If you're designing a kitchen for a small space and you want it to be as stylish and functional as possible, watch this short video for tonnes of inspiring space-saving kitchen design ideas..
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To maximise the amount of stuff that you can fit into your kitchen cupboards, go square.This might seem ridiculous, but you're here because you inhabit a little home and you're desperate to grab every inch of space that you can. We have to help you do that every way we know how, so here is another one of our little tips: to maximise the amount of stuff that you can fit into your kitchen cupboards, opt for square storage canisters and crockery, etc. Think about it, circular storage jars just won't slot neatly into those corners and they leave gaps between each other. The taller the better too. No point wasting that 'head height' in the kitchen cupboards. These clear kitchen storage canisters from a Place for Everything, shown above, also have clear sides and lids so that you can easily see what they contain. These square plates from Denby come in a mixture of sizes and also come with matching bowls and rectangular platters, perfect for tucking into those kitchen unit corners Discover why dining benches save more space than chairs and the latest bench features to look out forBenches save more space than chairs
Benches save more space than chairs because they actually make more space. With the table shown above, you can get two chairs comfortably along the length of one side of the table or a bench that's designed to seat three, but could probably accommodate four adult bottoms and five children's bottoms at a push. By opting for a bench instead of chairs, you will get more people around your dining table.
Benches tuck under tables
It's rare that you find a whole set of chairs that will tuck neatly under the table they are bought to sit alongside. Most stylish dining benches can be tucked right under the table, however, so when not in use they take up much less floor space in your kitchen or dining room, which means that the room looks a lot less cluttered.
Consider an upholstered bench for extra comfort
For a more comfy seat, look for a space-saving bench that is upholstered or add extra cushions. Ideally you want an upholstered seat that is protected against spillages or cushion covers that can be washed when required. If you have young children, however, you may prefer to leave your seats bare to avoid constant scrubbing and minimise stains.
A bench with a back offers more support
If you suffer from back pain or often entertain people that do, a space-saving bench with a back offers more support. You may have to search a little to find one that's to your taste, but there are a host of contemporary and traditional styles out there.
A style with a back and arms will offer even more support, but if it's to regularly hold more than two people, getting everyone in and out of it, will entail a little shuffling. To make things easier look out for a model with lowish arms. If you decide to go with a bench with no back or arms, go for two chairs at the top of and bottom of the table with good support, so that you have a more ergonomic alternative when required. A space-saving bench with storage
When space is really tight and you need to maximise your storage space, consider a stylish dining bench that also allows you to store stuff within it or under it.
These storage benches will be heavier to lift up and more awkward to move around though, so this is really only an option if you plan to place your bench and leave it. When it comes to access, you will need to move the table instead of the bench to get seated upon it. Fill a corner with an L-shaped dining bench
Tuck an L-shaped dining bench into the corner of your kitchen to make the most of every inch of space in your dining area. The hand-crafted corner low-arm Monk's bench, shown above from Amazon's Handmade range has low arms for easy access and it offers oodles of storage underneath the lift-up seating area; perfect for dog food, toilet rolls or blankets. It's offered in a range of lovely Farrow & Ball paint finishes too.
Dining tables that max spaceSee how to choose practical and stylish display items
There are certain kitchen items that need to be left out on display either because you use them constantly; they would start to smell if you hid them away; or you simply don't have room for them within your cupboards. That's fine, just try to make sure that these items look good. You don't want an ugly bottle of washing up liquid by your sink, for example, you want a subtly stylish container, such as this L.A Bruket, pump-action dispenser. What's more this natural liquid is made with organic essential oils of rosemary and lemongrass and will not damage your hands or the environment.
Same goes for the washing up brush. Avoid those lurid coloured ones you see on supermarket shelves. Opt for something with a designer feel instead. This Brabantia washing up brush comes with a suction cup that sticks to the inside of the kitchen sink, so that it is largely hidden from view.
And, when it comes to tea towels avoid anything white or light coloured. Tea towels are often not only used for drying dishes, but for wiping oily and greasy hands on whilst cooking. Those light-coloured ones quickly lose their glistening brightness. Go for darker colour tea towels and the same goes for oven gloves and other kitchen linens too.
When you live in a small space, you need to make your furniture work extra hard and no where is this more important than your kitchen.Look for kitchen units that are devoid of fancy gadgets. Whilst magic corner units, for example, might look great and make life easier, they often steal valuable storage space from the unit itself, space which you can not afford to sacrifice. Likewise drawers, often provide less storage space than shelves in the same area. Try to find pieces of furniture that provide more than one function: I spent ages searching for a kitchen bookshelf that was deep enough and sturdy enough to support our wide cookbooks. This unit from Ella's Kitchen Company does just that and more. By moving our dry foods to the cute scoop drawers, I've freed up a whole shelf in a kitchen cupboard and the hooks make a pretty decorate display area. I ordered it unpainted and painted it to match the rest of the kitchen. This butcher's block makes a fantastic multi-functional kitchen table too.
Three can eat here comfortably, four less so, and beneath the table top there is a wine rack, a hanging glasses rack and a cutlery drawer. When I'm entertaining, I probably waste half an hour at the beginning and end of the meal trying to squeeze prepared food and then leftovers into our small fridge freezer. Although I find this challenge strangely therapeutic, there are always other things I could be doing, which is why Gorenje's new NRC6192TX fridge freezer with its revolutionary-sounding ConvertActive technology that switches the freezer section into refrigerator mode, sounds rather appealing. The A++ model takes two hours to switch modes from freezer to fridge and then you're already to party. It costs around £619. I haven't tested it, but if you need to invest in a new fridge freezer for a small kitchen this is one worth taking a look at. Visit Gorenje for further details.
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