Set up a small kitchen: Use these tips to get the most out of it

Table of contents

• Best use of space: Optimize a small kitchen
• 1. Expand a small kitchen with an island
• 2. Extra storage space thanks to the bench
• 3. Keep your kitchen minimalist
• 4. Choose a light color
• 5. Keep the work surface clear
• 6. Buy the right decorations

Even though for many people the kitchen is the heart of their home, the space in this room is usually very limited. Utensils, food and electrical appliances have to be accommodated in a few square meters. And then there should be enough space for cooking.

Furnishing a small kitchen in a practical and stylish way is not exactly easy. So that you can get the most out of your kitchenette, we have put together the best tips and ideas for small kitchens.

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Best use of space: Optimize a small kitchen

The all-clear in advance: a small kitchen is not necessarily worse than a large one. It can even have advantages - for example, there is less cleaning to do and you are forced to limit yourself to the essential appliances and utensils. This can definitely make everyday cooking easier!

The bottom line (as in any small room) is to ask yourself: How do I create more space in the kitchen? So the focus is more on optimizing the existing storage space rather than needing more space and sacrificing space for the dining area or something similar.

What is the best use of space in your case depends on the floor plan of your kitchen and your needs. If your kitchen is straight-cut, a kitchenette along the wall is a good idea. This solution is particularly practical for small kitchens as the cupboard doors do not get in the way when opened.

But even if your apartment has a small kitchenette, you can make the most of it. L-shaped or U-shaped kitchens are ideal here. This is practical: you don't have to walk back and forth a lot and you have everything within easy reach when cooking.

Tips for optimal use of space in small kitchens:

• Choose the kitchen shape that best suits the floor plan of the room.
• Use the space on the walls by installing hook racks or decorative shelves.
• Place tall cabinets up to the ceiling. Store rarely used items upstairs that you can reach with the help of a stool.
• Also use the space above the refrigerator. This often leaves unused space for another closet or microwave.

Once the layout of the kitchen is set, there are other things you can consider when setting up a small kitchen. Here are our top 6 tips:

1. Expand a small kitchen with an island

Unfortunately, there is often no space for a fixed kitchen island in a small kitchen. The much more practical alternative: a mobile kitchen island. A rolling trolley is a great way to have extra work space when needed. When you don't need them, you can simply push them aside and have more space in your kitchen.

It's best to choose a model that has additional shelves or drawers so that you can store things at the same time. The one belowYou can find the serving trolley shown at IKEA*, aYou can find the model with door here on Amazon, for example*.

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You can also get a lot of storage space in the dining area. If you replace two of the chairs on a four-seat dining table with a bench with storage space (also called a chest bench), you can use it to store your supplies or rarely used appliances.

You can either buy a chest bench ready-made (for example this one from Amazon*), or build it yourself from drawer elements. You can find numerous instructions for this online.

3. Keep your kitchen minimalist

Essential if you want to set up and plan a small kitchen: Limit yourself to the really important things. Observe for a while which utensils and devices you actually use and clear out everything else.

The same applies to the dishes. As a rule of thumb: a household with two people usually only needs 8 pieces of each type of tableware (Shop a complete set directly on Amazon*). That's enough when visitors come. So if you have a collection of cups or plates that you never actually use, give them away.

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4. Choose a light color

As in other rooms, the following applies when setting up a small kitchen: light colors make the room appear larger. To visually enlarge small kitchens, you should choose a light kitchen front and a light work surface. Tip: High-gloss fronts further enhance the enlarging effect.

If you can't replace the kitchen or want a cheap quick fix, you can also transform the fronts and cupboards with white adhesive film and easily give your kitchen a new look. Here it iswhite adhesive film for kitchen fronts on Amazon*.

If white is too boring for you, don't worry: of course other light colors also work. Pastel colors and light wood tones in particular look nice and airy.

5. Keep the work surface clear

In a small kitchen, the space for cooking is limited anyway. Every kitchen appliance that sits on the work surface should be carefully thought out so that even more space is not lost.

Again, observe which large devices you rarely use. These are often, for example, a stand mixer, hot air fryer or food processor. You can store these in a base cabinet and only take them out when needed. This takes a little more effort in these moments, but it saves you valuable space and also makes cleaning the work surface easier.

6. Buy the right decorations

Even in a small kitchen, you shouldn't neglect the decoration. Depending on your taste, it can be simple and minimalistic or a little more unusual and colorful. In any case, it provides the finishing touch and ensures that the room becomes a place of well-being, even in a small kitchen.

But not every type of decoration works in a small kitchen. Since space on the countertop and shelves is limited, you should place the decorations on the walls if possible.

This is best done in the form of pictures, decorative wall shelves or even an unusual ceiling light (view here on Amazon*). You can also use wall paint to create great accents without cluttering up your kitchen.

We hope these furnishing tips help you furnish your small kitchen and make the most of the space you have. You can find even more tips and inspiration on the topic in ourLiving & LifestyleRubric.