Maybe you feel like you’re in the perfect home, save for one thing — the kitchen is smaller than you’d like. Luckily, there are many options for Chicago homeowners to experiment with before they decide they’ve outgrown their current home; and these strategies will work well in other areas of the house, too. Here are a few options to consider if you want to make the most of your small kitchen:

Dual Use

This is often an easy fix to free up space. See if there are any kitchen components that can also function as art. With an ample kitchen, you could probably find a place to store everything out of view, but in a smaller space, you may have to get creative. So, consider displaying some of your pans, dishware, and ceramic mugs. You can do this tastefully, without making it look like clutter. And in the process, you can give the room an aesthetic boost.

Get an Island

An island (or free-standing table), especially one with wheels, can be a perfect way to increase the versatility of your kitchen. It can give you additional counter space for food prep, some extra storage underneath, and sometimes even a place to sit for casual meals. Look around to see which size would work for you. Even the smaller options won’t take up much space but will still provide all the benefits.

Think Vertically

Small kitchens can also force us to get more creative with storage. Looking to your walls can give you some great options. Install some additional shelving, or mount a dish-drying rack, or hang your pots and pans — these are all great solutions for using all the space to your advantage.

Find a Place for Everything

Clutter is the enemy of a small kitchen, and it can build up fast, making the kitchen feel even smaller. This is why organization is your best tool in a small kitchen. When you give everything a home, you prevent countertop clutter and overflow. You’ll know how much your kitchen can accommodate and adapt to that size more easily when it’s clear.

If you’d like to talk more about getting the most out of your kitchen, or if we can be of assistance in some other way, please reach out to us. We’re always happy to help.