How to free up worktop space in a small kitchen

When your kitchen is on the small side, you need to ensure that every inch of your counter top space can be used for prepping, serving and possibly eating too. To maximise kitchen worktop space, incorporate these design tips into your plan

Autograph Elements kitchen in Oak Lodge, Wren Kitchens

Freeing up kitchen worktop space is always a priority when you are designing a kitchen for a small space. Key to this is thinking about how you can make every area of your kitchen, from the walls to the inside of your units work harder.

MosaiQ Storage System by Rational kitchens

Choose wall-hung over counter-top storage

To really maximise kitchen worktop space, it's important to make use of that space between wall units and the worktop by securing a mix of ​kitchen wall-hanging storage - knives, cooking utensils, mugs, spices and even pots of fresh herbs plants can be stored here. Hooks can be placed under wall-hung kitchen units too, which can be used to hang mugs and wooden spoons, etc. You can even get a magnetic splashback, which knives and other cooking utensils will cling to.

Putney Shaker Kitchen pantry interior, Brayer Design

Create extra worktop space behind unit doors

Providing your floor-to-ceiling kitchen unit is suitably ventilated and preferably fitted with plug sockets, you can create an internal kitchen worktop inside it, where you can keep and use small kitchen appliances, such as a coffee maker, and this can become a place to chop food too. This area can also be made with a shelf that pulls out to create a breakfast bar eating area or a deeper prep space.

GoodHome Compact Oven Microwave, B&Q

Get your microwave off your kitchen counter

You don't need to have a separate microwave and conventional oven, opt for a combination conventional oven that also doubles up as a microwave. Going for this option means you avoid havIng a chunky microwave cluttering up your worktop. Alternatively, sacrifice the microwave altogether. Think about it, you can probably do everything you use it for either on your hob or in your standard oven.

Signature modern boiling and filtered water tap, QETTLE

Swap your kettle for a boiling water tap

This solution for freeing up kitchen worktop space requires sacrificing space in the unit under your kitchen sink to free up the space that would be taken up by a kettle on your kitchen counter, but every inch helps when worktop space is tight. A system that provides instant boiling water can be fitted under your kitchen units and this feeds a boiling water tap that also provides fresh and filtered cold drinking water.

Passe Par Tout storage system Rational

Create extra storage inside kitchen unit doors

Freeing up kitchen worktop space also involves making the most of your cupboard space. The inside of kitchen unit doors can often be used for storing items that are often left out on display on kitchen worktops: spice racks, kitchen paper, aluminium foil and clingfilm, for example. Build these additional storage areas into your small kitchen space to free up even more space on your kitchen worktops.
Incorporate these design tips into your small kitchen and you should be able to maximise kitchen worktop space and ensure that your whole kitchen feels bigger, looks great and functions at its very best twenty four hours a day.

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