Space Saving Kitchen Design Tips

Maximize your small kitchen space with these unique design ideas:

Most Americans don’t have as much space in their kitchen as they would like. But if expanding your kitchen isn’t an option or if you have a limited design budget, then you need to do what you can to maximize the usability of the space you have available. There are many methods for doing so, some of which are outlined in the tips below:

Build a double duty drying cabinet.

If your counter space is minimal, then you’ll want to look for ways to keep counters as free as possible. After all, you need counter space for cooking and for appliances, so why waste space on something like a dish drying rack?

Instead, consider a drying cabinet. This kitchen space saver looks just like a cabinet from the outside, but its bottom is constructed from stainless steel racks instead of wooden boards. This allows you to store your dishes in the same place you dry them. A great example can be found here.

Build a breakfast nook.

Small kitchen spaces often lack the open look that most homeowners crave. With all the things that need to fit into a kitchen, how do you overcome the cluttered, crowded look and create the illusion of space and openness?

One solution is to build a breakfast nook. In contrast to a kitchen table, which often sits heavily in the middle of the room, taking up space and making the room feel crowded, breakfast nooks are tucked neatly into corners and against walls. This keeps the floor plan open and energized, which helps to make the kitchen feel roomier.

Think vertically.

One mistake made by many homeowners with small kitchens is that they think horizontally. This means that they arrange things from side to side on one level, which usually results in them storing things on counter space. Not only does this make the kitchen look cluttered, but it also wastes valuable workspace on storage.

Instead, try moving things up or down. You can install a rack for pots and pans above the island, move the microwave above the stove, or install a skinny vertical pull-out cabinet in the space between cabinets that’s often wasted.

Buy a kitchen cart.

If your kitchen is small, then you probably don’t have enough room for an island. Islands require about three feet on every side for walking space, and in many kitchens, this type of space simply isn’t available. If you want the versatility and usefulness of an island but don’t have the space, then consider a kitchen cart instead.

A kitchen cart can be wheeled into the space where an island would normally sit, and it can be used for cooking, extra counter space, storage, or even as a buffet table when you’re entertaining guests. Then, if the room looks crowded with the cart in position, you can simply wheel it into a corner or a closet when it is not in use.

Just because you have a small kitchen space doesn’t mean you have to settle on a cluttered and overcrowded room layout. Instead, use the space saving tips above to see how you can rearrange your kitchen into one of the most open and inviting rooms in your home.

Some of the tips above, though, might require the help of an expert builder or contractor. If you’re unsure of your ability to tackle any of the projects listed above or if you simply don’t have the time to do it yourself, then consider hiring a contractor to do the job for you. And if you’re in the Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, DC area, then Hartman Construction is just the contractor for you. A family-owned business, no job is too big or too small for Hartman. They value honesty and transparency more than anything else, and their up-front and straightforward estimates reflect that attitude. For more information and to see why Hartman is the area’s favorite contractor, visit their website today, or check out these selections from their builder blog: