Is your kitchen on the small side? If so you will be pleased to learn that there are ways to minimise the problem, both by investing in certain sorts of appliances and by making use of some clever space saving strategies.

Space Saving Sinks

There are many items in a kitchen that we could do without. A sink is not one of them. Fortunately, a kitchen sink does not swallow up your entire space. To save space, we might opt for a smaller sink. Alternatively, you might consider a sliding rail sink, which can be covered when not in use in order to create additional counter space.

Built-in Appliances

There are many items that a kitchen simply cannot do without. That is why so many of us find our countertops and floors littered with toasters, microwaves, fridges and many more devices all designed to make life in the kitchen easier. Have enough of these items and you might find that you lack the space to get any use out of them. Fortunately, there is a way to get the functionality of these items without sacrificing the space we need.

Integrated appliances are built into the kitchen itself. For example, you might slot your fridge, dishwasher in alongside your cupboards, covering them with a matching door. This creates a seamless appearance and saves space. You could even have some appliances built into the walls themselves.

This microwave from CDA is built-in and it can also function as a grill, saving even more space. You might also consider a built-in oven from the same manufacturer. They are available in both single and double versions, and make a great match for our integrated hobs, which are available in cast iron and induction form. If you are looking for a convenient way to do the washing up, then this built in slimline dishwasher might offer a solution.

Compact Appliances

Compact appliances are an ideal choice if:

• You do not want to have to carry out any modifications to your kitchen.
• You are renting and you’re not able to.
• You simply prefer the way that a freestanding item looks.

Freestanding items are a better choice if any of these 3 points do not apply to you. They are available in many different shapes and sizes and you might free up a great deal of space in your kitchen by opting for a narrower design.

Scaling Back Your Cooker Hood

Of course, downsizing your hob will allow you greater scope to select a smaller cooker hood. If you are installing your hood into a smaller kitchen, you will also be able to downsize safely, as a smaller room requires a smaller hood in order for it to operate effectively.

At Ship It, we have a range of different sized extractors right down to super compact 50cm designs. Ideally, you will want a hood that is slightly larger than you actually need, so be sure to consider the surrounding cupboard space before making the switch.

Washer Dryers

Washing machines and tumble dryers consume an enormous amount of floor space, which is why many choose to dispense with the latter. But this does not have to be the case as you can just buy a washer dryer instead. As well as saving you precious floor space, this solution will also save time that might otherwise be spent loading and unloading.

Storage

We should not forget that a large bulk of a kitchen’s floor space is consumed not by appliances, but by storage.

Aficionados might want the luxury of having their wine kept at a specific temperature but when space is at a premium, this option might not be possible. Fortunately with the help of compact solutions you will be able to enjoy a nice glass of chilled wine in even the cosiest of kitchens.

One of the main disadvantages of kitchen cupboards is that the items stored in the back are inaccessible. This is where compact, slim pull out pantries come into play. Consisting of a single vertical drawer, filled with racks of tins, bottles, packets and jars, they are able to give you convenient access to the ingredients you need without compromising on space.

Vertical Space

It is also worth considering the space we might create by simply moving the items in our kitchen from the countertop to the walls. A knife block might consume a square foot or so of counter space. Why not make the switch to a magnetised, wall-mounted strip and thereby free that space up for other things? By hanging these items on wall-mounted hooks, or even suspended from the ceiling, you will be able to free up valuable cupboard space, which in turn might free up even more space on your countertop.