In small kitchens, distribution, storage solutions, colors, light, accessories… There are many elements that make the difference and many effects that you can achieve by combining them. In this case, we bring you a practical guide for small kitchens with tips, tricks, and products that will help you make it seem more spacious than ever.
Let’s be realistic. The vast majority of current kitchens have nothing to do with those with a central island in American movies. Many of us have small kitchens of no more than 12 m² in which learning to take advantage of space is as useful as it is necessary. Luckily, we have tips that will make your kitchen functional, practical, and attractive despite being small. You’ll see, it’s very simple!
Plan The Layout Of Your Kitchen
The best distribution is one that takes advantage of all the space. In small kitchens, you don’t need to fill every corner with furniture, but do it in a way that maximizes its possibilities, taking into account the shape or design that suits you best.
The most common kitchen layouts that we can choose from are:
- L-shaped kitchens: in which two of the walls are used. They are interesting because they have a lot of space for storage, but also to move comfortably.
- U-shaped distribution: three walls are used, leaving a rectangular space in the center. They are not as recommended for small kitchens as the previous one, so let’s move on to the next one.
- Parallel kitchens: ideal for long and wide kitchens.
- Line kitchens: the most used in small kitchens, since it maximizes efficiency, leaving enough room to maneuver.
- Kitchens with an island: in which the aim is to get the most out of the installation. They are visually beautiful, but you need a large surface to install them.
The choice of one of these distributions will be the one that will allow you to play with the rest of the elements that we propose.
The Best Furniture For A Small Kitchen
If the kitchen is small, the best option is to choose furniture with simple lines and smooth finishes that do not visually clutter the space. Reflective surfaces are a very good alternative that provides light and creates the illusion of space. As for colors, prioritize light and matte tones.
Another important piece of advice when choosing furniture for your kitchen is to prefer those that have integrated handles or opening systems that do not require them. Although they are small elements, you will notice the difference, the kitchen will look more elegant and minimalist and you will avoid annoying bumps with them.
If you did not plan to change or expand the furniture you already have, a solution could be to take advantage of the free spaces on the walls with vertical storage options such as shelves or hooks in which to place utensils, cups, or other objects of daily use.
Visually, they won’t take up as much space and will “force” you to maintain a certain order with the items you store in them. In addition, they will allow you to know at a glance, what foods you have and which ones need to be replaced.
With all our models you can take advantage of both the upper space and the lower space of small kitchens, we will tell you about some of them.
Rustic Model
On the one hand, we find the Rustic Model available in both white and wood. It has everything you need to equip this room: doors for the countertops, fronts with drawers, corner doors, columns, etc.
Being made up of modules of different sizes, it is a perfect range for small kitchens, since you can adapt the products to your layout.
The doors bring a warm and personal style to your kitchen, thanks to their beautiful design. They are made of MDF with straight edges and a thickness of 18 mm.
The modules placed in the upper part have a height of 70 or 90 cm, so you can have an enormous storage capacity.
City Model
On the other hand, there is the City Model, also available in white and in a darker wood tone than in the previous case. It allows an efficient organization of all the utensils of small kitchens and, although it is quite similar to the Rustic model, it differs in the design of the doors and the handles.
The doors and drawer fronts are made of particle board, covered in 5-piece melamine with straight edges.
Both families of products use 16 mm melamine for their interior furniture and stand out, in addition to their affordable price, like all Brico Dêpot items, for their robustness and good quality.
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They have a 25-year warranty on hulls and doors, and 5 years on laminate countertops. They include quality materials and slow closures that, thanks to their damping, prevent accelerated wear of the fittings. They are very easy to clean and resistant to stains and scratches.
Extra Storage
If you need extra storage space, column furniture, especially those with drawers, are very useful in small kitchens. They allow you to expand the space without the need for much depth.
If you plan to enable an area of your kitchen to put a table or bar to eat at, consider options with folding or sliding boards so that they can be enlarged or reduced according to your needs. As for the chairs, look for those whose height allows them to be stored comfortably under the table so that they do not take up extra space when they are not being used.
Harness The Light
Who has a window in the kitchen, has a treasure. Natural light is key to making spaces appear larger, and the kitchen is no exception. In any case, whether you have it or not, artificial lighting is worth taking care of.
Start by designing the general lighting, a light that covers the entire kitchen and gives it a certain uniformity. LED downlights are ideal for small kitchens. After this, focus on choosing the light zones. That is, decide if you need backup lighting, for example, in the food preparation area or on the side table where you eat.
A very easy way to create backup lighting is by taking advantage of the integrated light of the extractor hoods. Many times we forget that it is there, but it is really useful, especially when it comes to giving extra light to the counter or food preparation area.
Small Details Count Too
There are many small changes that can make a big difference, making small kitchens seem more open and spacious.
For example, if you have crockery that you don’t use or the typical one that you save for special occasions, perhaps you can find another place in the house to store it and reserve the kitchen space for everyday objects.
If there is a trend color in kitchens, that is undoubtedly white. This is something that is not surprising. It matches perfectly with practically all shades and gives a touch of spaciousness, modernity, and cleanliness to small kitchens.
Another very effective solution is to choose single-bowl sinks, such as the 1-bowl stainless steel sink, which will allow you to save space on the countertop. In addition, if you choose a multifunctional sink model, such as a quartz sink with 1 bowl + drainer, it is reversible, being able to place the drainers where you choose, will allow you to take advantage of that space and also use it as a food preparation area.
Appliances
We do not forget another of the great protagonists of any kitchen: the electrical appliances. If your kitchen is small, it is worth choosing those that help you save space, either because of their small size or because of their multi-functionality.
For example, in small kitchens, you can opt for a microwave oven or a washer and dryer. And, if you have never really used more than two hobs at the same time in your kitchen, opting for a two-burner hob will also help you save a lot of space.
Another option is to opt for appliances with light and bright colors to make the room receive more light and appear larger.
As for the hobs, you can find both gas and electric, in the most common version with 4 burners or in the smaller one, with two burners, ideal for small kitchens.
On the other hand, if there is an appliance that makes life easier for us on a daily basis in our homes, this is the dishwasher. Not only will you save water with it, but it will also allow you to keep your kitchen clean quickly.
