It Starts with Layout

Optimizing the available space is the first step to an organized and functional kitchen. Although newer homes typically have a wide open kitchen, older homes tend to have a U-shape, L-shape, or galley-style kitchen. Although these layouts aren’t “kitchen goals” these days, they were designed and created to be practical and functional at the time; and they still can be! They ensure easy movement and efficient workflow because they are small. They also force you to live minimally; which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The key to these smaller, oddly shaped kitchens is using every inch effectively. Consider installing functional corner cabinets with pull-out shelves or lazy susans to make sure you are optimizing every square inch of space. Starting with a thoughtfully planned layout sets the stage for a highly organized and functional kitchen.

Consider Multiple Functions

Another way to maximize functionality is by choosing furniture and appliances that can serve multiple purposes. An island or recycled table can double as a workspace and additional storage space. Appliances with compact designs and built-in features can make a huge difference too. Microwave drawers are becoming more and more popular because they don’t take up highly sought-after upper cabinet/wall space or even countertop space. Custom cabinetry with pull-out pantry systems can have your store more in a small space. These are just two simple examples of ways you can save precious counter space while also maintaining accessibility.

Go Up

Use vertical space to your advantage by installing wall-mounted shelving or racks for commonly used utensils, pots, and pans. Magnetic strips on the wall/backsplash can be a great place to store knives or other metal kitchen utensils. Hanging baskets or hooks on the underside of upper cabinets can be a great place to store mugs, spices, or even fresh produce. Using the vertical space to your advantage frees up valuable counter space and keeps your space organized and functional.

Customize Your Cabinetry

Although the U-shape, L-shape, and galley-style kitchens encourage efficient workflow, the real secret to creating a functional kitchen lies INSIDE your cabinets and drawers. Pull-out shelves, sliding trays, and dividers not only maximize the use of deep cabinets and drawers, but they also minimize clutter—which is half the battle of a small space. Lazy Susans in corner cabinets allow easy access to items and customizable drawer inserts will help keep utensils, cutlery, and kitchen tools neatly organized. Implementing the right storage solutions will make a world of difference in your small space.

If designing kitchen space still seems overwhelming to you, you’re at the right place on the internet. Your local Kitchen Solvers specializes in just this and are looking forward to helping you accomplish your dreams for a functional, organized, and beautiful space. We have experience in kitchens big and small and are passionate about creating spaces that our customers love—whether that’s a complete gut and remodel, or just a cabinet reface and storage solutions. A well-designed kitchen not only enhances function but also adds aesthetic appeal to your home for yourself and future owners to enjoy for years to come. Call your local Kitchen Solvers today to start dreaming of a space where function and style coexist in perfect harmony.

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Use Empty Cracks and Spaces to Your Advantage

Depending on your kitchen, you may have noticed gaps between your appliances and your cabinets. This is most commonly seen on either side of your refrigerator. Instead of leaving this space empty, build your own rolling storage pantry with shelves for canned goods. This will give you additional storage space for non-perishables or even spices. If you don’t have a pantry or are using your cabinets as one, this will open up valuable storage space for your other kitchen supplies like small appliances, dinnerware, and serveware.

Add Pull Out Shelves to Your Cabinets

Adding pull-out shelves to your lower cabinets can not only double your cabinet capacity, but it makes the items in your cabinets more accessible. They come in lots of different styles and are built to accommodate all types of items. There are two-tier options to store your pots, pans, and lids in an organized way. Other popular options are pull-out storage solutions for the pesty blind corner cabinet that most people have in their kitchen. Lazy susans are a good option, but they don’t take full advantage of the space. Other options include pull-out shelves that slide in one by one on top of each other. Another popular option is the kidney-shaped shelf that maneuvers in and around the corner cabinet perfectly.

Add Storage to the Sides of Cabinets

The end panels of your cabinetry is most likely unclaimed real estate for storage. Consider mounting a towel rack to the side of your cabinets and use s-hooks to hang pots and pans or utensils to open up space in your cabinets and drawers. Hang a shower caddy or basket to store fresh produce, fruit, your go-to spices or cooking oils. If you have space for it, add floating shelves to the side of your cabinets to create some open shelving to keep some of your frequently used items off your countertops. Put your coffee maker, mugs, and other morning routine supplies here so they are always accessible but not taking up valuable counter space.

Use a Stove Cover

If your kitchen lacks counter space, invest in a stove cover. This flat piece of wood covers your stovetop to create additional prep space. These can be a game changer for those with smaller kitchens or no kitchen island. Every little bit of counter space helps when chopping and prepping all the ingredients for a meal and a stove cover gives you more room to spread out before you need to turn your stove on and get cooking.

These are just a few of the many space-saving options you can consider for your kitchen to make it feel more organized and functional. If you’re looking for more ideas, your local Kitchen Solvers specializes in storage solutions and can help you figure out what solutions might work for you and your space.

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Selecting the basic layout of your small space will be your first task. Here are a few popular layouts that you might already have in your space.

Galley Kitchen:

Originally inspired by the confines of a ship’s galley, a galley kitchen is an entire kitchen on one elevation or wall. Depending on the size of your space, you may have room for a double galley which would be units on two opposite walls with a small ‘hallway’ between them. You could also create a galley look with one wall of cabinet units and an island between that wall and the rest of an open-concept space. When designing galley kitchens, it is important to consider your kitchen work triangle. This is the path of efficiency between your sink, refrigerator, and cooktop. Consider if children or other traffic will be in and out of the kitchen as you are using it as well. If this is the case, putting your sink and cooktop on the same side of the galley will help minimize the chances of collisions that can mentally emphasize the size of your kitchen.

U-Shaped:

U-shaped kitchens are also a popular choice for small kitchens. U-shapes lend themselves to easily set up your work triangle to maximize efficiency in your space by simply putting 1 of the 3 points on each side of the U. To avoid making a u-shaped kitchen feel too closed-in, consider open shelving instead of upper cabinets on one side of the u. This will help to visually open the space up more. For storage purposes, make sure to use pull-out interior storage units in the corner cabinets like a LeMans or kidney-shaped lazy susan. This ensures that you are taking advantage of every square inch of storage space available to you.

L-Shaped:

L-shaped kitchens are very practical in small spaces but there are a few things to keep in mind with this layout. First of all, if there is a window on one wall of the space, choose to put your upper cabinets on the windowless wall. This allows you to have an entire uninterrupted wall of cabinets to maximize storage. On the wall that has the window, consider open shelving on either side of the window with the kitchen sink placed under the window. Of course, still consider your work triangle by placing your cooktop on the opposite side of the L from your sink. Additionally, with an L shaped kitchen, you will have your back to your family and friends as you cook so if that doesn’t sound ideal to you, an L-shaped kitchen might not be the best choice for you.

Design Tips for Small Spaces:

After you decide on which layout works best for your space, there are still some design and décor choices you can make to further optimize your kitchen. Maximizing the amount of natural light in the space will automatically make it feel larger and more open. If your budget allows it, consider adding windows or a sliding door on one end of a galley kitchen to allow light to flow into the entire space. Using open shelving or glass doors in your upper cabinets will create visual depth and keep the kitchen from feeling closed in or crowded. If your personal needs allow it, you might consider skipping the upper cabinets altogether. This will definitely make your kitchen feel larger, taller, and more open. If you have space for it, consider a movable island that can be used when needed but also tucked out of the way when smooth, uninterrupted movement throughout the space is needed. Additionally, an island with pedestal legs rather than cabinetry below it will open up the lower visual space rather than cutting off the line of sight from one end of the kitchen to the other.  This small detail can change the entire feel of the space as pictured below.

Whatever your goals are for your small kitchen, our designers and teams at your local Kitchen Solvers are ready to help you accomplish them. We have experience in almost every size, style, and type of kitchen and are eager to help you discover your kitchen’s full potential no matter what the size. Give us a call today for a free in-home consultation and we can start dreaming together.

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In addition to giving your home a brand-new look, one of the main benefits of a kitchen remodel is being able to boost the functionality of this all-important room. You can make your kitchen more useful several different ways, including by adding new cabinets.

Installing new cabinets in your kitchen can provide you with the extra capacity you need, particularly if you install corner cabinets. With corner cabinets, you’ll will transform unused space into versatile storage. However, to get the most utility possible, you need to make sure you choose the right cabinet style for your home. Here are a few styles of corner kitchen cabinets that you can install if you’re interested in fully utilizing the available space in your kitchen.

Install a Lazy Susan Cabinet

While there are a variety of corner kitchen cabinet styles that you could install, one of the most popular options is a Lazy Susan, which is also commonly referred to as a diagonal corner cabinet.

Installing this style of cabinet in your home has several benefits. First, you could choose either a Lazy Susan with the traditional spinning tray or a stationary option, depending on your storage needs. These cabinets are very easy to install, as the space requirements on either wall are identical. Most importantly, a Lazy Susan cabinet provides easy, accessible storage space.

Blind Corner Cabinet

If there’s a corner in your kitchen that is unused, a great option is to install a blind corner base cabinet. While these cabinets may not fit in every kitchen, they can be a good choice if you’re looking to boost your storage space as fully as possible.

The biggest drawback of this style of corner cabinet is that installation can be a little tricky, which is why it may not be the best option for every homeowner. If you’re looking for flexible layout options, however, then there’s almost no better fit than a base corner cabinet.

Use a Corner Cabinet to Relocate Your Sink

Some homeowners prefer having their kitchen sink in the corner of their kitchen, and if you’re interested in this option, you could select a corner sink face/cabinet. This style is focused more on aesthetics than storage space, so you need to take that into consideration before picking this option.

If you choose the simple face style, then you won’t have any storage space with which to work. On the other hand, you can choose the cabinet style if you would like a little space under the sink. Whichever option you choose, you’ll have a functional corner space that will boost your appreciation of your kitchen.

Install Corner Kitchen Cabinets

It’s very common for the corner spaces in a kitchen to go unused, and if you’re tired of starting at that underutilized area day in and day out, you should install corner kitchen cabinets with assistance from Kitchen Solvers.  And be sure to check out our article, Kitchen Remodeling Costs: Get a Return on Your Investment if you are considering a kitchen remodeling project for your home.

Kitchen Solvers has a long and successful track record of helping homeowners update the usefulness of their kitchen. Contact one of our experts about the benefits of each corner cabinet style so that you can pick out the right one for your home. Get in touch with us today to start work on your project.

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