Feeling a little cramped in the kitchen? Looking for home improvement ideas that won't cost an arm and a leg?
Don't worry--there definitely are some ways to increase space and accessibility in the kitchen without spending a fortune. Sure, it's great to do a complete kitchen remodeling job, but that can be tough to afford, especially now that the real estate market has taken a downturn and we're not being blessed with tons of additional equity in our homes every year.
So, here you go, some tips for creating more space in the kitchen:
If you have a small kitchen, it may be best to build up instead of out. There may not be wall space for new cabinets but hanging baskets and hooks can provide new places for your gadgets and vegetables to hang out. Hanging baskets can also have growing plants in them, an appropriate touch even if the plant isn't edible.
Magnetic strips are available in kitchen stores. Adding one to your wall allows you to stick knives and other metal implements onto the strip instead of a drawer. This can help you be more organized. It is also safer when it prevents you from digging through a drawer of knives looking for the one you want.
Add hooks to the insides of cabinet doors. Small pots, utensils, and lids can be suspended from the doors instead of being tossed inside. This will free space in drawers and shelves for other items.
Glassware can be decorative when not in use, too. Small rails can be added to the underside of cabinets allowing you to display the fine pieces while they are being stored.
New appliances can be purchased that are slimmer than old models. These may take up less floor space or counter space. Many appliances are being made in smaller and smaller versions that can be stored somewhere else when not being used.
Giving up more space may give you space. An island takes up a large piece of your kitchen but it can be a preparation surface, a place for kids to work, or a storage area when not in use. Inside the island may be a cabinet or drawers for storing more pots, pans, utensils, and gadgets. Kitchen carts exist that are like an island but can be wheeled out of the way into a pantry or closet when you are finished.
Find retracting surfaces. You may be able to install counter extensions on hinges that swing up when you need them and lay vertically against another surface when you don't. If you have a kitchen table that you don't use often, replace it with a smaller model that includes extensions. Expand the table when you need it and hide it when you don't.
Trick the eye with color. Lighter colors feel more open and bigger. Add a brighter floor or white appliances. Change the curtains in the kitchen to allow more light in. Better design can add space to a room without adding volume.
As you can see, many of these kitchen home improvements can be done without spending a fortune, but they can help create quite a bit more space for you to enjoy.
