Small kitchen problems- 9 of the most common and how to solve them While a large open-plan kitchen with a giant island in the middle, is at the top of most of our wish lists, in reality our kitchens are much more modest spaces. But something small can still be beautiful, as these small kitchen problems, and how to solve them, show. A bijou kitchen can at first seem tricky to accommodate all our growing needs, but with a little careful planning, a few savvy ideas and a bit of jiggery-pokery, you can organise your kitchen just the way you want it. Don’t let a compact room be a barrier to creating your dream scheme, we’ve got all the tips, tricks and expert advice you’ll need, plus plenty of small kitchen ideas. From space-saving storage ideas to freestanding appliances and floating shelves, we show you how to get the best out of any nook and cranny in the kitchen. Small kitchen problems 1. Wheel in a trolley Image credit: Future Plc/Katie Jane Watson Small kitchens tend to have less cupboard space, therefore less storage space. You might find that you’d rather keep your tins, packets and store-cupboard essentials hidden away out of sight, which means your crockery and glassware will need to find an alternative place to live. A bar cart or tiered trolley is a great option for this, as it can easily be wheeled into place, as well as transport what you need to the dining table, each meal time. 2. Make the most of wall height Image credit: Future Plc/Joanna Henderson While you might be lacking on worktop space, making the most of wall space is a clever trick to maximise your options for keeping kitchen essentials. Choose whether to hang just one shelf along the entire width of your wall, or several, shorter shelves above each other to house your glassware, wooden boards or kitchen herbs. 3. Squeeze in a slimline cupboard Image credit: Future Plc/David Parmiter Make sure to use every last inch of space in your bijou kitchen and see if you can squeeze in a slimline cupboard. Great for storing tall bottles of oils or even a collection of spices, they are often found a the end of a run of units next to an appliance, so check to see if you can add one in to you kitchen and utilise the space, so banish at least one of your small kitchen problems. 4. Hang utensils on the wall Image credit: Future Plc/Joanna Henderson Free up space in your limited drawers, by hanging utensils and kitchen linens from a make-shift rack on the wall. A common small kitchen problem is only having one or two drawers which quickly get taken up with your cutlery and knives, so for all your other utensils and and baking paraphernalia, try hanging them instead. This clever rack is actually made from old bed slats hung from hooks on the wall, but could also work hung from the back of a door too. 5. Hide away WFH gear Image credit: Future Plc/Tim Young For most of us, our kitchen table now doubles up as working from home space too, so the constant juggle between work space, to eating space, to entertaining space, is very much real. Ideally you want to be able to hid away any WFH bits at the end of each day, so any space your kitchen can offer, will help with this. Here a drawer has been removed from the bottom of this chest to fit a printer in, while the rest of the drawers provide space for paperwork. Curtain wires have been cut and hung on the wall to hold papers, business cards and memos. 6. Utilise alcove space Image credit: Future Plc/David Giles Even awkward alcove space can be utilised in a wee kitchen and make a great feature too. Opt to either fill the space entirely with a custom-made shelving unit, for housing all your dried goods and crockery, or go for a half height cupboard with worktop space, to create a dedicated hot-drink making space, complete with mugs, kettle and jars of tea and coffee. 7. Run a rail above the sink Image credit: Future Plc/Fiona Walker-Arnott Space around a kitchen sink is often lacking, so pop a rail (with several S hooks threaded on) to the wall above it and hang your washing up brushes. A hanging caddy will cleverly house clothes, sponges and hand soap, and if there is still space, a faux plant could be hung up too, so bring in some colour. 8. Stack appliances on top of each other Image credit: Future Plc/Colin Poole A great space saving trick and another way to address your small kitchen problems, is to stack your appliances on top of each other, so to reduce their footprint in your kitchen. Ovens, grills and microwaves can benefit from this layout, as well as washing machines and tumble dryers. By stacking them on top of each other, it using more of the vertical space in your kitchen, rather than the horizontal space. It also means you don’t have to bend down so low to get washing in and out, or cook the dinner each evening! 9. Opt for an all white scheme Image credit: Future Plc/David Giles White kitchens are great for making a small space seem larger, as they bounce the light around the room and don’t let your eye land on anything in particular. They are timeless and classic and the choice of white cabinetry provides a crisp, smart look. Paired with white tiles and walls, your small kitchen problem will be forgotten about as you enjoy your light and airy space. What do I do if my kitchen is too small? Don’t fret, there are plenty of ways to maximise the space in your kitchen and keep everything you need within reach. The first thing to do, would be to have a good clear out and work out…

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