Not everyone can afford a house, but many of us can do quite well in a relatively small apartment or studio. Although there may be less room than in a typical kitchen, it is possible to make do with what is available.
The following is a list of suggestions and ideas that will help you maximise the storage space available in your cabinets despite the limited floor plan of your kitchen.
If you frequently use appliances like coffee makers and toaster ovens, your counter space is quickly becoming overrun. One easy fix is to designate a specific cabinet in the kitchen for storing everything you use on the counter. In order to avoid having to move the plugs from inside the cabinets constantly, rerouting them behind the cabinets may be worthwhile.
Until you do some serious cooking, you'll have more room to keep the counters clear and clutter-free. Since there will be less stuff on the counter, keeping only the necessary items will be simpler.
Apartment Cabinet Storage Ideas
Your kitchen will be similarly modest if you have a small apartment. A common complaint is needing more cabinet space to organise your dishes. If your security deposit is at stake, installing additional cabinets featuring screwing, drilling, and cutting surfaces may be challenging.
But there are a lot of kitchen cabinet options for tiny homes that will make the design work smoothly. Knowing how to make the most of the space in a small kitchen can make cooking there much more bearable. There are a lot of wasted spaces in compact kitchens that can be put to good use. The sides of the fridge, the insides of cupboard doors, and many other places fall into this category.
Hang Things Up
Hanging pans and cutting boards from the wall is a simple and effective way to keep your kitchen well-organised. Hang a pegboard on the wall that you never use in the kitchen. A simple pegboard may work wonders for your kitchen's efficiency, but installing it requires a few new holes or extra room.
The hooks can store your most-used pots, pans, and lids. This is one of the best options if you live in a small space and lack sufficient kitchen storage. Plate racks can be mounted on the wall to free up even more storage space in the cupboards. It's also an excellent method for showcasing the culinary creations you're most proud of.
Include Floating Shelves
Floating shelves are a nice addition to a kitchen if they are allowed by your lease. They shouldn't cause any damage to the walls because they're meant for lighter, smaller objects. When space is at a premium, floating shelves serve dual purposes as a decorative element and practical storage solution.
Despite the fact that floating shelves are best suited for lighter items, they can still help you reclaim valuable counter and cabinet real estate. They'll keep your counters and cupboards from seeming cluttered by holding items like coffee mugs, potted plants, and utensil holders.
Make Use Of Wall Space In Small Kitchens
There is probably a wall or two in your kitchen that could use some shelves. This can be easily accomplished with a shelf kit purchased from a hardware store.
It would be best if you determined how much wall area is available for their installation. Be sure to use wall anchors if you need to drill holes to ensure that whatever you're hanging or mounting stays put no matter how much weight you put on it.
Another option is to install a shallow bookshelf on top of the counter where the wall meets the counter, and there is no shelf above it. Put two on each other and fasten them with wood screws to create a larger shelf. In a topple, ensure the very top is fastened to the wall.
Install Drawer And Cabinet Inserts In The Cabinets In The Kitchen.
While your kitchen cabinets may be quite tall, they only allow for a single row. Cabinet inserts are preferable to stacking mugs and glasses. They're perfect for taller shelves and will help you make the most of your storage area.
The lower shelves are another area that may present some challenges. This is where we keep the pots, cutting boards, and pans so they can get very messy quickly. Cabinet shelving and organisation inserts are an excellent solution if you need to organise the items on lower shelves. When you install a few drawer inserts, your cutlery and other small cooking utensils will be extremely well-organised and easy to access.
Setting Up Tall Cabinets
Installing ceiling-height kitchen cabinets is a great way to make the most of the available vertical space. These cabinets are a great investment if you need somewhere to put away your seldom-used goods or your larger kitchen equipment.
By making full use of the vertical space, you can avoid clutter and make everything in your kitchen easy to find. If you need to reach the upper shelves, use a reliable stepladder or a reach tool.
Organiser Trays Can Be Used To Save Space.
You don't need to look for more cabinet space, but you could use some space dividers in the ones you already have. It's typical to find this setup below the kitchen counter or the sink.
Investing in a number of plastic storage boxes with built-in partitions is one viable option. These are perfect for stowing away dishes, pots, pans, and other kitchen utensils. If you're looking for more storage solutions, look no further.
Two of these containers can be stacked on each other to take up even less room. If you are young and on the go, you will benefit greatly from storage bins due to their versatility. Everything in containers makes moving to a new place with a larger kitchen simpler. Smaller Tupperware containers are perfect for storing your most-used cooking ingredients and tools.
Your Kitchen Cabinets Should Have Slide-Out Drawers Installed.
There is often a lot of storage space in lower cabinets, but getting to the back shelves can be inconvenient if they are too deep. Put in pull-out drawers so you won't have to get down on one knee to reach the upper shelves. With these drawers, you can easily access previously inaccessible areas of your cabinets and improve your storage options.
Pocket Doors And Sliding Doors
Traditional cabinet doors that swing outward can be awkward to open in small apartments because they take up so much floor space. You could design your cabinets with sliding doors or hidden doors. Horizontally sliding doors make it easy to open and close cabinets without taking up unnecessary floor space in the kitchen.
However, pocket doors slide smoothly into the cabinet's side walls, disappearing entirely when opened. You can improve your kitchen's aesthetic appeal and functionality with these door choices that take up less room.
Office Furniture Conversion For Cabinet Space
Once in a while, you can find some inexpensive used office furniture at a garage sale or flea market. A filing cabinet can be transformed into a stylish kitchen storage solution using simple do-it-yourself instructions. These cupboards are flexible and can be installed beneath a suspended countertop or along an appropriate wall length. There is one more great suggestion you can use if you are already working with a congested kitchen layout.
The Shoe Cabinets sold at IKEA rarely get repurposed beyond their intended purpose, but they make excellent shelving for dishware. These are freestanding units typically used for storing shoes, but they can hold just about anything with some creative thinking.
One Kitchen Cabinet Solution Is To Use Cabinet Doors.
Many kitchens waste valuable square footage behind closed cabinet doors. Here is the place to try out new ideas and have fun. Here are a few examples:
- Put pallets on the cupboard doors with the aid of command hooks. You can use these to organise your plastic bags neatly.
- Hang rags, gloves, and other tools safely from the hooks.
- Hang your cleaning supplies and rags from a rail.
Getting Around Storage Limitations
Kitchen additions that aren't meant to be permanent fixtures can be installed in any unoccupied residential space. Prefabricated corner cabinets, available at most home improvement stores, are a great space-saving solution for storing odds and ends in corners.
You can find a wide selection of storage cabinets that can be repurposed to fit into a small area, making them ideal for storing dishes, pots, pans, and anything else that currently resides in your other cabinets.
If your kitchen wasn't built with efficiency in mind, you might be wasting valuable square footage in the corners. Using items placed in such areas eliminates the time and effort required to rearrange the furniture.
Hang Items On Outside Surfaces
You can use many of your kitchen's flat surfaces for extra storage:
- Walls
- Dishwasher
- Microwave oven
- Cabinet sides
- Refrigerator sides
Applying hooks to the outside of your upper cabinets is a terrific way to store your hot pads and kitchen towels out of the way. They will only take up a little room, and you can get to them quickly. These hooks are detachable, so you need not worry about ruining your cabinetry.
This allows you to rapidly pack up your previous apartment and leave it in its original condition when you move to a new one. Wrap fragile dishes in packing paper and set aside the adhesive hooks; packing knives will help protect the rest of your cookware.
Paper towels are another useful item to hang. Instead of placing your paper towel holder on the counter, install one hidden under a higher cabinet. This will make better use of the available space on your counters. Magnetic paper towel holders, which can be attached to the microwave or the refrigerator, are another convenient choice.
Challenges Of Limited Space In Small Apartments
Kitchen design in small apartments is challenging for a number of reasons, not the least of which is space constraints. Problems include the following:
Inadequate Storage
The need for more closet or pantry space is a common complaint among apartment dwellers. Kitchen necessities like utensils, cookware, and food items can be difficult to keep organised when cabinet and pantry space is restricted. Disorganisation in the kitchen and on the countertop can make it hard to find things when you need them quickly.
Work Zones Are Inadequate
In kitchens of small apartments, designated work zones are frequently absent. This means no space is dedicated to food preparation, cooking, or cleaning. Because there are no clearly defined areas, it isn't easy to keep the workflow organised. Because of this, the kitchen might feel disorganised, and some of the tasks might get mixed up, which would make the cooking process less effective.
Design Options Are Limited
There are typically fewer design and layout options available for kitchens that are located in smaller apartments. Because of the limited space, it won't be easy to incorporate the desired features and appliances. In addition, it can be challenging to locate pleasing-to-the-eye design elements that can be incorporated into the available space.
Countertops That Are Crammed
The need for counter space in most apartment kitchens is another major issue. Making your way around a cluttered and cramped kitchen with little room for food preparation, cooking, or placing appliances is annoying. Inadequate counter space makes it difficult to do multiple things at once and detracts from the pleasure of cooking.
Restricted Movement
Small kitchens in apartments can be difficult to navigate because of space constraints. This can hinder the efficiency of a team effort or make it uncomfortable for a single cook to move around in. It can be annoying to feel confined, and it can reduce the kitchen's efficiency.
Conclusion
In a small apartment or studio, many people can make the most of their limited kitchen space by maximizing storage. Some ideas include designing a specific cabinet for storing appliances, hanging pans and cutting boards from the wall, installing floating shelves, using wall space for shelves, installing drawer and cabinet inserts, installing ceiling-height cabinets, using organizer trays, installing pull-out drawers, and using pocket doors and sliding doors.
Another suggestion is to use storage containers like Tupperware containers for small cooking utensils and tools. These containers can be stacked on each other to take up even less room, making it easier to move to a larger kitchen.
Another suggestion is to install pull-out drawers in lower cabinets to make it easier to access the back shelves. Traditional cabinet doors that swing outward can be awkward to open in small apartments, but pocket doors and sliding doors can improve the kitchen's aesthetic appeal and functionality.
Lastly, converting old office furniture into kitchen storage solutions can be a great way to save space in a small kitchen. These cupboards can be installed beneath a suspended countertop or along an appropriate wall length, making it easier to access and organize items. By implementing these storage ideas, you can create a clutter-free and functional kitchen that is both functional and visually appealing. Shoe cabinets at IKEA can be repurposed as dishware shelving, using cabinet doors to organize plastic bags, tools, and cleaning supplies. Prefabricated corner cabinets can be installed in unoccupied residential spaces, saving space and storing odds and ends.
Hanging items on outside surfaces like walls, dishwashers, microwave ovens, cabinet sides, and refrigerator sides can be a convenient solution. Hooks to the outside of upper cabinets can store hot pads and kitchen towels, making them easy to access. Paper towel holders can be hidden under cabinets for better use of counter space. Kitchen design in small apartments faces challenges such as inadequate storage, work zones, limited design options, cluttered countertops, and restricted movement. Addressing these issues can improve the efficiency of a team effort and reduce the kitchen's overall efficiency.
Content Summary:
- The following is a list of suggestions and ideas that will help you maximise the storage space available in your cabinets despite the limited floor plan of your kitchen.
- One easy fix is to designate a specific cabinet in the kitchen for storing everything you use on the counter.
- Until you do some serious cooking, you'll have more room to keep the counters clear and clutter-free.
- Your kitchen will be similarly modest if you have a small apartment.
- A common complaint is needing more cabinet space to organise your dishes.
- Knowing how to make the most of the space in a small kitchen can make cooking there much more bearable.
- Hang a pegboard on the wall that you never use in the kitchen.
- The hooks can store your most-used pots, pans, and lids.
- Plate racks can be mounted on the wall to free up even more storage space in the cupboards.
- Floating shelves are a nice addition to a kitchen if they are allowed by your lease.
- Despite the fact that floating shelves are best suited for lighter items, they can still help you reclaim valuable counter and cabinet real estate.
- There is probably a wall or two in your kitchen that could use some shelves.
- Another option is to install a shallow bookshelf on top of the counter where the wall meets the counter, and there is no shelf above it.
- They're perfect for taller shelves and will help you make the most of your storage area.
- Cabinet shelving and organisation inserts are an excellent solution if you need to organise the items on lower shelves.
- Installing ceiling-height kitchen cabinets is a great way to make the most of the available vertical space.
- By making full use of the vertical space, you can avoid clutter and make everything in your kitchen easy to find.
- Investing in a number of plastic storage boxes with built-in partitions is one viable option.
- These are perfect for stowing away dishes, pots, pans, and other kitchen utensils.
- If you're looking for more storage solutions, look no further.
- Everything in containers makes moving to a new place with a larger kitchen simpler.
- Tupperware containers are perfect for storing your most-used cooking ingredients and tools.
- You could design your cabinets with sliding doors or hidden doors.
- Horizontally sliding doors make it easy to open and close cabinets without taking up unnecessary floor space in the kitchen.
- Once in a while, you can find some inexpensive used office furniture at a garage sale or flea market.
- A filing cabinet can be transformed into a stylish kitchen storage solution using simple do-it-yourself instructions.
- Put pallets on the cupboard doors with the aid of command hooks.
- Hang rags, gloves, and other tools safely from the hooks.
- Hang your cleaning supplies and rags from a rail.
- Prefabricated corner cabinets, available at most home improvement stores, are a great space-saving solution for storing odds and ends in corners.
- You can find a wide selection of storage cabinets that can be repurposed to fit into a small area, making them ideal for storing dishes, pots, pans, and anything else that currently resides in your other cabinets.
- Microwave oven Cabinet sides Refrigerator sides Applying hooks to the outside of your upper cabinets is a terrific way to store your hot pads and kitchen towels out of the way.
- This will make better use of the available space on your counters.
- Magnetic paper towel holders, which can be attached to the microwave or the refrigerator, are another convenient choice.
- Kitchen design in small apartments is challenging for a number of reasons, not the least of which is space constraints.
- Kitchen necessities like utensils, cookware, and food items can be difficult to keep organised when cabinet and pantry space is restricted.
- In kitchens of small apartments, designated work zones are frequently absent.
- There are typically fewer design and layout options available for kitchens that are located in smaller apartments.
- Because of the limited space, it won't be easy to incorporate the desired features and appliances.
- The need for counter space in most apartment kitchens is another major issue.
- Small kitchens in apartments can be difficult to navigate because of space constraints.
- It can be annoying to feel confined, and it can reduce the kitchen's efficiency.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Maximise storage by utilising vertical space with tall cabinets and wall-mounted shelves.
- Incorporate organisational solutions such as pull-out drawers and rotating shelves.
- Consider multi-functional cabinets and custom designs tailored to your specific needs.
Custom-made cabinets can vary in price depending on the materials, design complexity, and professional services required. However, they offer the advantage of optimising storage and functionality according to your requirements.
Light-coloured cabinets, such as white or pastel shades, can create an illusion of space and make a small kitchen appear more open and airy. Avoid dark colours that can make the space feel smaller.
Yes, you can install a kitchen island in a small apartment kitchen. Opt for compact, mobile kitchen islands that can be moved or folded when not used. Make sure it doesn't obstruct the flow of movement in the kitchen.
- Utilise cabinet doors by installing hooks or magnetic strips for hanging utensils.
- Consider drawer dividers or organisers to keep utensils neatly separated.
- Use vertical storage solutions, such as wall-mounted racks or hanging baskets, to maximise space.