IKEA

Living in a tiny space may be difficult but forces us to think more creatively. Furniture can serve two purposes while keeping décor at a minimum for spatial visibility. Kitchens in particular are an exceptionally difficult room to design in smaller homes. After all, there is barely enough space for your dishes let alone pots and pans, small appliances and accessories. How can you properly prepare a meal when you simply do not have the space to move around? Unfortunately for many, the concept of multi-tasking goes out the window in a cramped kitchen. So what’s a person to do? How can you have a functional kitchen without sacrificing style and amenities? There are ways. If you have fallen in love with spacious country kitchens seen in luxury estates, there are a few ways to bring that aesthetic into your kitchen. With the help of IKEA, here are five ways to bring a country feel into your small kitchen.

IKEA

1. Build a Small Kitchen Island – Most small kitchens use a traditional L-shape to maximize floor space. Instead, sacrifice a bit of floor space to build an island that maximizes cooking space. To make a kitchen even more flexible, add a rolling card that will give you extra workspace whenever you need it.
2. The Keys to Big Cooking in a Small Kitchen – If cooking is your top priority, you will probably want to choose a cooktop with multiple burners that are big enough to cook several dishes at once. For cleaning and washing up, a big kitchen sink gives you plenty of room.
3. Leave Space to Make Space – When planning cabinets for a small kitchen, use the full height of the room to ensure that every inch has been put to good use. However, leaving an empty space can give you more room to store items like large serving dishes or pans that won’t fit inside cabinets. Use what little leftover countertop space you have for small appliances or as a stand-off area for cooling a big tray of muffins, or a bowl of rising dough.
4. Your Walls Can Give You a Helping Hand – If you’ve ever cooked a big, complicated meal then you know there just isn’t enough time to dig through drawers to find the cheese grater. Open shelves and rails keep all of your frequently used cooking tools within arms reach (easy to find) so you can concentrate on your soufflé. Rails also help maximize space in a small kitchen by putting empty walls to work.
5. Go All the Way Up – There is a reason why buildings in cities reach for the sky; it’s an efficient way to use space. The same thing applies in a small kitchen. Plan cabinets all the way up to the ceiling, and you can fit more in. Glass panel doors add to the style of your kitchen, but also create an open feeling of space. Lighting within cabinets also helps to light the rest of the room.