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13 Ideas About How To Fit Your Appliances In Small Spaces

It seems that in recent years due to problems such as overpopulation, environmental, and financial concerns, society is slowly moving from the “bigger is better” to the “less is more” mentality. However, choosing smaller homes to live in can come with many benefits such as:

By living in a smaller home, you become creative in how to use the space in the most efficient way possible. This space limitation may be challenging, especially when applied in the one room that is the heart of your home, the kitchen—and even more when it comes to your appliances, which are essential for your everyday home life. Therefore, we have put together a list of clever ideas that will help you make the most out of the small space you will be working with.

How to Better Organize Kitchen Appliances in a Small Kitchen

Before you take that trip to the store and start buying small appliances that fit your small kitchen, some previous planning is essential. By doing so, you will save time and money. You don't need that extra trip to the store to return or exchange your late appliance purchase that did not fit your kitchen. Let's begin.

1. Draw a layout of your kitchen

This first step is crucial for you to make the most out of your small kitchen space and the one you should take all the time you need. To have a clearer idea about your kitchen, you need to ask yourself:

And any other question that may be relevant for your specific situation.

2. Organized your Kitchen by Zones

It is helpful to think about organizing your kitchen in zones where each one has a specific function like:

3. Identify where your main appliances will be placed

Your major appliances are usually the bigger ones: refrigerator, stove/oven and dishwasher. Appointing the areas where your primary appliance will go can help you organize other areas like counter and storage space.

4. Study your Kitchen Traffic flow

It is essential that you can move around your kitchen in an easy, safe and efficient manner. You should be moving between your fridge or stove to food preparation and cleaning areas without encountering any obstacles. If space and budget allow it to consider a snack fridge for family and guests to use outside your main kitchen workflow area is ideal.

5. Designate enough space for your working areas

Let counter space be your friend. It is vital that you have enough counter space as you will be using it for various functions such as food prep, cleaning, displaying small appliances and maybe as a secondary eating area.

6. Make good use of the corners

If you have one of those old kitchens with dreaded corner cabinets that feel like you are reaching into a black hole. Know that nowadays some clever solutions for that space can be used. Carousels and Wari corners increase accessibility for small appliances or kitchen utensils that you wish to store in the corner cabinets.

7. Leave enough room for doors and drawers

Often overlooked and not easy to fix later, Leaving enough space for doors and drawers to open correctly is necessary. This applies to the oven, cabinets, the direction your fridge swings open, pantry, dishwasher, etc. Remember, you need to be able to maneuver all your task with ease in your kitchen.

8. Think about storage

Either you decide to go only for upper or lower cabinets or both. Perhaps you prefer shelves or hooks in the kitchen wall to display pots and pants. All your storage decisions should fit you and your kitchen specific needs. Some helpful storage tips that you can use are:

Do not overpack your cabinets. You can use smaller storage containers or space dividers inside your cabinets to organize your items neatly. This can save you time and space.

Use Clear containers. It will allow you to locate and see easily when you are running out of certain items.

Implement narrow vertical storage. This is a clever solution for small spaces. For example, you can add a whole new space between your fridge and cabinets.

Make use of wall space with shelving.You can repurpose an unused wall like the one on top of the sink to relocate dishes, glass or even plants that will add a touch of colour to your kitchen.

Get some drawer organizers.Not only will it help you to find your favourite spatula quickly, but it also will save you valuable drawer space.

Get sliding doors for your pantry. No need to think about the space needed for swinging the doors open. This solution is perfect when every inch counts.

Display what you can.Whether your appliances are too pretty to store away or you use them all the time, you can proudly display them if counter spaces allow it, of course!

Go all the way up.Don’t leave that awkward space between your upper cabinets and the ceiling. You can find some clever solutions that will help you to make use of that space.

Get shelf risers.You get extra space by going vertical inside your cabinets. It adds a second-tier, almost doubling the storage.

Store items on the backs of cabinet doors. Using racks or hooks inside your cabinet doors makes room for storing things like sponges or cleaning supplies in the cabinet doors underneath the sink.

Store Away Seasonal Appliances.Big and bulky appliances are only used seasonally, like that tepanyaki grill you like to show off over the holidays when friends and family visit. It can be stored away somewhere like the garage. It will save you space in your small kitchen for sure!

9. Pick the best appliances for your space

These days you can find plenty of options when it comes to smaller appliances that perform equally well as the big ones. You can choose from well-known household brands that guarantee top-notch quality in space-saving fridges, stovetops, dishwashers and ovens.

10. Research about multitaskers appliances

Appliances that perform various tasks can save you precious counter space. If you don't use your oven that much, you may consider getting a microwave oven to do your occasional baking or roasting. Another great space saver is the Thermomix which can replace your slow cooker, food processor, standing mixer, blender, juicer, and more.

11. Install less obstructive ventilation

If you are not fond of ceiling-mounted or wall range hoods, you can opt for a slick space-saving downdraft ventilation hood that is only visible when you are using it. Another option can be a ventilator power pack hood, easy to install in already existing cabinetry.

12. Consider multifunctional wide sinks

Choosing an oversized sink does not necessarily go against your space-saving decisions for your small kitchen. Some wider sinks come with food preparation accessories that can be used for chopping, draining, rinsing and washing your produce, too, obviously.

13. Use countertops for dining and working areas

Not all small kitchens allow for seating, but if yours does, the space can be used for various purposes. Having a countertop that can be used as a working station as well as an eating area is one of the best space-saving ideas. Also, adding some cabinets underneath it will optimize the space even more.

Bonus Tip

Not only your kitchen needs space-saving ideas, but your laundry room too. This is a clear example of another essential appliance that takes a lot of space in most homes. Allocating space for your washer and dryer is a must, even if your room to maneuver is limited. Some great space-saving tips for your laundry room are:

Buy a combo unitHaving one machine that does both washing and drying your clothes will undoubtedly save you space.

Go Vertical.A stackable washer and dryer is another ideal choice for small spaces. You can also customize your cabinetry, so your stackable washer and dryer fit in it and can not be seen.

You can also use some closet spaceto store your unit or find unused space in another part of your home to place your laundry unit.

Besides these ideas, you can probably find or come up with some on your own to help you create the perfect kitchen for you. One that is functional and adapted to your small space. Also, remember to choose a style and colours that fit you.