What to do about that small kitchen?

When designing a small kitchen, there are a number of crucial points to consider, perhaps the most important one being “how will the space be used?”. There are a number of tips and tricks that make a kitchen design really effective, and that can be beneficial when considering how the space in a small kitchen can be maximised.

Consider the kitchen triangle

The kitchen triangle, which is also known sometimes as “the kitchen working triangle” was first devised by researchers at the University of Illinois School of Architecture in the 1940s as a means to save money on construction costs, the idea being that there may be an ideal triangular form that connects the three main elements of a kitchen - the fridge-freezer, the sink and the stove - that saves on space, time spent cooking, and construction costs. Ideally, each side of this triangle should measure no less than about 120cm (4 feet) and no more than about 270cm (nine feet), and the perimeter of the triangle should be no less than about 390cm (13feet) and no more than about 790cm (26 feet). These dimensions ensure your working area is efficient, comfortable and large enough, but no so much so that your time is spent walking from one place to another.

However, this is not a steadfast rule that must be rigidly adhered to: the kitchen triangle is a tool that assumes only one person does the cooking at any given time, which is not always the case these days. Therefore, you might want to consider cooking “zones”, allowing more than one person to use the space simultaneously. Also, galley kitchens in tight spaces don’t lend themselves to a triangle shape at all, and can still be incredibly efficient. Further, you might want to consider a separate pantry or larder in which you can place your fridge, or even under-counter drawer-fridges, which would mean your kitchen triangle would turn into a different shape altogether…

St Hanshaugen kitchen by Jonas Gunerius Larsen and HAMRAN

Cooks in the kitchen

Is cooking a time you like to take out for yourself only, or is it a social activity where you live? Is it a place where you can close the door and focus, or would you rather catch up with your family or house guests? Are there more than two people cooking at any given moment, or is one person in charge? Also, if someone is in the kitchen but they’re not cooking, are they seated? Do they have to stand? Perhaps all these questions don’t need answers right away, and they will emerge throughout the process of designing your kitchen, but it is nevertheless crucial that they are considered if this kitchen is to be a long-lasting and integral part of your home.

Consider the size and shape of appliances

There is a dazzling array of shapes, types and finishes to kitchen appliances these days. Personally, I found living with a dishwasher a crucial means to facilitate a harmonious home life - gone are the days of toiling over a soapy sink, damp hands in rubber gloves, wandering whether to leave doing the dishes for the next morning… Even if you think your space isn’t large enough for a dishwasher, think again: if you have a space wide enough for a standard tea-towel (40cm), then you can accommodate a compact dishwasher. If you’re really tight for space and live alone, you might wish to even consider a countertop dishwasher, that tend to be no larger than a microwave. Similarly, think about whether you need all four standard hobs on your stovetop - might two be enough? - and could a low fridge-freezer be sufficient for your household’s needs?

Fisher & Paykel have several clever under-counter drawer-fridge solutions

Drawers on the bottom, shelves on the top

Generally, this is a practical rule, as crouching down to look at the back of a cupboard shelf for the missing pan lid is cumbersome when compared to opening a drawer all the way out. Shelves on the top cupboards could also be illuminated, or even made of glass, allowing for an unobstructed view of what is in storage.

Profile kitchen by Reform

Shelves or cupboards at the top?

There are many reasons why you might choose to not include wall cupboards at all: maybe the wall finish is too delicate to support furniture, maybe you have a separate pantry for extra storage, or maybe you simply long for a clearer, less bulky atmosphere in your kitchen. Either way, a simple, open shelf here to store often-used items will work well, or you may wish to leave the wall space completely clear.

East Village Apartment kitchen by GRT Architects

Turn towards your hosts

If you enjoy cooking around others, or you would simply like to be part of the conversation when you have guests over, it is always a good idea to have part of your kitchen triangle facing towards a sociable area, such as a living space or dining table. For example, I often recommend that if clients would like a kitchen island, that this accommodates the stove and/or the oven instead of the sink; in this way, cooking and presenting food can become more of a guest-facing activity, as opposed to the area around a sink which tends to accumulate dirty dishes. In this way, your guests will feel welcome and you will be able to provide them with the attention they deserve!

SIA and Aires Mateus, kitchen in apartment in Rua do Arsenal, Lisbon

Consider cooking from left to right

The galley kitchen, where a kitchen is all designed along one wall, is perhaps the most efficient layout for cooking. To improve efficacy even further, you might want to think about the order of food storage, preparation, cooking and cleaning, and arrange your machinery and furniture accordingly. For example, you might wish to place your fridge or larder or on the far left, followed by a countertop space, then a sink, then a further countertop space with a dishwasher beneath, followed by your stove and oven; like reading words on a page, activities in a kitchen tend to make more sense when performed from left to right.

Reflect kitchen by Jean Nouvel for Reform

Colours and materials

The general rule of thumb in a room is lighter spaces appear larger, whereas darker ones seem smaller. Also, highly polished and reflective surfaces repeat the dimensions of a space, making it seem larger, whereas matt surfaces help define a space’s edges. These tips are especially useful when considering a countertop and backsplash finish: a mirrored or toughed-glass backsplash will trick the eye into thinking the kitchen is larger than it is.

Corner solutions make the most of hard-to-access spaces

Make the most of corners

There is always a joy in using elements of a piece of furniture in an unexpected way, and a great place to experiment with space-saving ideas is in the often underused corners of L-shaped kitchens. There are great solutions here, including circular shelving systems attached to the door, shelves on runners, and extractable corner drawers. There are some kitchen manufacturers who also provide corner sinks and stoves for corners - however, I would not recommend these, as the furthest corners will inevitably be grime-magnets. I would strongly recommend sticking to storage solutions here.

Match HDPE by Reform

Keep countertops free of items

A tidy kitchen almost instantly feels soothing, and is also easier to keep clean. Could your microwave be integrated into a higher cupboard, and does your toaster and food processor need to be out all the time? You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how instantly transformed your space will feel by freeing up horizontal work surfaces.

“The Cookery” is a clever example of making the most of a highly limited space