areas, as well as allowing you space to move around when appliance doors are open.”
9. Seek out compact appliances
“Seek out compact appliances such as fridges, dishwashers and ovens,” advises Jones. “Ensure they’re all finished in the same colour, or have them integrated into cabinetry for a fuss-free, cohesive look.”
Some compact appliances that you might like to consider for your small kitchen include:
“Seek out compact appliances such as fridges, dishwashers and ovens,” advises Jones. “Ensure they’re all finished in the same colour, or have them integrated into cabinetry for a fuss-free, cohesive look.”
Some compact appliances that you might like to consider for your small kitchen include:
- Compact ovens that are full width but only around 45 centimetres in height. Brands are also producing ovens with microwave capabilities, saving you even more space.
- Two-burner stovetops, which are available in induction, touch control, ceramic and gas.
- Underbench range hoods save space if you have overhead hanging cupboards. Or if you have space above, a 60 centimetre canopy range hood works well.
- Compact dishwashers, single-drawer dish drawer, or a slimline 45 centimetre dishwasher.
- Single-bowl sinks that give you space on either side of the sink for a prep zone.
- Slimline, compact fridges. You can now find slimline designs in top- and bottom-mount configurations.
Image: LG NeoChef 39L Smart Inverter convection oven
10. Think multi-functional
When space is at a premium, multi-functional appliances – a single machine that performs the roles of several – is a smart solution, says Martin Kim, home appliances expert at LG Australia. “Being able to cook a variety of dishes using one appliance is incredibly handy, saving you both time and space.”
Read more:
Must-Haves in a Small Open Kitchen
Tell us:
How have you maximised space in your small kitchen? Tell us in the Comments below.
10. Think multi-functional
When space is at a premium, multi-functional appliances – a single machine that performs the roles of several – is a smart solution, says Martin Kim, home appliances expert at LG Australia. “Being able to cook a variety of dishes using one appliance is incredibly handy, saving you both time and space.”
Read more:
Must-Haves in a Small Open Kitchen
Tell us:
How have you maximised space in your small kitchen? Tell us in the Comments below.
“Hiding appliances by integrating them into your cabinetry is one of the easiest and most effective ways to make a small kitchen appear bigger,” says Chris Ruffé, director at Bondi Kitchens. “Most brands now offer fridges, freezers and dishwashers that can be integrated, and we simply conceal them behind kitchen panels so they blend in seamlessly with the cabinetry.”
“Integrating appliances also helps save you space as we custom design the cavities for a perfect fit. This frees up kitchen space, which you can then use for additional storage.”