Small Kitchen Planning
by D Wong
A small kitchen can function as well as a large kitchen if it is planned carefully. There are two main elements that need to be considered when designing a small kitchen. Firstly, how to maximise storage and work spaces in a small kitchen and secondly, how to make a small kitchen look more spacious. Here are some ideas:
To ensure there is enough storage space in a small kitchen, consider installing cupboards up to the ceiling to maximise storage in a small kitchen and glass cupboard doors make a small kitchen feel more open and less "boxed in". Open shelves can also make a small kitchen look more open, especially glass open shelves, which can let light through and brighten up a small kitchen.
Sliding doors and roller doors require less space to open than swinging doors and are perfect for small and narrow kitchens. If there is a lack of counter space, consider a pull-out table in a small kitchen. It’s only there when you need it and won’t take up any extra space.
Use the empty wall space for storage. You can free up your counter space by making use of the empty space above your countertop. The easiest way is to use one of those wall rail systems. You simply put things wherever you like along the rail. For example, matching accessories such as hooks for hanging utensils, paper towel holders, cutlery holders, spick racks, dish drainers and wine glass holders can be positioned to suit your needs.
Putting your microwave oven in a wall cabinet will not only maximise your counter space but will also reduce clutters on your countertop, just make sure the microwave is mounted at a safe level for you to operate.
A sink without a drainer makes the countertop look more spacious and provides more work space. A portable draining tray can be used instead. The tray can easily be put away when not needed and can sometimes fit over the sink bowl to give extra work surface.
A freestanding range cooker may be easy to install but a built-in oven and a built-in cooktop (hob) will help a small kitchen look more spacious by creating one continuous line along countertops and kickboards. Also by integrating appliances such as dishwashers and fridges behind cabinet doors, the run of cabinet doors is not interrupted and can flow across the room thus making the kitchen look more spacious.
A kitchen on legs also creates a visually larger space by maximising the exposure of the floor. To further increase the visual illusion of a bigger space, low-heat lighting may be used underneath the base cabinets to create a floating effect of the kitchen.
Light reflective surfaces brighten up a small kitchen and make it feel more open and try not to use very large tiles on the floor and the wall in a small kitchen. Smaller tiles visually increase the size of the room. And small cupboard knobs and handles may look less obtrusive than large chunky handles.
You can also choose from a huge range of compact kitchen appliances to suit a small kitchen: Narrow dishwashers, narrow cooktops/hobs, compact ovens or ovens combined with microwave functions, etc.
To ensure there is enough storage space in a small kitchen, consider installing cupboards up to the ceiling to maximise storage in a small kitchen and glass cupboard doors make a small kitchen feel more open and less "boxed in". Open shelves can also make a small kitchen look more open, especially glass open shelves, which can let light through and brighten up a small kitchen.
Sliding doors and roller doors require less space to open than swinging doors and are perfect for small and narrow kitchens. If there is a lack of counter space, consider a pull-out table in a small kitchen. It’s only there when you need it and won’t take up any extra space.
Use the empty wall space for storage. You can free up your counter space by making use of the empty space above your countertop. The easiest way is to use one of those wall rail systems. You simply put things wherever you like along the rail. For example, matching accessories such as hooks for hanging utensils, paper towel holders, cutlery holders, spick racks, dish drainers and wine glass holders can be positioned to suit your needs.
Putting your microwave oven in a wall cabinet will not only maximise your counter space but will also reduce clutters on your countertop, just make sure the microwave is mounted at a safe level for you to operate.
A sink without a drainer makes the countertop look more spacious and provides more work space. A portable draining tray can be used instead. The tray can easily be put away when not needed and can sometimes fit over the sink bowl to give extra work surface.
A freestanding range cooker may be easy to install but a built-in oven and a built-in cooktop (hob) will help a small kitchen look more spacious by creating one continuous line along countertops and kickboards. Also by integrating appliances such as dishwashers and fridges behind cabinet doors, the run of cabinet doors is not interrupted and can flow across the room thus making the kitchen look more spacious.
A kitchen on legs also creates a visually larger space by maximising the exposure of the floor. To further increase the visual illusion of a bigger space, low-heat lighting may be used underneath the base cabinets to create a floating effect of the kitchen.
Light reflective surfaces brighten up a small kitchen and make it feel more open and try not to use very large tiles on the floor and the wall in a small kitchen. Smaller tiles visually increase the size of the room. And small cupboard knobs and handles may look less obtrusive than large chunky handles.
You can also choose from a huge range of compact kitchen appliances to suit a small kitchen: Narrow dishwashers, narrow cooktops/hobs, compact ovens or ovens combined with microwave functions, etc.
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