Small kitchens: Best tips and hacks for optimal use of space

Planning a small kitchen is sometimes more demanding than a large kitchen in which space is only a minor factor. Every centimeter must be thought through, every detail must be measured exactly. In short, the more cramped the conditions, the more important the perfect planning in order to get the best out of the available space. A look into the kitchen world of the Tiny Housesshows that there are true specialists when it comes to reduced space requirements.
People who generally live in small living space sometimes have amazing tips and truly everyday-tested hacks, how much benefits can be combined with little space in the kitchen. And that, without sacrificing comfort, at least in most cases. This post provides 10 proven tips and hacks for small kitchens.

Retractable power strips save space and are also practical. (# 01)

Tip 1: Careful planning saves time and money

Anyone who would like to pick up a saw and a hammer immediately should restrain themselves. If there is little space, preparation is even more important. It is highly recommended to hire a kitchen designer who works to the millimeter, as Plana does. If a kitchen is optimally planned, this not only saves time and money during installation but also during later use in everyday life. Therefore, the kitchen zones should be taken into consideration during planning and be combined with each other in a meaningful way.
The 5 kitchen zones are:

• Cooling and storage
• Cook and bake
• To prepare
• do the washing up
• Store and stow

When planning, there are some established facts to consider. These are door and window openings as well as electricity and water connections. In addition, your own budget plays a crucial role. That should be planned realistically from the beginning. The good news is that costs are falling in proportion to the size of a kitchen, but small kitchens are often raised so that the bottom line is not just the area but the volume that the kitchen occupies.
Examples:

• The sink is planned under the window front, the faucet must be installed in the worst case so that the window can not be opened easily.
• The power connections in the tile mirror were not considered. There is, therefore, no direct power connection on the work surface. Instead, a multiple plug/extension cable is used daily. This not only looks ugly, but it also takes away space that is in short supply in small kitchens.
• Refrigerator and stove are right next to each other. The refrigerator consumes permanently more energy.

Pharmacy cabinets offer a lot of storage space. (# 02)

Tip 2: Use up to the ceiling

As mentioned in the beginning: If the floor area is small, the room height plays a big role. In small kitchens, space should be used to below the ceiling.

• Extra high wall cabinets are ideal. In them, rarely used utensils can be accommodated in the top compartments.
• Pharmacy cabinets are true space savers. They are narrow, can reach below the ceiling if required, and offer enormous storage space in the smallest space. The practical thing about pharmacist cabinets is that they can be extended to the front so that the stowed parts are easily accessible - even if they are arranged at the very back.
  According to the same principle, it is advisable to organize the storage inside the cabinets: hanging systems provide clarity and often use the floor space better than the classic storage.
• Especially for pans and cooking utensils, the hanging storage is worth considering, as it ensures optimal space utilization.
• The wall mounting brackets for irons, mop or vacuum cleaner hose also has a favorable effect on the space utilization.

Tip 3: put the kitchenette in front of the partition

If it allows space, the kitchen unit can be placed in front of an extra partition in dry construction. This partition wall creates a narrow space, much like a walk-in closet. Even if the dividing wall is only 50 - 70 cm from the main wall, this results in a storage room for garbage, drinks, cleaning agents and vacuum cleaners.

To ergonomically plan in small kitchens reduces the space that users in the kitchen need to act. (# 04)

Tip 4: Ergonomic planning

To ergonomically plan in small kitchens reduces the space that users in the kitchen need to act. An oven or dishwasher installed in back-friendly height makes bending over unnecessary and it can be granted standing up. This reduces the radius of action. Wall units with folding-lift doors take up much less space when opened.

Tip 5: Use multifunctional furniture

A height-adjustable table, a roll-up counter or chairs that include a step ladder - multifunctional furniture saves space and provides valuable added value when needed.

• The height-adjustable table can be used as an ironing board.
• The rollable counter can be used to eat and then roll out of the way again.
• Made-to-measure shelves under sloping ceilings and in dead corners optimize the use of existing space. Storage is the nuts and bolts in a small kitchen!
• Extendable tables increase the area if necessary.
• Wall-mounted tables can be folded away to save space when not in use.
• Stackable chairs are a sensible option with limited space.
• Stools with storage space on wheels are also versatile.

Tip 6: Let design tricks work for you

Shiny fronts are not only fashionable in modern kitchens, but they also have a very special advantage for small kitchens: small kitchens painted in a glossy finish appear larger, thanks to the reflective effect. Even wall units with frosted or clear glass inserts make a kitchen look bigger because the eye can look a bit further. Mirror elements and stainless steel strips also contribute to this result.
When choosing colors and materials, bright wall paint and light wood surfaces ensure optical magnification. In narrow rooms, the design of the floor and walls in the same color has proven to make them look bigger.

Tip 7: Use kitchen furniture like a bench

Consumers who would like to have a kitchen, but for lack of space believe they have to give it up, at least can look forward to a convenient kitchen bench: kitchen cabinets can indeed quite plan as a bench and thus provide more functionality. Residents sit on top of them and at the same time can stow utensils in them.

Tip 8: Handleless kitchens look less massive

Kitchens have flat surfaces, so protrudes neither buttons nor handles, then makes the kitchen a tidy impression. The block appears to be made of one piece and subordinates itself spatially. Small kitchens are suitable for using color-intensive surfaces. This looks funny and creates a positive mood. If you want to achieve the most generous sense of space, you can count on bright, discreet colors.

Tip 9: Consider planned usage and typical user behavior

If a lot of cooking, there is room for the preparation of the food. The minimum size for the work surface should not be less than 60 cm. If there is no room, then at least the dining table should provide enough space. One issue that is particularly important when planning small kitchens is the behavior in the kitchen. For example, the question arises as to whether used dishes are immediately washed away or first collected in the sink.
Depending on the typical user behavior, a dishwasher is a sensible investment, because it not only facilitates kitchen work but also quickly ensures a tidy impression in the small kitchen. If you do without a dishwasher, the sink and the storage space should be a bit more generous. Otherwise, there will be no long-term pleasure in the individually planned kitchen, but the anger will predominate.

Tip 10: Technology check

When planning the kitchen, the kitchen appliances to be used should be included. Which kitchen appliances are indispensable?

• Is a mixer used regularly? Then he needs a permanent place.
• Are the space-intensive all-around food processor, the steam cooking and the bread maker really indispensable? If so, have storage space for it.

The more technology in the kitchen must be accommodated, the larger the space requirement. When planning the kitchen, therefore, the individual claim should be taken into account - in case of doubt, there is nothing left but to dispose of individual appliances. The alternative is the purchase of multi-functional appliances that combine several kitchen appliances in one and take up less space compared to the individual appliances.

Tip 11: Use small white goods

White goods, meaning large appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, and refrigerators, are available in standard sizes and in miniature format. The well-known manufacturers have embarked on this growing business and now also offer small devices with high comfort. They save space and offer good performance data.
A relevant purchasing criterion for new goods should also be energy consumption, which can be read on the EU energy label on the device. However, the well-known label should make way for a new energy label. Until then, there are still some hurdles to be overcome. The new launch is expected in 2019.

Tip 12: Disconnect the oven and hob

To place the hob separately from the oven is a trick by residents with particularly small kitchens. The advantages of this smart solution are these:

• A hob can be integrated almost anywhere in the existing work surfaces, even in a corner. The space under the hob serves as storage space if it is not filled by the oven.
• The oven can be installed in a raised position as a combi appliance (microwave and oven/grill). Above all, kitchen users benefit from the fact that the floor remains completely usable because the flap does not open into the footwell. Storage space in the lower area of ​​the kitchen can also be closed with sliding elements or realized by two-part doors, which are less disturbing in the opened state.

Another advantage of separating the hob and oven is that kitchen planning generally becomes more flexible.

Thinking through every detail: planning is everything

Small kitchens can be comfortably outfitted, and with a few tricks, they provide ample workspace and ample storage space, provided they are meticulously and meticulously planned. Every centimeter counts. The best result can be achieved by making an exact measurement and planning in a kitchen planner. The time commitment in advance is worthwhile. In the end, users benefit from a perfect little kitchen that offers everything the user needs.