Expanding a small kitchen doesn’t always mean you have to annex space from an adjoining room or extend your house’s floor area. Here are some tips on how to expand your small kitchen without increasing its footprint.
1. Declutter. Clutter often makes large spaces feel smaller than they really are. So, before you even consider a remodel, try to declutter your kitchen first. Items rarely used in the kitchen, such as service trays and china reserved for occasions, can be stored in the garage or basement. Consider replacing old and clunky appliances with smaller and more efficient ones as well. You’d be surprised by how much space – and efficiency – you can gain by simply removing clutter.
2. Remove the seating. If your kitchen island doubles as a breakfast nook or an informal dining area, the seats should be placed outside of your work zones. Moving the seats to another part of the kitchen can help make your space feel more spacious. Alternatively, you may want to remove the seats from your kitchen, especially if your dining area is just a few steps away. Another good alternative if you’re considering getting new windows is to choose bay windows. The protruding bottom part of the windows can be used as seating – simply add a banquette or small table to create an informal dining area.
3. Maximize vertical storage. If you don’t have floor-to-ceiling kitchen cabinets, you’re not making the most out of your kitchen’s storage capabilities. Depending on the condition of your cabinets, extension cabinet boxes can be installed on top of the original ones. Cabinet doors can be refaced or replaced to create a matching look. Additional storage spaces can also be added to corner areas and gaps in the cabinetry.
4. Don’t use the kitchen for non-kitchen tasks. Working from home has become commonplace in the last couple of years. If you’ve been working out of your kitchen, part of your kitchen is probably occupied by work equipment. If this is the case, set up a small home office or nook away from the kitchen and reclaim your kitchen space.
Nuss Construction Company is your leading provider of kitchen remodeling services. Give us a call at (856) 988-9982. You can also fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. We serve customers in Cherry Hill and Mt. Laurel as well as the surrounding communities in Southern New Jersey.