I have always wanted to have my very own nice spacious kitchen that can fit more than 2 people at any one go. It would be an absolute dream to have an oversized kitchen that I can spin and do cartwheels in (just kidding, this will be too dangerous) but alas, I stay in an apartment that has a relatively small kitchen. However, even though my kitchen is small, I would say that it still feels rather spacious and can comfortably fit around 2-4 people at one go.
Part of the reason why my kitchen feels spacious is because we built in quite a lot of storage cabinets. The storage cabinets help keep a lot of kitchen goods out of sight. Keeping the kitchen goods out of sight (and out of mind) helps the kitchen feel much less cluttered. However, despite having all that storage, there are still some items that we would prefer to put outside to display in the kitchen, mostly for practical reasons. Unfortunately, the countertop space in my kitchen is rather limited. Therefore, I had to figure out various ways to maximise the countertop space so that I can chop groceries without feeling that the space is too cramped.
Here are the 10 kitchen ideas for small spaces that help to increase countertop space and also increase the spacious feel of a kitchen.
1. 4-in-1 microwave oven
I have rather limited counter top space hence, as much as I want to have an air fryer, an oven, a microwave etc, I simply do not have the space for all of them.
Thankfully, I managed to find a 4-in-1 microwave oven that has an air fryer, grill, microwave and convection functions! So far I have used my 4-in-1 microwave oven to grill bread, heat up chicken, and also to air-fry potatoes. I must say the food all turned out as expected!
2. Knife storage
I did not want to let my knives lie loosely together with the rest of my kitchen utensils in the utensils drawer. Hence, a standalone knife storage is a must for me. I managed to find a really cheap bamboo knife storage from Amazon where I can neatly store my knives. I am loving how presentable it looks!
3. Magnetic tissue roll holder
As I was scrolling through one of the shopping platforms online, I stumbled upon all sorts of magnetic hooks and containers. I decided to get a magnetic tissue roll holder as I no longer had space on my counter top for it. It is such a practical item that I absolutely love.
However, if you are keen to get this, please take note to be more gentle when you pull the tissues out. Roughly tugging the tissue may cause the magnetic tissue roll holder to be accidentally pulled out too.
Get your magnetic tissue holder from Taobao here: https://m.tb.cn/h.UHdYNl7?tk=lVHBdlYV7n4
4. Kitchen Storage Cart
There was a little bit of empty space next to my fridge, so I thought it would be a good idea to place a pull out storage cart in that little space. The storage cart has been really useful for storing all my dry condiments, snacks, dry ingredients and other dried goods.
Get your kitchen storage cart from Taobao here: https://m.tb.cn/h.UH2yH1f?tk=yWVUdlYYgPY
5. Kitchen Corner shelf
I wanted to have some space to display the bowl that holds my onions and garlic. There was a slightly protruding column in front of my fridge (refer to the picture below for a better understanding of what this is), and I thought that this would be the perfect space to place a corner shelf to house items that I wanted to display.
I absolutely love my corner shelf and use it to place my bread, a random gold teapot (that I realized can be used as an olive oil flask), and frequently used cups.
Get your kitchen corner shelf from Taobao here: https://m.tb.cn/h.UHdZoQi?tk=qvIIdlYda02
6. Counter Top Storage rack
As much as I wanted to store heavier items like rice on the corner shelf (mentioned in point 5), I did not dare to because I was afraid that the corner shelf would break. Therefore, I got a counter top storage rack, where I house various types of frequently used ingredients like oats, barley, and rice.
The counter top storage rack has also been really useful for displaying items like festive goodies and my harvested herbs from my herb garden.
Get your countertop storage rack from Taobao here: Countertop Storage Rack
7. Sponge and scrub holder
So far I have not been able to find any countertop sponge and scrub holder that I really like. I just think that in general they are quite ugly and take up space. Therefore, I decided to get a sponge and scrub holder that can be pasted against the edge of the sink itself, so that it can remain hidden, yet is still very accessible.
8. Row of hooks to be placed above the stove
Having your most used cooking essentials in front of you as you cook will definitely make life much easier for you in the kitchen. I love how convenient it is to simply reach out for whatever utensil I need (as compared to always having to dig through a utensils cabinet). In addition to the ease of convenience, I also love the aesthetics of having a row of kitchen utensils displayed on the wall.
Pro tip: The easiest way to make your hanging cooking utensils look more aesthetically pleasing is to get them all in the same colour.
9. Dishwashing rack
A dishwashing rack is a must in every kitchen. However, instead of getting those types of dishwashing racks that only can be placed next to the sink, get a built-in dishwashing rack where you can store the dishes right above the sink.
If you think that getting a built-in dishwashing rack is too troublesome, you can consider getting a dishwashing rack that can be placed against the wall behind the sink.
10. Barista corner (outside the kitchen)
Not all your kitchen tools need to be in the kitchen. Eg your coffee machine does not need to be in your kitchen if you do not have space for it in your kitchen. I added a little shelf (that I got from Taobao) right outside my kitchen to create a little barista corner, to house my coffee machine, wine rack, coffee cups, Nespresso capsules and tea bags.
I must say that I am utterly loving this cute little barista corner of mine – Not only does it help to add more space to the kitchen, it also helps to fill up the empty wall outside the kitchen.
Get the simple coffee bar shelf you see above here: Simple Coffee Bar Shelf