Kitchen design - make a small kitchen

At one time or another, just about everyone will have to live with at kitchen that is smaller than desired. If you take storage, traffic flow, function, and aesthetics into consideration, you will be able to come up with clever solutions to make the most of your small kitchen.

Storage: You will need to be creative with storage space. For your pots and pans, install a pot rack on the ceiling or wall, and display them in the open. If you cannot fit a refrigerator and freezer big enough for your family in the room, consider putting a smaller refrigerator/freezer in the kitchen, and another in the garage or basement to store items that you don't use as often. Turn a nearby utility closet into a pantry. Store special occasion china and other items you do not use often in anther room, like the dining room, or a chest of drawers in the living room for instance. Consider storing some things out in the open. Purchase attractive kitchen canisters for your flour, sugar, pasta, rice, tea, coffee and other items you need quick access to. Install a magnetic strip on the wall to store knifes and large utensils. You can also store eating utensils in a basket on the counter, and teacups on hooks under the cabinets. By finding creative storage for as many items as possible, you will find you have more than enough drawer and cabinet space for your other things.

Traffic flow: A small kitchen can be a point of contention because cramped spaces often lead to short tempers. Poor traffic flow in addition to a small kitchen can make matters worse if you cannot open the refrigerator or oven door when needed because people keep walking by. Consider changing the traffic flow if this is bothersome. You can eliminate the traffic flow in a galley kitchen by installing a door in one of the entrances, and then placing a pantry cabinet in front of it for extra storage. Another thing you can do to change the traffic flow is to put snacks and the microwave near an entrance or just outside of the kitchen so there will be less reasons to get in your way.

Function: Small appliances can be a lifesaver in a small kitchen. In cases were you have only a two-burner stove, or no stove at all, a rice cooker, crock-pot, and microwave can easily compensate. In addition, these items are smaller and easier to store. If you find you need more counter space on which to prepare you meals, get a rolling cart with a butcher-block top. You can also use it for storage, and it can be rolled out of the way when not in use.

Aesthetics: There is no reason a small kitchen cannot be an attractive kitchen. To make the room more appealing to the eye, you can paint it to give it the look and feel of a larger kitchen. Open up a wall to give the room more visual space, and build an island where the wall one was to make the room feel larger and brighter. Although the kitchen will not be technically larger, you will have added a few feet by making the eating space, on the other side of where the wall used to be. If moving a wall is out of the question, you can paint dark cabinets and walls in lighter and brighter colors for a more fun and lively atmosphere. Using lighter colors will also make the room appear larger. Another way to bring more light into a small kitchen is by adding a sky light. If all else fails add more artificial light to the room in the form of pendants, or even lamps if you cannot make permanent changes to the room.