Small kitchens|Compact Kitchens what is the best plan for a tight space?

Many homeowners begin remolding in the kitchen because they feel like theirs is too small. Kitchens are becoming the gathering place in most households and if they are not laid out properly and have the space utilized to its full potential then you miss the opportunity to congregate and enjoy your kitchen. Small kitchens require a little imagination when you are laying them out but here are several tips to help you make the most out of the room that you have.

The best plan for utilizing the space in compact kitchens is make sure that the flow of the room works. If you have to continuously move things in order to be able to cook a simple meal then your flow is out of whack. The easiest way to fix the flow is to begin at the refrigerator. Where do you go to prepare the food? It should be the closest countertop. This is also where you should have your kitchen utensils that are used for food prep like your knives and mixing bowls.

. Then your next space should be the cooking area. This is where your stove and microwave should be. If your microwave is across the room consider purchasing one that can be installed above your stove. When you are cooking you do not want to be criss-crossing around the room, with small kitchens it is important that you have a circular flow in your kitchen. The cabinets and area near your stove should have all your cookware within reach.

The last spot is your sink area. This is of course where you clean up and you will want the area to flow from the stove, into the sink and then in to either the dishwasher or drying rack. Compact kitchens that flow in a circular motion automatically make the area feel bigger because there is no congested area.

The next way to make small kitchens feel bigger is to completely utilize all the space in the kitchen. This means don't be afraid to go vertical. For example if there is not a lot of cabinetry in your kitchen, use a pan rack that hangs from the ceiling to hold your pots and pans. Or if you can add a small island in your kitchen, this will not only increase the countertop space but will also give you extra storage space underneath.

Using the backs of your cabinetry doors is a great way to add more storage area. There are many things like spice racks, utensils holders, or pantry hangers that will help you to free up cabinetry space for other things. They are relatively inexpensive, and can be found at a local home improvement, and are easy to install. One of the leaders in the cabinet storage market is RevaShelf.

Another often overlooked method to increase the space within compact kitchens is to add more cabinetry. You can often times add a storage cabinet over your refrigerator. This is an excellent spot to store things that you only need occasionally.

If you have standard 8 foot ceilings and typical 30" high upper cabinets you can add an extra 12" cabinet above each existing cabinet. This will give you lots of new storage space for things that you use regularly. We here at CreativeKitchenStyle.com want to help you with resources and information so you can plan your kitchen.