Small is Beautiful – 10 Top Design Tips for your Micro Kitchen
Large rambling farmhouse kitchens may be the advertising dream but if you live in a modern flat, kitchen space comes at a premium. While compact kitchen/diners are the new reality in most new builds, studio flats must surely be the ultimate multi-tasking home. The obvious question is: How can you possibly fit everything you need into a tiny kitchen?
Believe it or not, the ‘micro kitchen’ is actually a thing. Perfect for compact urban living in lofts and apartments, in man caves and she sheds, not to mention boats and camper vans, it can be a handy setup for multiple living situations. However, the micro kitchen does come with some design challenges.
Practising the art of making the most of the space you do have is, admittedly, taken to extremes when it comes to teeny tiny kitchens but it can be done. With the help of specialist kitchen designers Classic Interiors, I’ve compiled 10 top design tips to maximise your micro kitchen.
Reflect the glory
Your kitchen space may be minuscule but that doesn’t mean it has to look small. Using reflective surfaces such as high gloss kitchen units, glass-fronted cupboards, shiny splashbacks, mirrors, tiles and metal finishes will help bounce light around the room and make the space feel bigger and brighter.
Scale it down
Keeping your kitchen furniture and appliances in proportion to the space available will allow you to fit more in. Look out for narrow cupboards, slimline appliances and half-size gadgets. Think about repurposing wall units as base units and ask your kitchen designer for advice on clever ways to maximise the space.
Choose minimalist chic
No need to compromise on style due to lack of space. Keep the design simple and chic – white or neutral gloss cabinets and stainless steel finishes are a timeless combination. Try an all-white treatment and do away with fussy handles and ornate detail, to let the light flow unobstructed over the units and worktops.
Go for luxe
Splash out on expensive finishes – after all, you’ll only need a tiny amount. From luxury marble worktops and limestone flooring to designer tiles and premium paint colours, now’s your chance to bring some grandeur to your kitchen far beyond its micro dimensions.
Make it a feature
Who says you have to be ashamed of your teensy kitchen? Rather than blend it into the background, why not make a feature of it? Choose an accent colour for the walls in combination with effective downlighting to really show off your gorgeous kitchen units.
Use the building
Sometimes, the best thing you can do is take a fresh look at what’s already there and break a few rules. If you live in a period building with high ceilings, why not fix a simple shelf right across the mid rail of a big sash window, or over the top of a casement window frame?
Think Tall
Vertical lines are your friend; they take the eye upwards and stretch your kitchen higher – even better if you have a low ceiling. Minimise horizontal lines that cut across the space and use tall doors, vertical panelling, tile grout lines or striped wallpaper to reinforce the sense of height.
Be creative with storage
Look at every bit of kitchen space as an opportunity for storage. Add shelving in every nook and cranny, up to the ceiling, around door frames, above appliances, in wall recesses and even underneath wall units. Use whatever wall space you have available to hang utensils, pots and pans, spices, tea towels, baskets of fruit or veg…
Hide it all away
Not keen on looking at a messy kitchen from the comfort of your sofa or bed but not motivated enough to tidy it up? Think about installing a raised wall or full-length doors, or use a room divider, to hide away a single-wall kitchen.
Think multifunctional
The more functions you can accommodate in your micro kitchen, the better. Could the worktop double up as a breakfast bar? How about including a pullout shelf or foldout ironing board? Don’t forget to check out combi ovens and other multipurpose appliances that make your life easier.
*This is a collaborative post.
I also have a small kitchen so this post is really helpful to me.. I am always in need of tips to help make the most out of the little space.
Having a small space doesn’t always have to be a negative thing. These are some great ideas to make that space all your own.
Most definitely not it is amazing how you can make things your own, even in small spaces sometimes.
Ah this is a great and handy post! Our kitchen is pretty small so this is useful for us
We have a fairly small kitchen, but we have high ceilings, so we have made the use of that space by having things going up the walls.
Oh these is a great tips! I have been thinking abut to fix my kitchen and i am glad i found this. Thanks!
Need to pass these onto my mum as she’s always complaining about how small our kitchen is!
Wow, this is so interesting and I’m struggling too about cluttered in our kitchen.
You’re right! I had no idea people actually had these. Micro kitchen to me is what one would find in a travelling home (camper). Great ideas to maximize the space!
These are really useful tips to make the most of the space in a micro-kitchen, love the minimalist chic ideas 🙂
Our kitchen is not overly big. I miss a big kitch. I agree though, if you’re going to have a small one might as well embrace it and deck it out to shine.
I have a small kitchen so these are brilliant tips. Storage is key for us
Very useful tips! I like the minimal living in general.
this is my first time hearing about a micro kitchen. the multifunctional point is such a great idea, I’m always amazed at what is a possible. just gotta think outside the box
I needed these tips years ago when I was living in a tiny studio apt! These tips are gold, and will also work for any kitchen!!!