Triaging a Small Kitchen
The Washington DC area presents a lot of challenges to homeowners. With an extremely dense population, and a plethora of older, historic buildings, there is no lack of tiny apartments, condos, and town homes. While we love the vibrancy of city life, it sometimes means we have to learn to live in a little smaller footprint.
Kitchens can pose a particular challenge. We like to have space…counter space, storage space, pantry space, even elbow space while we are cooking up fabulous foodie delights (or microwaving last night’s leftovers). So how can you maximize space in a kitchen and give yourself some room when you can’t expand or add on square footage?
It takes a little ingenuity and creativity.
Increase your work space
Let’s face it. When you have a small kitchen, the stove and sink, and refrigerator take up a good chunk of space, and leave you with tiny wedges of countertop to create your culinary masterpieces. But you can’t do without your appliances, so what can you do?
Look for burner covers for your stove that are also functional in creating extra work space. These bamboo covers available from Amazon have adjustable legs to fit neatly over any size burners, and provide you with cutting board or counter space when the stove is not in use. You can find similar products that also cover the sink to give you additional work surface. You can also find over the sink dish drainers, so you don’t tie up precious counter top space with drying dishes.
Handy with tools? Make your own stove top cover with this YouTube video!
Add additional work surface with a table that folds down when not in use. An example is the FurInno Drop Leaf Folding Table from Houzz, but there are lots of other options depending on how much space you have. You can also consider a rolling island that can be stored against the wall when not in use, then rolled around the kitchen as needed for your food prep or serving needs.
Sometimes, the simplest approach is the best. Don’t store a bunch of stuff on your already sparse countertops. This just eats away at your space and makes it look cluttered. Get rid of things you don’t need, and hide away small appliances when not in use. Only keep what you absolutely need and use frequently.
Think Vertically
If storage is an issue, then you need look no further than the vertical surfaces in your kitchen and dining space. If you don’t have cabinets over your stove, sink, or dishwasher, you can install shelves to give you extra storage space. You can also use a metal grid and hang storage containers, pots and utensils from hooks on the grid. A peg board would work, too.
Magnetic storage solutions such as towel bars, spice racks, and knife racks can be attached to the refrigerator.
Tall bookcases aren’t just for books! Use them to store plates, serving dishes, or pantry items along a wall near the kitchen. You can also hide away clutter in pretty boxes or baskets, and add towel hooks to the side for dish towels and aprons. Of course, you can also use them as for storing your cookbooks and recipe boxes!
Pay attention to lighting
While lighting alone will not do much to increase your space, what it can increase the usability of your small spaces. If you have the budget and own your space, you can upgrade the lighting with track lighting that can be adjusted to shine overhead light exactly where you need it. However, if funds are tight or if you don’t own your unit, then you may have to get creative. Install adhesive, battery operated lights under the wall cabinets to brighten up the counter tops, and repurpose floor lamps to shine extra light onto work surfaces.
Learning to live in small spaces is an adjustment. But you can personalize your space and keep it functional with just a little bit of style and creativity. When it is time to sell or buy a home, having a local team you can rely on will make the process a smooth one. Call the Realtors® who love where they live and understand the local real estate market. ADMC Realty Group happily serves the communities in and around the Washington DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia areas. From start to finish, we’re here to help with all your Real estate needs. Give us a call at (202)596-8101 or email us at [email protected].
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