Big ideas for small kitchens

Whatever type of home you live in, there are practical steps you can take and design tricks to use to make the most of the space you have. Follow this expert guide if you’re looking to create your perfect kitchen.

The kitchen has become much more than a place to prepare food these days, it is the hub of most households, doubling up as a living and entertaining space, dining room, home office, schoolroom and even a washroom. With so much going on it is not surprising that homeowners want larger kitchens, and kitchen extensions are currently one of the most popular home improvements in the UK.

Extending to create a bigger kitchen is not always an option, though, as adding space can be expensive and it may not be possible in a property where there is no garden to expand into, or if you live in a flat, maisonette or a leasehold property.

What do you need from your space?

Decide what you want from your kitchen by analysing the way you live now and how you want to live: do you just want to reheat readymade meals, grab some cereal and make drinks? Or do you want lots of work surfaces where you can prepare food, cook and bake?

Do you need space to prepare meals away from the rest of the household or guests, or would you like to enjoy informal meals in the kitchen as well? Would you like to entertain in the kitchen, by including a more formal dining area with table and chairs? Would you like a living space here, too?

The key is to plan your space first. Examine all the options and think about space-efficiency, too. Design areas to think about include the lighting, storage, furniture and appliances, and including space-saving tricks. Plan a décor scheme that maximises space and light.

A bank of floor-to-ceiling units is a space-efficient option, and keeping them off the floor to show a greater surface area will make the room feel bigger. This kitchen is the ALNOFun, with units in grooved aluminium silver and grooved white, from ALNO (alnokitchens.co.uk).