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Small Kitchens Do not despair if you have a small kitchen - all the better to inject your individual taste! A large kitchen can look bland, especially if fully built-in. In a small kitchen, you will need to focus on basic kitchen requirements: to cook, to wash up, to store and prepare food. In order to do this you will need to assess how much minimum space you require. Every inch of your kitchen should be used, from floor to ceiling. Worktop and floor finishes should be simple and easy to clean. The sink and breakfast area if any should be located near or against a window because these would benefit from natural light. The hob can be against a party wall, or external wall so as to facilitate ventilation. Keep the arrangement of appliances streamlined and at least 600mm (2') apart. A straight run of units promote a clear and logical sequence for using the kitchen without disorientation. Eye-level appliances and tall units should be restricted to one end of the room to give the illusion of space in a small room. Worktops should be dual-function and in a straight run preferably, so that they do not become dead spaces. When not being used for food preparation, they should be spaces for eating, or drying plates, for instance. Use fully-integrated or built-in appliances wherever possible, to increase visual continuity and tidiness in a small space. Use the drawer option rather than cupboards wherever possible as it is obviously easier to pull out a drawer and be able to see everything in it, as opposed to cupboards where you will have to bend down or up. Cupboards also take up more space because there is a minimum standing room area in front of them. A tall pull-out larder unit can hold both fresh and dry food, all of which can be accessed simultaneously. Storage should be maximised by being built into space over, around and under appliances. Maximise light in a small space. Glass-fronted units make the room appear lighter because they let in more light through transparency. Crockery and glassware may then be displayed, as well as be accessed easily. Wherever possibly opt for open shelving overhead because too many wall units can look like the back room of a chemist's and of course cut out light. A small sink with a single bowl, or a corner sink, takes up less space. This will actually encourage everyone to wash up immediately! (or load the dishwasher straightaway.) In a small space, constant tidying up is necessary if you are going to use it efficiently. Hobs with front controls are better than a side-controlled hob. They save two inches of worktop run, which may not seem a lot, until you are cooking a festive feast for three and every surface is covered with utensils and bottles. Small kitchens ironically cost more per square area, because slimline appliances, special sinks and non-standard units are expensive. A handmade kitchen is the most expensive way to fit out a small kitchen, but no space will be wasted, as the units will be tailor-made. In many flats, the kitchen has no window. Instead it has indirect light from the living area because it is a shared space. The windowless kitchen should be a focal point. It has the tendency to be a dull and gloomy space especially if it is dull and gloomy outside. You can create the sense of space and light by using colour, lighting and finishes to enhance the ambience. Melamine and stainless steel are shiny and sleek, thereby reflecting light. Light colours used in contrast with darker shades of the same colour punches out the form of a space and create the illusion of space. Finally, have fun with the tiling and accessories. Enjoy the whole point of the kitchen - cooking. See also Kitchen appliances advice and tips >
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