Small kitchen, big challenge
In modern home life, small kitchens are becoming more and more common. Whether it is a single apartment, a small house, or a family pursuing efficient use of space, small kitchens have become an option. However, although the small kitchen is “small”, it has “all the necessary functions”. It is indeed a big challenge to realize multiple functions such as cooking, storage, and operation in a limited space.
The limited space of a small kitchen is the most intuitive problem. In a small space of a few square meters, not only basic kitchen equipment such as stoves, sinks, and refrigerators need to be placed, but also various pots, pans, and ingredients and seasonings need to be accommodated. Imagine that when you turn around in the kitchen, it is a little cramped. It is even more difficult to wash vegetables, cut vegetables, and cook at the same time. Moreover, with the improvement of the quality of life, people’s demand for the functions of the kitchen is becoming more and more abundant. Small appliances such as coffee machines, ovens, and air fryers have appeared one after another, which makes the already tight space of small kitchens even tighter. But the passion for life will not be limited by space. By cleverly using small kitchen cabinets, we can find solutions to the dilemma of small kitchens.
The ultimate excavation of storage space
(I) The unique advantages of drawers
In the design of small kitchen cabinets, cabinets with drawers show incomparable advantages over ordinary cabinet doors. When the kitchen space is already stretched, the opening and closing method of ordinary cabinet doors will become a problem. If the distance between the cabinet and the wall is small, the cabinet door will further compress the available space in the kitchen when it is opened, and sometimes it cannot be fully opened at all, which makes it difficult to access the items deep in the cabinet. The design of drawers cleverly solves these problems. The drawer can be easily pulled out, allowing us to see the items stored inside at a glance, without having to grope in the depths of the dark cabinet. Although cabinets with drawers may be relatively expensive, their cost-effectiveness is undoubtedly higher in terms of convenience and practicality in long-term use. They enable us to use the storage space of small kitchen cabinets more efficiently, bringing great convenience to our daily life.
(II) Practical tips for creating storage space
Upper cabinet planning: Floor-standing kitchen cabinets are a great choice for making full use of the room height. In a small kitchen, every inch of space is precious, and floor-standing kitchen cabinets can reach the ceiling, including the space at high places. Those items that are not often used, such as special tableware that is only used during festivals, spare kitchen appliances, etc., can be stored as high as possible, so that it will not affect daily operations and can make full use of space. At the same time, sliding door kitchen cabinets are also ideal for small kitchens. Compared with traditional swing doors, sliding doors do not take up extra space when opened. They only need to slide left and right along the track. This is undoubtedly a great trick to save space for small kitchens with limited space.
Clever use of niches and corners: Narrow niches in the kitchen are no longer forgotten corners. Through reasonable design, they can be perfectly matched with niche cabinets and become practical storage space. Alcove cabinets can be customized according to the shape and size of the niche, whether it is to place seasoning bottles, small kitchen utensils or other sundries, they can be just right. As for the corners of the kitchen, the magic corner cabinet is a magical existence. Magic corner cabinets with pull-out or rotating turntables can make full use of corner space and make hard-to-reach corners easy to access. Whether it is storing pots and pans or storing food, the magic corner cabinet can easily do it.
The magic of organization of internal accessories: In a small kitchen space, keeping things tidy and organized is essential. Flexible inserts for cutlery, pots, knives or spice jars are like magicians of storage space, which can organize drawers and pull-out drawers in an orderly manner. Cutlery holder inserts can store various cutlery in categories to avoid them being piled up in a mess in the drawer; pot holder inserts can make it more reasonable to stack pots of different sizes, saving space and making it easier to take them out; knife holder inserts can ensure that knives are safely placed to avoid damage to the blades; spice jar holder inserts can make various spices clear at a glance and convenient for quick access when cooking. These internal accessories not only make the interior of the kitchen cabinets more tidy, but also help us keep the kitchen as a whole tidy and keep the small kitchen fresh at all times.
Hidden space in the kitchen base: There is also hidden storage space in the kitchen base waiting for us to discover. Planning a drawer in the lower area of the kitchen cabinet can add a lot of practical storage space to the kitchen. This base drawer can be used to place baking trays, solving the problem of large baking trays being difficult to store; it can also be used to store kitchen utensils such as dishcloths and tea towels, giving these commonly used small items a dedicated storage area, making them easier to use.
Clever expansion of workspace
(I) Creation of multifunctional area
- Transformation of sink area: The sink area is no longer limited to the cleaning function. Through some clever kitchenware matching, it can be transformed into a multifunctional work surface. For example, with a suitable cutting board, when we need to process ingredients, the cutting board can be placed directly above the sink and fixed by the edge of the sink, which provides us with an additional space for cutting vegetables. Moreover, the garbage generated during the cutting process can be directly dropped into the sink, which is convenient for subsequent cleaning. There is also a drip tray, which can be placed next to the sink to place washed tableware or ingredients, allowing water to drip naturally into the sink to keep the kitchen countertop dry. With these kitchen utensils, the function of the sink area has been greatly expanded, allowing us to perform various operations more efficiently in a limited small kitchen space.
- Advantages of corner sinks: Corner sinks are a great artifact for small kitchens. They can turn the kitchen corners that were originally easily overlooked into functional centers. In small kitchens, the space layout is compact and every inch of space is crucial. The L-shaped design of the corner sink fits perfectly in the corner of the kitchen, which not only makes full use of the space in the corner, but also increases the usable area of the sink. In this way, we have more spacious operating space when washing dishes or ingredients, and we will no longer feel cramped due to the small space. Moreover, the existence of the corner sink makes the working area of the kitchen more reasonably divided, allowing us to perform various operations more smoothly during the cooking process, improving the efficiency of the kitchen.
(II) Retractable and extra space utilization
The convenience of the pull-out table: The integrated pull-out table is another ingenious design for the utilization of small kitchen space. When not in use, this table can be easily retracted into the drawer, taking up almost no space, keeping the small kitchen tidy and spacious. And when we need to use it, just pull it gently, and it will appear in front of us, providing us with a temporary work surface. Whether it is preparing ingredients, making snacks, or placing some small appliances, the pull-out table can meet our needs. Its convenience and space-saving characteristics make the space utilization of small kitchens more flexible and changeable, bringing great convenience to our lives.
The dual role of the dining table: In a small kitchen, the dining table is not only a place to eat, it can also serve as an additional work surface. When we are cooking and the kitchen countertop is not enough, the dining table can play its second role. We can place some ingredients or kitchen utensils that are not in use on the dining table to make more space for kitchen operations. When preparing some large meals, the dining table can be used as an area for cutting vegetables and arranging dishes, giving us a wider space to display our cooking skills. Moreover, when we need to use some small appliances, such as ovens and air fryers, we can also place them on the dining table for easy operation. This flexible use of the dining table makes full use of the space in the small kitchen and makes our cooking process easier and more enjoyable.
(III) The importance of keeping the countertop clean
In a small kitchen, keeping the work surface clean is the key to expanding the visual space and improving the efficiency of use. Only placing necessities, such as kitchen utensils and seasoning bottles in use, and storing other items that are not in use can make the work surface look more refreshing and tidy. A neat countertop not only makes us happy when cooking, but also makes it easier for us to find what we need and improves cooking efficiency. Moreover, a neat countertop will make the small kitchen look more spacious visually and reduce the sense of cramped space. We can use some small storage boxes or racks to classify and store commonly used seasoning bottles, knives, etc., and arrange them neatly on the countertop, which is both beautiful and practical. Cleaning the countertop regularly and washing and returning used kitchen utensils in time are also important ways to keep the countertop clean.
Recommendations for purchasing small kitchen cabinets
When purchasing small kitchen cabinets, you need to consider a variety of factors to ensure that you choose a product that meets both space requirements and personal preferences and budget.
- Space adaptability: It is essential to accurately measure the kitchen space, including length, width and height. If the kitchen is long and narrow, choosing a straight-line cabinet can be arranged along the wall, making full use of the space, realizing basic storage and operation functions, and creating a simple and efficient cooking area for the small kitchen; if the kitchen is more square, L-shaped cabinets are a good choice. It cleverly uses the corner countertop to plan a reasonable “washing, cutting, and frying” activity route, which is easy to operate and can make the space more spacious visually. At the same time, the height of the cabinet operation area should be determined according to the user’s height. It is advisable that the bottom of the basin can be easily touched by both hands when standing, so as to avoid physical discomfort caused by being too high or too low. In addition, ordinary operating tables are generally divided into high and low levels, with the high size of 890-910mm and the low size of 800-840mm. You can choose according to actual needs.
- Material and quality: The material of the cabinet is directly related to its service life and appearance. Solid wood cabinets have a warm texture, are natural and environmentally friendly, and are beautiful and generous, but the price is relatively high, and they need careful maintenance, and are easily deformed by humidity and temperature; artificial boards are affordable, stable in performance, and can meet daily use needs; stainless steel cabinets are sturdy and durable, easy to clean, and have excellent moisture resistance, which is suitable for consumers who pursue modern minimalist style, but their style is relatively simple and scratches may be left on the surface. When choosing, you need to weigh the pros and cons according to your own needs and budget.
- Functional requirements: Choose cabinets according to your cooking habits and storage needs. Families who cook frequently may need more drawers to store tableware, knives, and seasonings, etc., so that they can be easily accessed at any time; if there are a large number of pots and pans, you should choose a cabinet with a larger cabinet body and a pull-out basket to improve storage efficiency. At the same time, consider whether you need to reserve space for embedded electrical appliances, such as ovens and dishwashers, to achieve an integrated kitchen design that saves space and is beautiful and tidy. In addition, the internal accessories mentioned above, such as tableware, pots, knives or spice jar holder plug-ins, can help organize the interior of the cabinet and make storage more orderly. When purchasing, you can also pay attention to whether the cabinet can adapt to these accessories.
- Style and color: The style of the cabinet should be coordinated with the overall home style. The lines of modern minimalist style cabinets are simple and smooth, focusing on practicality and functionality, suitable for people who pursue a simple life; European style cabinets are gorgeous in shape, exquisite in details, showing a noble and elegant temperament; pastoral style cabinets are full of warm and natural atmosphere, creating a comfortable kitchen atmosphere. In terms of color selection, due to the limited space of the small kitchen, you should avoid choosing too complicated colors to avoid making the space appear more narrow and depressing. It is best to choose a single bright color, such as white, cream yellow, light blue, etc. These colors can visually expand the sense of space and make the kitchen brighter and more spacious. If you feel that a single color is too monotonous, you can add a small area of color to adjust it appropriately, such as matching colorful handles, back panels or decorative lines, etc., to add a unique charm to the kitchen.
- Budget considerations: Make your budget clear. The prices of cabinets of different brands, materials and craftsmanship vary greatly. The price of solid wood cabinets is usually more than 2,000 yuan per meter, the price of artificial board cabinets is generally around 1,000 yuan per meter, and the price of stainless steel cabinets is relatively high, more than 3,000 yuan per meter. Under the premise of ensuring quality, compare the products of different brands and merchants and choose cabinets with high cost performance. At the same time, pay attention to whether the price includes installation, accessories and other costs to avoid additional expenses in the later stage. In addition, you can also pay attention to some promotional activities and discount information, and buy at the right time to save costs.
- Brand and after-sales service: Give priority to cabinets of well-known brands, which are usually more guaranteed in quality control and after-sales service. Understand the brand’s reputation and user reviews, and check the brand’s after-sales policy, including warranty period, maintenance services, replacement of parts, etc., to ensure that problems encountered during use can be solved in time and reduce worries.
