Big Living In a Small Space

Space-Saving Ideas for Making More Room in the Kitchen (page 2 of 3)

See how a small kitchen is made more functional by updating storage and creating a more efficient dining area.

By Brian Patrick Flynn, Decor DemonMore in Kitchen

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Pot Rack

Next, we aimed to free up as much cabinet space as possible by moving all the cookware to a ceiling-mounted rack. We chose a pot rack with an integrated light fixture with small halogen bulbs. By installing the lighted pot rack above the table, we took advantage of the vertical space and instantly added much-needed ambiance to the dining area.

Open Storage

Since the kitchen is located just a few feet from the apartment's entrance, we decided to use the dead space near the door to add open storage for everyday items such as cereal bowls, water glasses, coffee cups and bottled drinks. To create something low-cost with a designer look, we used basic plumbing supplies and darkly stained pine wood, resulting in somewhat of a rustic farmhouse aesthetic. Dan attached threaded pipe, flanges, elbows and nipples together, then screwed the flanges to planks of pine that were assembled as shelving boxes. The project was created and installed in two days and cost less than $250 in materials. We were able to move approximately three cabinets' worth of items onto the new open shelving.

Coffee Cup Holder

The final step in the kitchen update was to add space-saving tricks to the cabinets and countertops. Since coffee in the mornings is important to Sarah and John, we integrated space for coffee cups by mounting an extendable coffee cup holder just a few inches from the coffee maker.

Bold Artwork

Although the kitchen is tight on space, personality was still squeezed into the design wherever possible. One of Sarah and John's favorite art pieces hangs on the wall above the bar-height table. Not only does this add a true focal point to the kitchen, it also adds a touch of bold color to the otherwise earthy neutral space.

Soap Dispenser

The overall style of Sarah and John's home is contemporary, organic and rustic. To add a touch of farmhouse charm, a simple Mason jar was repurposed as a soap dispenser by drilling a hole into the lid, then inserting a pump from a discarded plastic soap container.