10 Ways to Max Space in Your Tiny Kitchen
Rework your shoebox-sized kitchen and give yourself room to move
Just because you don’t have room in your kitchen for a six-burner stove, double-bowl sink or Sub-Zero fridge, it doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice function or style. Here are 10 ways to max out space in your kitchen, from using chic small-scale appliances to innovative storage options and details that make all the difference. We hope at least one of them inspires you.
3. Undermount sink
If you really want to save every possible centimetre, go with a small, single-bowl undermount sink. You’ll eke out a smidgen more workspace on the benchtop beside the sink, because the edges of the sink will be concealed.
Stove: 61cm, Bertazzoni; sink: Blanco
If you really want to save every possible centimetre, go with a small, single-bowl undermount sink. You’ll eke out a smidgen more workspace on the benchtop beside the sink, because the edges of the sink will be concealed.
Stove: 61cm, Bertazzoni; sink: Blanco
4. Wall-mounted storage
Have a slender bit of blank wall? Don’t just hang up a calendar or artwork – make the most of the available space by mounting rows of racks on the wall from floor to ceiling. Drape towels over a bar, use S-hooks to hang kitchen tools and install a magnetic knife rack.
More: 10 Clever Ways to Find Extra Storage At Home
Have a slender bit of blank wall? Don’t just hang up a calendar or artwork – make the most of the available space by mounting rows of racks on the wall from floor to ceiling. Drape towels over a bar, use S-hooks to hang kitchen tools and install a magnetic knife rack.
More: 10 Clever Ways to Find Extra Storage At Home
The same idea works equally well for pots and pans – don’t stop at one row; use all of the space you have! And notice that in both of these photos, the homeowners painted the storage wall black (chalk paint would be nice, too), which makes the arrangement feel more intentional and hides scuff marks.
5. MacGyver-style island
Instead of lining up everything galley style, try opening up the room and putting all of the necessities in a compact all-in-one island. The custom island shown here contains a sink, a stovetop, an oven, prep space, storage for pots and pans, knives, spices and rubbish. As if that weren’t enough, the opposite side has space for a few people to perch on stools.
More: Kitchen Inspiration: 10 Creative Kitchen Islands to Escape
Instead of lining up everything galley style, try opening up the room and putting all of the necessities in a compact all-in-one island. The custom island shown here contains a sink, a stovetop, an oven, prep space, storage for pots and pans, knives, spices and rubbish. As if that weren’t enough, the opposite side has space for a few people to perch on stools.
More: Kitchen Inspiration: 10 Creative Kitchen Islands to Escape
6. Pullout pantry
No room for a proper pantry? A slim pullout one can be tucked into the tightest of spaces, and even items way at the back are easily accessible.
No room for a proper pantry? A slim pullout one can be tucked into the tightest of spaces, and even items way at the back are easily accessible.
7. Minimalist hardware
It may seem like a small thing, but in a really narrow galley kitchen, it’s easy to knock into bulky knobs and handles. Keep things looking and feeling sleek by choosing slender, minimalist pulls. High-gloss cupboards and proper lighting also help open up the tight kitchen here.
Check out more galley kitchens
It may seem like a small thing, but in a really narrow galley kitchen, it’s easy to knock into bulky knobs and handles. Keep things looking and feeling sleek by choosing slender, minimalist pulls. High-gloss cupboards and proper lighting also help open up the tight kitchen here.
Check out more galley kitchens
8. Cabinets to the ceiling
Why stop a tad short when you can take the cabinets all the way up? Even if you can’t easily access what’s in the top cupboards, in a small space it’s still worth having the storage option. Having ceiling-height cabinets also helps visually expand the space.
Why stop a tad short when you can take the cabinets all the way up? Even if you can’t easily access what’s in the top cupboards, in a small space it’s still worth having the storage option. Having ceiling-height cabinets also helps visually expand the space.
9. No door
Removing the kitchen door is so easy and helps a small room feel much larger. Better still, have the opening widened or a wall removed. Opening up the kitchen is about more than style – having extra space to move around in will help keep two cooks from bumping into each other quite so much.
10. Make paring back an art form
Keep the best and ditch the rest. Keep only the best knives, your favourite set of glasses, the most adorable teapot, the most frequently used kitchen tools and so on. Be ruthless about purging clutter. And it wouldn’t hurt to choose clear glass and acrylic for the items you keep on display – transparent items make a room feel more spacious.
MORE
Small Kitchens From Around the World
Compact Kitchens: 10 Space-Enhancing Tips
Push and Pull: Kitchen Hardware That Is As Practical As It Is Pretty
TELL US
Do you have a tiny kitchen? What works for you? Let us know in the comments section below.
Removing the kitchen door is so easy and helps a small room feel much larger. Better still, have the opening widened or a wall removed. Opening up the kitchen is about more than style – having extra space to move around in will help keep two cooks from bumping into each other quite so much.
10. Make paring back an art form
Keep the best and ditch the rest. Keep only the best knives, your favourite set of glasses, the most adorable teapot, the most frequently used kitchen tools and so on. Be ruthless about purging clutter. And it wouldn’t hurt to choose clear glass and acrylic for the items you keep on display – transparent items make a room feel more spacious.
MORE
Small Kitchens From Around the World
Compact Kitchens: 10 Space-Enhancing Tips
Push and Pull: Kitchen Hardware That Is As Practical As It Is Pretty
TELL US
Do you have a tiny kitchen? What works for you? Let us know in the comments section below.
Revamped vintage appliances, such as the stove shown here (a vintage O’Keefe and Merritt), and vintage-look ones, such as this fridge (from Elmira Stove Works), can be found in smaller sizes that don’t sacrifice style. High-end makers including Bertazzoni and Viking also make small-space models, so even serious cooks can find something that fits the space and works hard.
2. Single-bowl sink
Simply going with a single rather than double bowl for the sink can save you 30 centimetres or more of benchtop space. Small-scale single-bowl sinks come in all styles – a farmhouse style like the one shown here still feels capacious.