Planning for a small kitchen

Planning for a tiny kitchen can be a headache as opposed to a restricted and small area. Good design and good planning can make the smallest kitchen a pleasant and attractive room to work in. However, squeezing in enough working and storage space can pose a real ingenuity test. All major appliances are essential yet come in fixed sizes and the other basic utensils are fighting for spaces.   Now sit down and make out a checklist of priorities to make the best use of every single inch of space for you.   Ask yourself how will you use your kitchen ? Do you prepare mainly simply or pre-packed meals? Or you enjoy doing most of the cooking ? How many people you normally catered for? Do you entertaining guests very often?   Next, list the appliances and utensils your already own and those you intend to buy. Stand back and check if your current space can accommodation all the listed items with the least alteration. If you really run out of space, go through your list again and keep in mind that those items in list must have a purpose in the kitchen. When you come up with the most optimal list and a clear functional purpose of your kitchen, you can start planning your in a different approach. Some people will like to get ideas from kitchen catalogue. But the truth is those pictures are dreams and not providing much practical help. Everything is just a bit too big for tiny kitchen. You will have to order specially-designed and built units, but this is an expensive solution.   Try to get some kitchen design ideas from boating and caravanning magazine. Professionals have working out great solutions to these compact cooking areas and you will find some inspiration from them. One of the most first and effective way is to plan for an open-plan kitchen. Remove all or part of a wall so that the kitchen opens on to the dining area. Hinged doors, by nature, take up space when open. Get rid of the door if you can, or install a sliding door or folding doors to save vital floor space. Sliding doors is a compromise, but the door must still go somewhere and this requires wall space to house it when open. A better choice may be concertina- style doors that close back on itself so that it takes up much less space than a standard door. The style of a small scale kitchen should keep to sleek and streamline. Use light colors to increase the feeling of space. Decorate the walls to blend rather than contrast with worktops and units. Since the walls tend to get dirtier in a confined space, use of wall tiles is much more easy to keep clean. Avoid tiles with strong patterns and laid rectangular tiles vertically on wall can create height. If your list of priorities includes the need for maximum worktops for food preparation, covers for sink and cooker hob can add vital work space. Install wall units to ceiling make the most of the height of the room. To maximize your space, start by choosing units with pull-out racks, carousels and door-mounted storage racks. Assess the height of items to be stored in wall unites; extra open shelves can almost always be added to increase storage capacity. Consider a waste disposal unit in the sink to do away with bulky rubbish bins. Hanging utensils on wall-mounted racks in that midway space is another space-saving idea, leaving cupboards free for less-frequently used items. Ceiling racks are fine if ceilings are high enough not causing bumped heads.   Fitting in all the basic equipment and finding space for a well-stocked larder is a real challenge! Consider to use a multi-function microwave convention oven to save time and mount on wall at a convenient height to free valuable worktop space below. The latest fridge model has many space saving features and if carefully loaded, can store a surprising amount of food. If you have to share your tiny kitchen with a washing machine, buy a combined washer/drier and fit it beneath the draining board. Keep only essential small appliances like food processor, electric kettle and toaster, other time-saving appliances are only time saving but occupy valuable worktop space.   Above all, avoid clutter. Keep only what is absolutely essential near at hand. Try out the hints above and your tiny kitchen will serve you well.   By: Regina C