How to make the Most of Small Spaces in Your Home (2)

Clever solutions for compact kitchens

With so much emphasis these days on huge kitchen/living areas, it's easy to feel hard done by if your home is small. But, as Elizabeth Wilhide, author of Small Spaces, points out, 'Professional cooks prefer a more compact kitchen as they are easier to work in.' If in doubt, get some professional design input and keep things streamlined; a smaller space will benefit from being as fuss-free as possible. Choose fitted units, which are the best option for making a small space work efficiently.

Clever solutions

Many units finish short of the ceiling, which is a waste of valuable inches. Choose full-height storage and keep lesser-used items in the higher cupboards. Alternatively, install wine racks into any spare space.

• If necessary, compress the kitchen along one wall. '2.8m is the minimum width you can fit a compact but very useable kitchen in to,' says architect Mark Dyson. 'This will accommodate an under-counter fridge, oven, hob, sink with a concealed bin, a slimline dishwasher and storage while still providing the minimum distance requirement between the sink and hob.'
• No utility room? 'House your washing machine and a dryer in a deep cupboard,' says architect Paul McAneary. 'Hide the appliances behind a folding door.'
• Keep cleaning materials, chopping boards and spices to hand with some custom-made splashback storage. All you need is 15cm at the back of the work surface to create super-slim storage for these everyday essentials.
• Mechanisms such as drawer dividers and magic corners keep things neat and utilise awkward spaces. 'Don't forget low-level storage,' says Graeme MacLaren of Dinwiddie MacLaren Architects. 'Plinth drawers are perfect for storing flat items such as baking trays or tea towels.'
• Max the feeling of light in a space-starved kitchen with reflective surfaces, such as high-gloss lacquer, a glass worktop, chrome or even a mirrored splashback.

By Penny Day

You can find more information on interior design ideas at house to home, helping you create a look you'll love.

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