How To Get More Counter Space In A Small Kitchen

Working in a small kitchen can be frustrating. The lack of space makes it hard to move around, and having to constantly navigate your way around eats up a lot of the time that could otherwise be spent prepping food.

But if you let yourself be creative, you’ll find there are plenty of ways to expand your workstation. You can add leveled shelves, build hidden counters, find alternative storage, double up on tools, or even invest in an island on wheels.

Here are nine ideas to get more counter space in a small kitchen!

Pare Down

Ask yourself: do you really need everything that’s in your kitchen right now? If the answer is no, remove all the tools, utensils and appliances that are just taking up space. Banish empty jars, bulky boxes and other unnecessary containers, and remove machines and wares that you don’t use frequently.

You don’t have to throw anything away; you can simply store them elsewhere until you need them again.

Invest In Multipurpose Tools

Save space by investing in kitchen tools that can function in several ways. For example, buy a good hand blender that can do the job of both a blender and a food processor, or buy a cake stand that can double as an extra storage space when you’re not using it to ice your baked goods.

At the same time, consider getting items that fit in your small kitchen better, such as an overhead microwave or an under-cabinet coffee maker. Just be aware of potentially damage caused by steam from your coffee maker.

Use Up All Existing Space

Make sure that you’re using all of the existing space in your kitchen already. And by that, we mean maximizing the space to fit as many useful tools as you can; don’t limit what you put where. For example, you can use drawers to store things other than utensils, such as spices, towels, etc.

If you’re wondering where to put a coffee maker in a small kitchen, you might benefit by looking up. There could be space above the cabinets or on your windowsill that can house these appliances.

Maximize Doors, Walls And Ceilings

Don’t sell yourself short on space by working only with what you have. Explore the possibilities of unused space on your doors, walls and ceilings: 

• put hooks or railings on your cabinet doors to hang your tools; 
• install a magnetic board or extra shelves on your backsplash; 
• add a pot rack to hang your vessels from the ceiling near your stove; and/or
• place storage in often ignored corners.

If you still need more space, start looking beyond your kitchen work area. You may have an empty wall that you can convert into a whole new storage space or pantry. And you would only need to remodel one section of the space! 

Add Levels

Think upward not outward when maximizing your space. Adding vertical storage is one of the easiest ways to gain more space. If you don’t have the space or the tools to do it, adding something as simple as shelf risers can do the trick.

Go Hidden

You can add more counter space by installing cleverly designed collapsible counters, drop-down storage or even pull-out chopping boards. The best thing about these is that you can tuck them away when not in use, so they take up almost no extra space.

Turn Your Stove And Sink Into A Workspace

You can use the tops of your stove and sink (when they aren’t being used, of course) as extra countertop by placing burner covers and over-the-sink cutting boards on top of each.

Get A Cart

If you’ve used up all the space in your kitchen but still need a little more wiggle room, consider getting a cart or a moveable island. These not only give you extra space for storage, they also double as extended counter space that you can work on.

And since they move, you can position them anywhere so you can work more comfortably. 

Get Creative

The key to making the most out of a small kitchen is creativity. You can find more counter space by considering all the possible ways you can add space, from maximizing existing real estate and installing vertical shelves to adding hidden storage or repurposing what’s already there.

Look at your small kitchen with new eyes and you’ll realize it’s not as small as it looks!