Even if your kitchen is on the small side, that doesn’t mean you can’t use the space to your advantage. There are several key tricks of the trade that can maximize the efficiency of a compact kitchen design and make it just as useful as any larger room. Here are five ways to make the most of the space so that you can prepare your favorite dishes with ease.

How to Improve a Small Kitchen

1. Add Counter Shelves

Adding a counter shelf makes it easy to avoid the clutter. These small, often multi-tiered systems allow you to store spices, condiments, bottles, and mugs or small plates. If you don’t have enough built-in cabinets, this is a clever way to make use of as much space as possible. Just be careful to avoid overloading them to prevent an untidy appearance.

2. Utilize Vertical Space

There’s no way to overstate the importance of vertical space in a snug kitchen design. Take a look around at the unused spaces on the walls around the room. A remodeling expert can install tall, slender kitchen cabinets, allowing you to use an otherwise blank space to your benefit. This also applies to space on the countertop. While you don’t want to create clutter, you can stack items in certain areas if you lack storage space.

3. Use Cabinet Doors

The interior doors of your kitchen cabinets can be surprisingly useful. A spice rack suspended on the other side of the door will save you valuable counter space and help create a more organized kitchen. If you have a pantry, you can add a wire organizer to maximize your storage space and make it easier to maintain a neat appearance.

4. Hang Your Pans

Pots and pans don’t have to go inside a drawer, especially if it’s a constant struggle to find room for them. Save those drawers for other items and consider hanging a ceiling pot rack in a convenient location. It shouldn’t be positioned so high that it’s a struggle to reach what you need, but be careful that it’s not placed so low that you risk bumping into it, either.

5. Consider an Island

You don’t need to have an enormous kitchen to take advantage of an island. A remodeling professional can construct a modestly sized one if there’s sufficient space to step around it and move comfortably. If it’s possible, the island can provide you with valuable counter, storage, and even seating space.

Let the team at Kornerstone Kitchens help make your small kitchen more functional. Based in Rochester, NY, these kitchen design professionals can transform every aspect of the room, including cabinets, countertops, and appliances. Using innovative techniques, they’ll help bring even the most compact culinary space to life—allowing you the freedom to spend more time whipping up your favorite foods. Visit them online to find out how they can help you, or call them at (585) 427-0280.