Small, but Mighty Kitchen

Small, but Mighty Kitchen

I may have moved back to #ModernLoft34, but I thought it would be fun and helpful to share a peek into how I made #PollyPocketoffPark’s kitchen functional for me. It’s no doubt this was the smallest kitchen I’d ever seen, but I made it functional and it worked so well. Over a single weekend, I rolled up my sleeves to give my favorite space some freshness. I’m talking everything kitchen, duh. Since this kitchen was much smaller, it was important for me to make these mini improvements for me to love it.

Install under-cabinet lighting

It was important for me to make sure that there was proper lighting over all the counter space since the kitchen is small and does not have natural direct light. One of the first things I assessed was the lighting under the upper cabinets. The great thing about the lighting strips I installed under the cabinets is they are battery-operated (reducing electricity usage). Also, no drilling was required as they came with sticky strips for the back-side that remained stuck to the underside of the cabinet.

Remove cabinet doors to open the space a bit

This kitchen is a bit cramped. If your's is too, this is the move for you. I removed the doors to the cabinet where I keep my everyday dishes, coffee mugs, and mixing bowls because well… I use these daily. Removing the doors creates some breathing room (just as with regular doors), and allows you to display some of your dishes or other kitchen novelties. It also encourages you to keep the cabinet organized so you can readily locate what it is you’re looking for when you need it. And since I’m renting, I can easily reinstall the doors and hardware when I move out with a screwdriver.

Hang some art, of course

I would suggest refraining from hanging the art above or near the stove to avoid getting food splatters or steam residue on it. I like word art in my kitchen, so I have a fun set of rules on a small wall just as you enter the kitchen and my custom gimme some sugar sign in the coffee area.

Clear the counters

It can be tempting to display all of your favorite things on your counters, but the reality is sometimes we place more things on the counter than we actually use regularly. Counter space is always considered prime real estate because, as an everyday cook, I don’t want to have to maneuver around stuff as I’m prepping, mixing, cooking, baking, plating, and decorating [cakes]. Truth be told, displaying all the things on the counter really allows for more dust to collect and sometimes hide. Leverage the space above the refrigerator to store and display items you frequently use.

Wine storage above the refrigerator.

Storing kitchen gadgets on the counter and near corners may be the norm, but they also can take up quite a bit of space when your kitchen is small. Counter space then becomes prime real estate for preparing meals, packing lunches, and plating dinners. If you happen to be one who relishes acquiring the latest kitchen gadget and find yourself not using it as often, look up. Do you have space on top of your cabinets to store these frequently used appliances? If so, let’s go. Placing your gadgets on top of your cabinets keeps their insight, which can be visible reminders that you have them at a moment’s notice to use when needed.

Add functional touches that serve as decor

It’s a simple bit of fancy to make your whole workspace feel perky, especially if you dislike your current counters. While I don’t dislike my counters, I use my cutting and serving boards regularly….regularly enough to not have the energy to pull them out of the cabinet every time I need to use them. A wood cutting board or marble board also makes for a perfect photo backdrop for those instant food photos I need to get.

Lay a rug

I’m in the kitchen a lot and need something soft and cushy under my feet. Putting down a rug does just that. Not just any rug, a great investment, if you can foot the expense, is a vintage Persian rug. Persian rugs add a great touch of classic history, cleaning is simple and lightweight enough to easily move around.

This is my kitchen with confidence! I hope you’ve found some of these tips helpful, if not encouraging. I plan to share more small labor and weekend-friendly project ideas. Feel free to let me know what you’d like to hear more about in the comment section below.