Small kitchens can be charming, but they can also be very challenging to design around. Case in point, cabinets take up a lot of space in the kitchen, and it can be difficult accommodating your storage needs without making the space look and feel crowded. Here are a few tips for picking the right cabinets to fit your needs while also maintaining your design aesthetic.
Go Vertical
While your kitchen may be short on horizontal space, chances are good you have plenty of vertical real estate. Therefore, instead of focusing on building outward, go upward. Opt for taller cabinets or stack smaller ones on top of each other. You'll get the same amount (if not more) storage area without having to sacrifice any more floor space.
Additionally, don't be afraid to place cabinets in areas you may not normally think to put them, such as over windows and above the refrigerator. While it may feel awkward to put and retrieve items from these places, the extra storage space they provide may be just what you need to keep your groceries and dishes organized.
Go Deeper
Another option is to purchase cabinets with a lot of depth. However, you don't have to use the entire area for shelves. In fact, it may be more efficient to have some of the shelving built into the door. This way, you won't have to struggle to reach deep into the cabinet to get things you frequently use. Additionally, this setup is friendly to shorter people who may not have the arm length to reach far into a deep cabinet.
Be mindful, though, that deep cabinets do take up some of your horizontal space. Therefore, it may be more prudent to have one or two deep cabinets in one area of the kitchen and shallower cabinets in others to help preserve as much floor space as possible.
Consider Wraparounds
Your cabinets don't necessarily have to all be in the kitchen. A third option is to take advantage of wall space in the hallways leading up to the kitchen area. For instance, you can have a pantry built into the wall next to the entryway where you can put items you may want to grab on your way in (i.e. cereal, bowls).
This effectively extends the amount of storage space available to you without intruding too much on the rest of the home. Additionally, you can use this cabinetry for other things if you find you don't need it to store food or other kitchen items.
For more recommendations on cabinets for a small kitchen and other questions about custom cabinetry, contact a remodeling contractor.
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