When everyone’s at home, kitchens see a lot more action than normal. Having a huge family kitchen is the absolute ideal, but relatively few...

When everyone’s at home, kitchens see a lot more action than normal. Having a huge family kitchen is the absolute ideal, but relatively few of us have that luxury. Finding ways to make a small kitchen work for all the family can seem impossible, but is less of a challenge than you may think.

IMAGE FROM PEXELS

Clear the Worktops

Worktops are the kitchen’s prime real estate, yet we tend to clutter them up with all kinds of equipment that rarely gets used. From food processors to bread makers, if you’re not regularly using a piece of equipment in your kitchen, pack it away and put it somewhere else. If you decide you don’t really miss it, you could consider putting it all into self storage and make clutter-free counters a permanent feature in your kitchen.

Having an uncluttered expanse of counter space gives you more room for food prep and cooking, as well as space for writing shopping lists or more creative activities. Meal preparation is an especially good bonding activity for families. Having space for children to help with simple tasks or for partners to share the veg chopping makes meal times more of a fun event. But don’t forget to get them to help with clearing up and washing dishes too!

Clear the Cupboards and Cabinets

Dig deep into kitchen cabinets and get rid of everything that’s either out of date or that you know isn’t going to get eaten. If you have spare storage tubs, decant the contents of bulky boxes into them. Foods such as cereals, rice, pasta and flour all store more compactly when they’re in stackable tubs or containers. They stay fresh, plus you can see at a glance when you need to replenish supplies.

As well as food storage, certain items of crockery such as mugs can be stored elsewhere. If you have hooks, consider hanging them beneath the wall cabinets to free up more cupboard space. 

Do you keep some dinnerware for best? The stuff that only gets used for special occasions or celebrations can be kept safe and pristine in a self storage unit. Put it to one side and research your storage options because in a small kitchen, the space you have is best used for everyday items.

Find Hidden Storage Spaces and Use Walls

Some of these spaces exist in all kitchens, but we don’t always think of them as storage areas. They include:

• The ends of cabinets. Install a narrow shelf for small bottles and containers or cookbooks, or just a rail for tea towels or oven gloves.
• Inside cabinet doors. Paint them with chalkboard paint for quick todo lists or shopping lists, or put up a magnetic notice board for cut-out recipes and other paper clutter.
• Install pan lid holders so you don’t have to rummage among the saucepans for the right lid. While you’re at it, put aside the pans you either never use or only use infrequently, such as turkey roasters or massive jam pots. Those things are ideal candidates for self storage lockers or rooms as they take up lots of space for little everyday return.
• As well as cabinet ends and doors, use your walls. Hang a pegboard to hold utensils, or use it as a decorative feature to hang small plants or to pin up the kid’s artwork.

All of these ideas will help you make the most of your space and create a more airy feeling. With a little ingenuity and imagination small family kitchens can be just as much a central family hub as larger ones.