19 Design Tricks to Maximise Space in a Small Kitchen
Expand your visual and physical space with these tips to increase storage and openness
tidgboutique
11 October 2019
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Designing a small kitchen may seem like a challenge, but it’s also an opportunity to pull out some clever tricks for maximising its function and increasing its visual size. Here are 19 of my favourite ways to do just that.
1. Play both sides of an island
An island bench is a great place to include storage, but sometimes items can get lost at the back of deep low cabinets.
Instead, consider using cabinets that open from both sides, or incorporate back-to-back shallow cabinets on each side of your island bench. This will let you store pieces within easy reach and prevents any items from being buried at the back of deep cabinets.
Find a specialised kitchen designer on Houzz near you to maximise space in your small kitchen
An island bench is a great place to include storage, but sometimes items can get lost at the back of deep low cabinets.
Instead, consider using cabinets that open from both sides, or incorporate back-to-back shallow cabinets on each side of your island bench. This will let you store pieces within easy reach and prevents any items from being buried at the back of deep cabinets.
Find a specialised kitchen designer on Houzz near you to maximise space in your small kitchen
2. Try an open island or butcher’s block
Rather than a typical cabinet-based island bench, try using a cart-style or butcher’s-block island with open sides. Island carts give a barely-there look that can make your kitchen appear more open, while still providing useful storage you can access from all sides.
If the island is moveable, it will also allow you to pull it up to the back bench or push it away when convenient. You could even roll it to another area of your home to serve as a buffet station or bar cart.
Rather than a typical cabinet-based island bench, try using a cart-style or butcher’s-block island with open sides. Island carts give a barely-there look that can make your kitchen appear more open, while still providing useful storage you can access from all sides.
If the island is moveable, it will also allow you to pull it up to the back bench or push it away when convenient. You could even roll it to another area of your home to serve as a buffet station or bar cart.
3. Work with contrasts
You may think that using a dark colour in a small kitchen is a total no-no, but contrasting light and dark can create optical effects that help make a kitchen look larger.
Using a bit of dark grey on a back wall behind surrounding white cabinets, like in this example, causes the back wall to visually recede, which gives the illusion of extra space.
You may think that using a dark colour in a small kitchen is a total no-no, but contrasting light and dark can create optical effects that help make a kitchen look larger.
Using a bit of dark grey on a back wall behind surrounding white cabinets, like in this example, causes the back wall to visually recede, which gives the illusion of extra space.
4. Consider bench-depth upper cabinets
Rather than using typical 30-centimetre-deep upper cabinets alone, consider using these at eye-level and framing them with a row of 600-centimetre-deep cabinets above (or the same depth as your benchtop), as shown here.
This makes your higher cabinets flush with a pantry or fridge for a tidy look and provides a bit more storage space for less-used or larger items, such as wide mixing bowls or seasonal table settings.
Browse more images of black kitchens
Rather than using typical 30-centimetre-deep upper cabinets alone, consider using these at eye-level and framing them with a row of 600-centimetre-deep cabinets above (or the same depth as your benchtop), as shown here.
This makes your higher cabinets flush with a pantry or fridge for a tidy look and provides a bit more storage space for less-used or larger items, such as wide mixing bowls or seasonal table settings.
Browse more images of black kitchens
5. Embrace cabinetry and open shelving
Like the look of open upper shelves but don’t want to lose any storage space? Consider using open shelves like these, which sit beside closed cabinets, giving you the easy-reach functionality of open storage without committing to a full wall.
This set-up will look cleaner than a full wall of open shelving, and everyday items such as glassware will still be easy to grab.
Like the look of open upper shelves but don’t want to lose any storage space? Consider using open shelves like these, which sit beside closed cabinets, giving you the easy-reach functionality of open storage without committing to a full wall.
This set-up will look cleaner than a full wall of open shelving, and everyday items such as glassware will still be easy to grab.
6. Ceiling mount some open shelves
Another great alternative to trendy open shelves above your main wall of cabinets is to use open shelves above a peninsula instead.
This gives you a handy, visually obvious spot to place items that a guest might want to use, but without completely boxing in sightlines, so you can still see into and out of the kitchen to rooms beyond.
Another great alternative to trendy open shelves above your main wall of cabinets is to use open shelves above a peninsula instead.
This gives you a handy, visually obvious spot to place items that a guest might want to use, but without completely boxing in sightlines, so you can still see into and out of the kitchen to rooms beyond.
7. Float an island or peninsula benchtop
Depending on the layout of your kitchen, sometimes the ideal spot for an oven or a set of drawers will be a bit too close to an island or peninsula bench.
This kitchen solves that issue by using a floating benchtop that extends a bit beyond the peninsula base, so there isn’t anything in the way of swinging doors, or your legs, as you move about.
Depending on the layout of your kitchen, sometimes the ideal spot for an oven or a set of drawers will be a bit too close to an island or peninsula bench.
This kitchen solves that issue by using a floating benchtop that extends a bit beyond the peninsula base, so there isn’t anything in the way of swinging doors, or your legs, as you move about.
8. Say hello to high uppers
Upper cabinets often start about 50 centimetres above a benchtop, but starting them a little higher (60 to 75 centimetres) can help you feel a lot less boxed in as you work at the benchtop below.
If you’re tall or don’t mind using a step stool, the extra elbow room and visual space below can mean a world of difference.
Upper cabinets often start about 50 centimetres above a benchtop, but starting them a little higher (60 to 75 centimetres) can help you feel a lot less boxed in as you work at the benchtop below.
If you’re tall or don’t mind using a step stool, the extra elbow room and visual space below can mean a world of difference.
Starting the upper cabinets at the height of your range hood also creates a cleaner line compared to having your cabinetry at one height and your range hood cabinet at another.
Disappearing Range Hoods: A New Kitchen Trend?
Disappearing Range Hoods: A New Kitchen Trend?
9. Get seats that tuck in
A surface that can function as both a dining table and a food-preparation station is handy to have in a compact kitchen, but bulky stools or chairs can take up more space than they’re worth.
Avoid tripping over splayed legs by choosing backless bar stools that fully tuck under your benchtop so they’re not in the way when not in use.
Key Measurements to Consider When Designing the Perfect Kitchen Island
A surface that can function as both a dining table and a food-preparation station is handy to have in a compact kitchen, but bulky stools or chairs can take up more space than they’re worth.
Avoid tripping over splayed legs by choosing backless bar stools that fully tuck under your benchtop so they’re not in the way when not in use.
Key Measurements to Consider When Designing the Perfect Kitchen Island
10. Open up a pass-through
One very effective way to make your kitchen feel bigger is to open up a partition wall to create a pass-through window or servery space.
If you build a benchtop around the opening and extend it a little on the side opposite your kitchen, you can enlarge the functional size of your kitchen by borrowing space from the adjacent room.
One very effective way to make your kitchen feel bigger is to open up a partition wall to create a pass-through window or servery space.
If you build a benchtop around the opening and extend it a little on the side opposite your kitchen, you can enlarge the functional size of your kitchen by borrowing space from the adjacent room.
11. Get mirrored splashbacks
Don’t have a wall you can open up to create a servery window? You can still create the look of one by using a mirrored splashback. The reflective surface gives the illusion of depth beyond your cabinets.
Don’t have a wall you can open up to create a servery window? You can still create the look of one by using a mirrored splashback. The reflective surface gives the illusion of depth beyond your cabinets.
12. Add in drawer organisers
While drawer and cabinet organisers are a handy luxury in any kitchen, they are especially important in a smaller kitchen. Squeezing in as much storage as possible isn’t helpful unless that storage is functional. Breaking up drawers into compartments allows you to store more objects, more effectively.
While drawer and cabinet organisers are a handy luxury in any kitchen, they are especially important in a smaller kitchen. Squeezing in as much storage as possible isn’t helpful unless that storage is functional. Breaking up drawers into compartments allows you to store more objects, more effectively.
13. Hit up hanging storage
Speaking of squeezing in more kitchen storage, adding a rail to your splashback or to the bottom of wall-mounted cabinets gives you a handy place to hang utensils such as cooking spoons, mugs, measuring cups, rolls of paper towel or tea towels.
Speaking of squeezing in more kitchen storage, adding a rail to your splashback or to the bottom of wall-mounted cabinets gives you a handy place to hang utensils such as cooking spoons, mugs, measuring cups, rolls of paper towel or tea towels.
14. Choose under-cabinet shelves
This kitchen uses a small niche created by a change in wall depth (to the right of the stove) to create a little storage zone for spices. A shallow shelf under a stretch of upper cabinets can be a great spot to stash small items including spice jars, salt and pepper, or tea. This works especially well if you use the shortened bench space below to store other items rather than using that place for meal preparation (so none of these items are really in your way).
This kitchen uses a small niche created by a change in wall depth (to the right of the stove) to create a little storage zone for spices. A shallow shelf under a stretch of upper cabinets can be a great spot to stash small items including spice jars, salt and pepper, or tea. This works especially well if you use the shortened bench space below to store other items rather than using that place for meal preparation (so none of these items are really in your way).
15. Take on a tray
Sometimes all you need to make a kitchen feel less cluttered and more open is a simple tray.
Gathering items such as wooden spoons, a knife block, a mortar and pestle, and a kitchen timer all on a tray or cutting board visually tricks our brain into seeing them as organised. It’s a quick trick that can make a big difference to your sense of visual organisation.
Browse more images of white kitchens
Sometimes all you need to make a kitchen feel less cluttered and more open is a simple tray.
Gathering items such as wooden spoons, a knife block, a mortar and pestle, and a kitchen timer all on a tray or cutting board visually tricks our brain into seeing them as organised. It’s a quick trick that can make a big difference to your sense of visual organisation.
Browse more images of white kitchens
16. Trade benchtop space for storage
In any kitchen design, there has to be some consideration about when to prioritise storage space and when to prioritise bench space. In a truly compact kitchen, it can be a smart choice to give up additional bench space for more full-height cabinetry that will help keep your bench space uncluttered.
If you have enough room to prepare a meal, that’s really all you need. In many kitchens, long stretches of bench space go unused, with the island being the go-to preparation space.
For a more efficient use of space, consider trading 60 centimetres of bench space for one extra full-height pantry cabinet or a cupboard to store your appliances.
In any kitchen design, there has to be some consideration about when to prioritise storage space and when to prioritise bench space. In a truly compact kitchen, it can be a smart choice to give up additional bench space for more full-height cabinetry that will help keep your bench space uncluttered.
If you have enough room to prepare a meal, that’s really all you need. In many kitchens, long stretches of bench space go unused, with the island being the go-to preparation space.
For a more efficient use of space, consider trading 60 centimetres of bench space for one extra full-height pantry cabinet or a cupboard to store your appliances.
17. Pack in a pull-out chopping station
Some days you need a bit more bench space than others, and when there are extra vegetables to chop, a dedicated chopping station can be super helpful.
A clever pull-out chopping station, complete with a chopping-block top, can be integrated into a set of drawers so you have it handy when needed and tucked away when not in use.
Some days you need a bit more bench space than others, and when there are extra vegetables to chop, a dedicated chopping station can be super helpful.
A clever pull-out chopping station, complete with a chopping-block top, can be integrated into a set of drawers so you have it handy when needed and tucked away when not in use.
18. Consider a central stove and range hood
Positioning your stovetop and range hood on an island or peninsula, rather than against a wall, doesn’t necessarily free up space. However, it does mean you can use a central fan, which leaves your cabinet wall without a large obstacle in the way of your storage cabinets.
This set-up leaves the centre of the room still relatively open so as not to block conversation and sightlines, and allows for uninterrupted upper cabinets on the main walls of your kitchen for plenty of storage.
Positioning your stovetop and range hood on an island or peninsula, rather than against a wall, doesn’t necessarily free up space. However, it does mean you can use a central fan, which leaves your cabinet wall without a large obstacle in the way of your storage cabinets.
This set-up leaves the centre of the room still relatively open so as not to block conversation and sightlines, and allows for uninterrupted upper cabinets on the main walls of your kitchen for plenty of storage.
19. Swap in some secret floor storage
This last idea may not be practical for most homes, but it was too fun not to include. This cool kitchen has a wine-storage area built into the floor. Sometimes when you want to add a little more storage to your kitchen, you have to think outside the box.
Your turn
Which of these 19 ideas could work in your kitchen? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Need more inspiration on kitchen organisation? Read up on 3 Ways to Conquer Clutter on Kitchen Benchtops… for Good
This last idea may not be practical for most homes, but it was too fun not to include. This cool kitchen has a wine-storage area built into the floor. Sometimes when you want to add a little more storage to your kitchen, you have to think outside the box.
Your turn
Which of these 19 ideas could work in your kitchen? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Need more inspiration on kitchen organisation? Read up on 3 Ways to Conquer Clutter on Kitchen Benchtops… for Good
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I thought this was about actually maximising kitchen space, not creating an illusion. No 3?
These are all lovely and good hints, but if you have room to use both sides of the island, or have seating on the others side of a peninsula, it's not a small kitchen. From what i can tell, most all of these have 3 walls with an open side opening into another room, giving both increased visual space and more maneuverability than a a true small space. Surely, please, there are examples for those who essentially have enclosed spaces and pullman kitchens.
@Pattio56 came across your comment recently which i think was about my kitchen photo. No, I know you don’t store wine next to the cooker. That was taken right after the installers had left. It was an awkward size little gap and they were using the space. I removed the little front pieces, found plastic totes that fitted the spaces, covered them with fabric that complemented the kitchen, and that’s where all my dog’s snacks and accoutrements live. Since that photo was taken I got round to tiling all the kitchen with a beautiful iridescent mother of pearl tile.