Home Appliances

A small kitchen can make preparing a simple meal a big headache. Rearrange, de-clutter and maximize your workspace to squeeze more functionality out of a tight kitchen. Small changes that cost little, like changing the direction your refrigerator door opens, can make big a big impact on how well a tiny kitchen functions.

Instructions

1 Clear the clutter on the counter with under cabinet mounted appliances. Small kitchen appliances hog valuable counter space and can be a real eyesore. An under cabinet coffee maker, for instance, can clear up as much as 2 feet of counter space. Look for mounted can openers and microwaves as well.
2 Put small appliances away when youre done with them. Toasters and can openers take up valuable kitchen real estate and need a lot of cleaning to look presentable. Keep your small appliances stored in your kitchen cabinets when not in use.
3 Remove your cabinet doors and hang curtains or arrange open-front displays. Opening and closing your kitchen cabinets requires space -- and sometimes in a small kitchen there's not room for you and the open cabinet door. To reclaim that kitchen space, use cabinet curtains instead. Curtains slide open, requiring no additional space, unlike the swinging action of a kitchen cabinet door. Showcase attractive service pieces on open cabinet shelves.
4 Roll in more counter space. In small kitchens, tiny counter spaces can make cooking projects a nightmare. Consider a rolling kitchen island that can add workspace as well as additional storage. Look for an island with leaves that raise up to make more counter space. When the work is done, fold down the leaves and roll away for storage.