Not everyone is blessed with a large kitchen. If you are working with a small kitchen, you will understand the feeling of making the most of every last square foot of space available. Though, doing so can seem borderline impossible, especially when you are trying to squeeze in the latest kitchen appliances.
To help, we have put together a handy guide to choosing the best appliances for your small space, that should help you claim back much needed space and make dinnertime that bit easier.
Why a compact appliance?
When working with a small kitchen, the appliances you choose can make all the difference, especially for typically larger appliances such as fridges and dishwashers. Choosing compact appliances will allow you to use every square inch to its maximum potential. It will also minimise any clutter on your worktops, streamlining your design and creating an illusion of a much more open space.
Keep your cooking compact with a domino hob
Domino hobs can be an ideal choice for compact spaces or island units where a full-sized simply would not be practical. Many domino hobs also come with the added extras of a large gas wok burner, two smaller gas burners or a flexible induction zone that can heat a couple of pans up at the same time. This is a great choice if you are short on space.
Fit a hot water tap
Why have a kettle, which takes up precious worktop space, when you can simply switch one out for a tap that dispenses hot water? An all-in-one design will allow you to switch from the typical hot and cold water to boiling quickly and easily.
Many of these taps can easily be retrofitted to where an existing tap once was, but keep in mind that you’ll have to find the space for a water tank in the cupboard beneath your sink. These will range between two and five litres, though, so you will have some choice in size based on the space you have to work with.
Choose a fridge freezer that saves space
If you’re short on space, you’ll likely understand that a huge full-sized fridge freezer simply isn’t for you. Though, a tall and narrow combined fridge freezer could be the right choice, especially compared to two seperate appliances.
Check the manufacturers’ claimed volumes to understand how much you can realistically fit in each and choose the one which makes the best use of the space it takes up. Some models can have similar dimensions, yet up to three shopping bags-worth difference in capacity!
Choose a compact dishwasher
If you have previously had a dishwasher in your home, it’s likely you’ll never want to do without one again. They save lots of time and lots of arguments over who does the dishes next! No matter how small your kitchen, having one is an excellent choice.
Smaller, six-place-setting dishwasher can help keep even the smallest kitchen clean and tidy. Pull out dishwashers are also a great choice, as they will sit integrated into your existing cupboards and give that added wow-factor, but can also have a higher price tag.
One important point to keep in mind though, is that no matter how compact your dishwasher is, you will still have to connect it to a water supply and waste as you would with a typical full sized model.
Keep clean air with a small extractor
You could try and simply ‘do without’ an extractor in your kitchen, but it’s not a good idea. You won’t have a solution to clean the air around you of grease, leading to a build up on your shelves and cupboards. Cooking smells will also quickly fill soft furnishings.
Extractors actually come in a range of sizes, so it’s easy enough to find a model that’ll fit into your small kitchen space perfectly. Manufacturers such as Miele offer models that will be no wider than your current wall cupboards and will even be small enough to fit cupboards above.
We hope this article has inspired you to update your kitchen space and the appliances it houses, no matter what size the space is you’re working with. Though we do recommend, for further advice and guidance on the appliances you’ll need to truly make best use of your space, be sure to talk to a reputable appliance retailer, such as Joe Graham & Son Ltd, leading stockist of Kitchen Appliances Milton Keynes.