How Can You Improve The Flow Of A Small Kitchen?
If you're struggling with an expanding family and a kitchen that no longer suits your needs, you may be wondering whether there's anything you can do to better manage or organize your small space. Adding an addition can be expensive, and you may be reluctant to uproot your family and move across town simply to gain a larger kitchen. Fortunately, there are a number of relatively inexpensive projects you can do to help give your kitchen and dining area a more functional flow and help you make the most of your small space. Read on to learn about three changes that can give your kitchen a major impact boost.
Remove constricting walls
Often, a kitchen's small size is compounded by at least three floor-to-ceiling walls blocking it off from the rest of the house. Depending upon the layout of your kitchen and adjoining rooms, you may be able to remove or modify non-load-bearing walls to help you see other rooms and give your kitchen a more open feel. You may even be able to convert the wall between your kitchen and dining room into a bar by reinforcing the base of the wall and adding a tall counter, essentially doubling your kitchen size without changing the footprint of your house.
Rearrange appliances
You may be content with the size of your kitchen but unhappy with the location of appliances, finding that you must sweep and mop after each meal due to having to move sloppy ingredients across multiple counters. Most design experts agree that it's ideal to have a moderate amount of counter space between each of your major kitchen components: your fridge, stove, dishwasher, and sink. This allows you to move and place food preparation items in a logical order without having to move past multiple appliances at once.
Reduce bulk
While having lots of counter prep space can be great for preparing large or complex meals, when you have a small kitchen, every inch counts. You could increase the amount of maneuvering room available by replacing your cabinets and counters with narrower ones and investing in pull-out cutting boards or kitchen carts that can be stored elsewhere when not in use. You'll also want to ensure your cabinets go all the way to the ceiling as to not waste this space. There are a number of manufacturers that specialize in furniture for small spaces -- you may be able to take some inspiration from their design catalogs to create your own look. Contact a company like Betcher & Walker for more information.
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