A small kitchen can be a beautiful thing with a bit of inspiration and our space saving ideas. Whether you’re in a flat, smaller home or just struggling to find the space for prepping dinner and getting the dishes done, rethinking the layout of a small kitchen could make a big difference.

1.     Use wall space

You want to make every inch count without making a small space feel cluttered or claustrophobic. Wall-mounted cabinets are great in any kitchen, and when you are short on space, consider taking cabinets all the way up to the ceiling and storing less-used items at the top, keeping a folding step handy. Wall-mounted pot racks, shelves, hooks and magnetic knife blocks free up room on counters and in cupboards, even making a feature out of your cookware.

2.     Smaller appliances

There will be kitchenware essentials that you can’t go without, such as your cooker, fridge-freezer and dishwasher, but considering a smaller model could help with space-saving. Many top appliance brands now offer ranges in smaller sizes, with many just as powerful and stylish as regular sized appliances.

3.     Be creative with corners

The corners of a room can be cleverly utilised in the most modest of kitchens. A lazy Susan corner cabinet helps keep your items close to hand whilst maximising corner areas and there are more modern, cleverly designed corner drawers that do the same. If you are starting from scratch, ask your kitchen designer to consider installing a sink or your cooker in a corner space. A small corner bench and table can create a cute breakfast nook.

4.     No door

Depending on the floorplan of your home, there may be the option to remove your kitchen door, creating the sense of extra room and more flow with the rest of your living space. If layout and budget allow, consider widening the entrance or even knocking through to the adjacent room, especially if your kitchen backs onto a dining or living room. The open plan feel can be more sociable and prevents the feeling of ‘too many cooks’ in a cramped kitchen.

5.     Practical gadgets

Make every piece of kitchenware earn their keep! When storage space is precious you only want gadgets and appliances that you use frequently, so aim to declutter and keep only the pieces you really need/love. Shop around when buying new kitchenware – there are a variety of collapsible, stackable and multi-purpose kitchen gadgets on the market these days that make excellently efficient space savers.