Kitchen Renovation Tips to Give You Some Space
By H.L. StaplesRefacingCabinet.com Columnist
What are the first words that come to mind when you hear someone mention the perfect kitchen? If you said light, airy, or spacious, you'll probably find the following renovation tips compelling.
Minor Changes, Big Improvements
To create more space, you don't necessarily have to embark on a full-scale home renovation. You'll see improvement simply by sorting your drawers and cabinets. Throw away anything that's not being used. Consider creating a space outside the kitchen for home office documents. Uncluttering the room can give you back the space you forgot you had.
You can also open up your kitchen by making the following small improvements:
- Install a pot-rack
- Hang a tier of wire mesh baskets in the pantry
- Store small bags of nuts and spices in stackable plastic boxes
- Hang a shoe organizer on the back of a pantry door to stow spices
- Hang mugs from hooks below the cabinets or the cabinet's interior ceiling
- Choose small kitchen appliances that hang underneath the kitchen cabinets
Major Renovations, Major Results
If the various organizational gizmos on the market just don't cut it, you may need to try major home renovation to get the bigger kitchen you want. You can transform your home with a bit of vision and a good contractor. Consider the following renovation possibilities:
- Remove a wall to open up the kitchen
- Install a kitchen island for storage and workspace
- Install a single-bowl sink to maximize counterspace
- Install a blind-corner cabinet for nonintrusive storage
- Install a peninsula cabinet with a countertop for seating
Some renovations require extra cabinets. That addition may initially seem like an unlikely improvement on a small space. But the more storage area you create, the greater stretch of countertop you'll have--and a wide-open countertop is key to a creating a spacious feel in your kitchen. Added space in the kitchen almost always adds light and airiness as well. Perhaps that's why a kitchen can never be too spacious.
Sources
"Organizing Your Kitchen," Mrs. Clean
"Space Savers for the Small Kitchen," HGTV
"Ten Space-Saving Tips for Your Small Kitchen," Goliath.com
About The Author
H.L. Staples has renovated three older homes and has just purchased her fourth. Her articles have appeared in The Boston Review, Denver Quarterly, The Georgia Review, and elsewhere.
