While many of us would like to own homes with big, spacious kitchens, not all of us do. We have work with what we have and learn how to live with it. Right? Wrong! What if I told you, your kitchen doesn’t have to be a constant source of frustration with just a few small tweaks? What if you were able to garner more space without having to increase it’s footprint? Your kitchen has the potential to be a place you would love to cook in and enjoy to be in if you are willing to let go of your negativity and tap into your ingenuity.
Falling in love your a small kitchen isn’t easy. It is a bit like loving an angry rescue dog. But with patience and perseverance, it is possible.
5 Small Kitchen Design Ideas You Should Try
Turn Your Sink Into Something Special
Just because your kitchen is small, it doesn’t mean it can’t be beautiful. Nothing is stopping you from decking it out with attractive, rustic features that make it look elegant and stylish. Your sink is a case in point. Many older home kitchens have steel or aluminum sinks that look like something you’d find in a public bathroom. They’re not inspiring, and they make your home feel cheap and unloved.
Upgrading your sink is a simple way to upgrade your whole kitchen at a fraction of the cost. If you haven’t shopped for a kitchen sink in awhile, you will be pleasantly surprised at all the options available now. There are so many styles and colours to choose from. And while you are at it, see if your sink cabinet can accommodate a larger or double sink. Why not opt for something that makes a bold statement or creates a focal point, like a genuine Belfast sink, complete with a custom faucet? Washing up will feel more like a pilgrimage to a beautiful shrine.
Use Space Wisely
When you have a small kitchen, you are pressed for space. That means you need to use every nook and cranny available. Here are a few options for you to look at:
- The original kitchen in my home had an empty bulkhead above the cabinets. When I re-did my kitchen, I had it removed so that cabinets could extent all the way up to the ceiling to garner me some much needed extra cabinet space. I keep seldom used items at the top and have a foldable step stool tucked in beside my refrigerator for when I need to reach them.
- If you have an empty wall without a counter in your kitchen, try filling it with cabinets equipped with sliding doors. This makes them less intrusive when being used and they don’t get in the way when you try to work.
- Try re-arranging. One of the other things I did in my kitchen was switch out the placement of the refrigerator and the stove. While this didn’t give me more “space”, it did improve the workflow areas and made it possible for 2 people to work more easily at the same time.
- Use every nook and cranny. I had a small space between my refrigerator and wall that I turned into a sliding pantry with this simple DIY pantry project. It holds so much and frees up cupboard space in other areas.
Small kitchens more so than large kitchens need a good layout to maximize space. If you don’t know have a clue how to do that, ask a kitchen design firm. It is well worth the investment., even if you plan on doing the work yourself.
Celebrate The Counter Space You Have
Galley kitchens are notorious for their lack of counter space. But with a little love, attention, and ingenuity, you can dramatically improve your experience of the kitchen. Here are a few suggestions:
- Don’t leave your cooking implements in a bucket beside your stove. You just don’t have space. Instead, file them away in a drawer, or use a wall rack to hang them up in a convenient position.
- Stop putting your microwave and coffee machine on your sideboards. You know they only take up precious space and they make it a nightmare when several people are trying to cook.
- Replace your old countertops and replace them with something bright, high-quality, and up-lifting. Stone is ideal.
Make A Killer Spice Drawer
Rummaging about in a basket for the spices that you need for your meals is never any fun. You have to guess which shaker you should pick up and use. Creating a killer spice drawer can make it much more fun to use your kitchen, and cuts down on mess. Arrange everything alphabetically, and then store it out of the way. Buying a set of empty spice jars and emptying the store bought containers into them is also a great way to ensure they all fit nicely and stay organized. 
Make A Statement With Your Backsplash
If you have a small kitchen, your goal should be to create dozens of little “moments” where you celebrate your setup. Instead of just using regular plain tiles, do something different. Why not create a mosaic? Why not fit a central, showpiece tile? You have creative options. Use them. Using eye-catching tiles draws your eye away from your small kitchen and towards an area you wish to highlight.
Small kitchens are a challenge but totally worth the effort. As the heart of your home, your kitchen should be a place everyone loves to be in. Whether you opt for a few small changes or a total re-do, you can make your kitchen a masterpiece.