How to Design a Small Kitchen

Do you have big renovation plans but only a small kitchen? In this article, we’ll provide you with all the tips and tricks you need.

Designing a small kitchen can be tricky, especially if you have big design ideas and a desperate need to take advantage of all the storage space you can.

Here, we’ll discuss all the things you can consider to make your small space seem much bigger, and how the team at Builders Discount Warehouse can help you achieve this.

Ways to Save Space in a Small Kitchen

Saving space – and making room for storage wherever you can – is one of the main things you can do to make a smaller space appear larger, and take advantage of every spare corner you have.

In this section, we’ll discuss some of the ways you can make it happen.

Use Your Kitchen Island or Peninsula

You might think the main purpose of a kitchen island or peninsula is for prep space, and this is indeed one of its uses. But when you have a small kitchen, installing cabinetry or using the space underneath your island for storage is a great option.

Another option you may want to consider is having a temporary island, as opposed to a built-in one. With an island on wheels, you can simply move it in and out of your kitchen as you need it.

This is especially useful if you often have a lot of people assisting you in the kitchen and don’t want it to be so crowded, or have guests for a party and need the extra seating space.

Use Freestanding Drawers in Cabinets & Pantries

If you want the flexibility of cabinets without shelving, but need the extra storage space offered by drawers or shelving, there are options.

You might want to consider using wire, freestanding drawers in your pantry, or talk to our design team about other clever, multi-use options you have at your disposal.

Open Shelving or Hooks

It’s true, open shelving can be considered passe, particularly if it’s overused. But when done well, your kitchen design can really benefit from it.

Consider how you use your kitchen, where you would most benefit from open shelving, and whether the maintenance is something you’re willing to commit to before making your decision. You may even choose to add hooks to the back of your cabinet doors if the open display isn’t for you.

Use Space Above Cabinets

If you’ve installed cabinets that don’t go to the roof, and replacing them with ones that do isn’t something you can do easily, you can still make use of the space. Store the things you don’t use frequently up there.

Bonus points if you choose items that look great, like your cookbook collection or your Grandma’s teaware set you can’t bear to part with.

Create Compartmentalised Cabinetry or Pull Out Shelving

Another thing you might want to consider is creating compartmentalised cabinetry or cabinets and drawers specifically designed for those bigger appliances you don’t want to keep on display. Or install custom pull-out shelving that doesn’t encroach on your cupboard storage.

You can even store your spices in a drawer if you don’t want to keep them on the countertop as part of your everyday use.

Use Backsplash as Storage

Are you looking for a funky new design trend for your backsplash, but still need storage. Have your designer order custom shelves for that area. When done right, it can look great without compromising on your design.

Take Advantage of Your Window Sill

Window sills are often overlooked in kitchen design, but there are so many ways you can use them effectively. You might want to install a herb garden to add an organic flair to your kitchen, or how about you bring the outside in by creating a flow-through servery?

Get Rid of Corner Cabinets

Corner cabinets may seem like a good idea, but in reality, they aren’t all that practical. Most of the time, the space is awkward to access, and you can only store certain things in there. Ditch them altogether and extend your other cabinets to take advantage of more storage.

Take Advantage of Your Butler’s Pantry

A butler’s pantry is meant to be an extension of your kitchen, and if you have the room for it, can be a great asset. If you think you might benefit from a butler’s pantry (or don’t know if having one is something you want), you might want to check out this article.

Eliminate the Bin Cupboard

While some people swear you should have a bin cupboard, if it really doesn’t suit the design of your kitchen (or the space you have available), you don’t need it!

If you have a bin cupboard in your small kitchen design but you need the allocated space for something else, take your red pen to those plans and get rid of it.

Create a Multi-Use Kitchen

The kitchen is considered the heart of the home, but these days it’s not always reserved for cooking and meal preparation alone. It’s the dining room, or the homework table, the TV room and so much more.

Talk to a qualified designer to figure out what will work for you.

How Can Builders Discount Warehouse Help with Kitchen Design?

Not only is Builders Discount Warehouse your one-stop shop for everything you need to fit out the kitchen of your dreams, we’re also your first point of call for design advice and expertise.

At Builders Discount Warehouse, our design team members are some of the best in the business, with access to the latest and greatest tools to bring your sketches to life.

To get the most out of your small kitchen design, speak to our experts today and arrange a one-to-one consultation.