Living in an small apartment teaches a person that a small kitchen do not have to be an uncomfortable area to relax in. Making the wrong decision about kitchen cabinets can lead to a kitchen where a person is constantly dodging hot pot lids when other individuals in the house open the cabinet’s drawer. However, a person can solve this problem with a handful of storage idea.
These ideas are not about buying more kitchen items. In addition, these ideas are not about adding items to the kitchen. These ideas are about finding a way to use the space a person already owns.
Using the walls of the kitchen for storage is one idea that often go unnoticed. Using the inside of doors for storage is another idea. Using the area above the counter in the kitchen is yet another idea.
Once a person starts to envision the kitchen with these different area in mind for storage, the kitchen will suddenly appear much more open. There are eight idea that will have a large impact on the kitchen with a small amount of effort. Some ideas are inexpensive while others require a little bit of work over the weekend.
Eight Clever Ways to Maximize Small Kitchen Space
1. Install Tension Rods in Cabinets
Installing tension rods in the interior of the cabinets of the kitchen are an inexpensive way of creating additional shelves in the cabinets. Using tension rods is the same as using these rods to create a shelf for a shower curtain. If a person hangs one of these rods in the middle of a tall cabinet, for instance, the person can use that new shelf for items such as cutting board or baking sheets.
These tension rods are beneficial because a person can move them to another spot in the cabinet if a person suddenly finds that they need to create more space for something like a Dutch oven or for other spice. Using tension rods in the kitchen is an easy way of increasing the space that a person can use for storing items in their kitchen cabinets. Using tension rods under the sink is another helpful idea because the person can use these rods to create a shelf for spray bottle.
When the person hangs kitchen items on the tension rod, the person will no longer have to search for the dish soap. This small kitchen gadget can be used for storing additional items under the sink. Many people overlook the space under the sink because of the way in which it is typically seen as a messy portion of the kitchen.
However, using tension rods in this area of the kitchen can help the person to find their items quickly.
2. Use Hooks for Pots and Pans
Using hooks on the ceiling or on the wall to hang pots and pans allow a person to free up the space that these large cooking utensil take up in the kitchen cabinets. In kitchens that are under ten feet in width, this idea is likely to be the most effective.
If a person hangs the pots and pans, that space can be used for other kitchen items such as mixing bowl or appliances that a person does not use as often. Using hooks to hang these pots and pans will create the same look as if a person were cooking in a restaurant. However, using them will reduce the headroom in the kitchen.
For kitchens with eight-foot ceiling and cook who stand under five-foot-six in height, this idea is worth considering. However, for cooks who stand taller, hanging rack that can be mounted on the wall may be a better idea.
3. Mount Magnetic Strips for Knives
Using magnetic strips on the wall above the countertop in the kitchen can be used for two purpose.
First, magnetic strips will hold knives and keep them out of the drawers of the kitchen table. Additionally, these magnetic strips can provide a professional look to the kitchen. If the cook displays the knives on these magnetic strips, the cook is more likely to keep the knives clean.
This idea require that the person install the magnetic strip into the stud of the countertop because it would not be ideal for the knives to fall onto the countertops.
4. Attach Slim Wire Racks to Cabinet Doors
The back of the doors of the kitchen’s cabinets can be used for additional storage with the use of slim wire rack. These wire racks can be used to store items such as aluminum foil, plastic wrap, spice, and measuring cups.
For these racks to work for the persons kitchen, the person should purchase the racks such that they do not extend into the kitchen cabinet’s opening. These kitchen cabinets are likely the best storage location in the kitchen for renters because these organizer will leave no marks on the cabinets. When the kitchen is moved to a new location, the kitchen appliance will be disassembled and the space will be left as it was.
This idea is one that can be re-used in a variety of kitchen.
5. Utilize Pull-Out Pantry Shelves or Rolling Carts
Using pull-out pantry shelves or rolling wire cart can be used in the tight space between the refrigerator and the kitchen’s wall. This idea works especially well for kitchens in older apartments where the space between the fridge and the wall is only four or five inches in width.
A slim pantry shelf can be pushed into the gap between the refrigerator and the cabinet. The fridge shelves can be used to store canned good and other snack. This cart allow these items to be accessed without having to reach into the tight space between the fridge and the wall.
If the space between the fridge and the wall is slightly wider than four inch, a three- or four-tier cart will allow the person to store more item in the kitchen.
6. Organize Drawers with Dividers
Drawer organizer are small but useful tool that can make a difference in a kitchen. Using a divider made of inexpensive bamboo or a cutlery tray in the drawers will keep utensil from becoming a messy collection in the drawers.
When each utensil has a place in the kitchen drawers, the cook will not have to purchase additional utensil for the kitchen. Each drawer may also have more space to include a vertical rack for platter or cookie sheets. When the person places them upright into the drawer, these platter and cookie sheets can be easily removed from the deep drawers without having to crouch or search for the items.
The time that a person save each week with these drawer organizers will be amazing.
7. Add a Rolling Island or Butcher Block
Using a rolling island or a butcher block on wheels can be an idea that is used to maximize each kitchen’s space. When not in use, the person can place the rolling island against one of the walls in the kitchen.
However, when the cook or chef need an area to place food or other counter items, the island can be rolled into the cooking area. Many rolling island come with a lower shelf or a set of drawer to store additional kitchen items. This rolling island can become one of the most used item in the kitchen that has limited counter.
However, the rolling island must have lock on the wheels in case it is a safety hazard if it rolls into another chef or cook.
8. Install Open Shelving
Using open shelving on one of the walls can help a person to create the sense of an open kitchen. Shelves that are allowed to float in the air can be used to create a sense of openness in the small kitchen.
These open shelf can contain the cooks most beautiful or often used items. All other item in the kitchen should be stored in the hidden area in the kitchen. The open shelving will make the kitchen feel larger in size to the cooks who enter the kitchen.
Additionally, using open shelving will force the cooks to remain organized within their kitchen. Using these different idea for organizing the small kitchen will work better when they are all used together than when they are used individually. Using the tension rods, using hooks to hang the pots and pans, and using door organizer will transform a small galley kitchen into a large one.
One of the best idea for maximizing the potential of a small kitchen is to use the space in ways that do not require purchasing additional item for the kitchen. Instead, using geometry to the kitchen and utilizing the vertical space and hidden area will work the best for maximizing the efficiency of the cooks. A small apartment does not have to come with a small kitchen.
However, the kitchen that a person has do need to be smarter. Seeing these idea and utilizing them will allow each person to find solution to their kitchen problems. Each person can choose the idea that will be most helpful to them.
By installing the small kitchen gadget this weekend, the whole kitchen will begin to work better.
