Everything will be fine! How to set up a functional kitchen in a small space

The first step in planning a kitchen is to identify work areas and storage areas. Answering these questions can help:

Now think about which of your answers can be optimized to fit a full-fledged kitchen into a limited space. For example, do you really need all four hotplates or will two be enough? Do you need a dishwasher and what type – 60 cm or limit yourself to 45 cm (hint: it’s usually enough!). With it, you don’t need to create a drying area above the sink, but you do need a place to store dishes. In a small room, it is difficult to do without a hood, especially if it is a studio or a kitchen-living room with only one space.

Count your small kitchen appliances and place more outlets in the kitchen. They can be made above the counter and even inside it. For example, a kettle, microwave and coffee maker will be used frequently – they already need three sockets. And also a slow cooker, a blender, a grill and everything else!

The next step is design and ergonomics. Even the simplest kitchen can be easily personalized with hooks, rails, pretty cutting boards or a set of knives in a holder that matches the style.

“If the space is small, it makes sense to make the kitchen more neutral in style and with minimal decoration,” says Ekaterina. – For example, abandon exterior handles, remove certain decorative panel elements, and do not choose bright facades. If the kitchen seems buried in the color of the walls and the overall interior, it attracts less attention. A small space usually has several areas: a kitchen and food preparation area, a dining area, and perhaps also a living room. And there are lots of objects, colors and decorations everywhere, so it’s important that the kitchen appears visually lighter and more spacious.

Also think about ergonomics. What is the size of the people who will use the kitchen? If it is below average, it is best to reduce the height of the tabletop a little by lowering the base. If everyone is tall, the board should be higher.

When planning a kitchen, you want to get as many features as possible for your money and for everything to look good. If your budget is limited, think carefully about the choice of materials. There are now many inexpensive options that appear so high quality that they can be mistaken for natural materials! Choose laminated chipboard instead of MDF for facades or film instead of painted MDF – and this will already be reflected in the price.

But it’s better to pay attention to the board. There is often water on it, scratches from equipment or knives may appear – here it is better to invest in quality, but choose a more modest design. But you can safely save on a backsplash if, for example, you take beautiful tiles from store leftovers – they have significant discounts. The apron itself can be made lower than the standard 60 cm: laying the tiles will cost less. Another cost-effective option is to apply a matte clear coat directly to the painted wall or wallpaper.

You can save on drawers: pull-out drawers are traditionally more expensive than classic shelves. Place storage baskets on the shelves – and it will be almost as practical, but much cheaper. It is better to order door closers for drawers, but do not overpay for expensive German products, but take more affordable but high-quality Chinese products.

And now, attention is a great life hack that many people just don’t think about. If you don’t have a lot of kitchen utensils and small appliances, ditch the upper cabinets!

“The kitchen is becoming more and more part of the living space and we sometimes want to hide its function,” explains Ekaterina. – Kitchens are starting to appear in which all the worktops are covered: elements are removed from the upper cabinets that cover the sink, the stove, the faucet, as if there were no kitchen at all. An alternative is to avoid upper cabinets. This is a system that has proven itself over the years, and its advantage is that the kitchen seems light, free of furniture, appliances and dishes that we do not use. Such a desire to free up space, declutter “It’s a great habit and a popular trend.”

Instead of cabinets, you can order open or closed shelves. There is a place for frequently used dishes, some small objects and decorative elements: paintings, candles, vases. All this will make the kitchen personal and adapted to your needs!

An example of inexpensive modern kitchens created according to these criteria and with an excellent price-quality ratio are the Nature (wood) and Vogue (latte) basic sets from the developer Samolet. The kitchen option you want can be selected and included in the price when purchasing in Samolet residential areas of Moscow and the region, St. Petersburg and the region, Tyumen, Murmansk, Chita and Vladivostok.

Here’s how the designers managed to reduce the cost of the kitchen:

There are also many interesting little things in these kitchens that you can use in your own home:

A kitchen is usually not purchased for a year or two and of course you want to be sure of its quality. The best way to check this is to visit the factory. But if this is not possible, be sure to study the samples from the exhibition in the salon. Open and close doors and drawers, look at hinges and door closers. Evaluate whether the plinth fits snugly to the bottom of the cabinets and floor, what the countertop looks like, and whether you like the quality of the furniture overall.

Be sure to check with the kitchen show manager for available discounts, promotions and promotional codes – this will help you save a little more. And remember: a well-chosen and planned kitchen will delight you and your loved ones for many years!

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