Space-Saving Tips From 100-Square-Foot Kitchens
Find out how to get more usable space by going custom, hanging your cabinets higher and more
If you think your kitchen can’t be roomier, take another look. At first glance it might seem maxed out, but with a little thoughtful planning, you can uncover priceless inches that will give you an airier, more efficient space. Here are eight remodeling ideas from kitchens that hover around 100 square feet. (Click the links to see more of each transformation and to get additional information about cost and scope of work.)
2. Hang your upper cabinets higher. For this 72-square-foot kitchen, architect Lauren Rubin hung the cabinets a little higher above the counter to give the feel of more space. Standard cabinets typically hang 18 inches above a counter. Rubin hung these at 22 inches. “I find for small kitchens, hanging cabinets 18 inches above a countertop makes things feel small and congested,” she says. “You lose some storage, but it’s important to make those small spaces feel as light and airy as possible.”
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3. Get a smaller, counter-depth refrigerator. To help open up this 120-square-foot kitchen, homeowners Matt Lynaugh and Gloria Lee opted for a smaller refrigerator that frees up physical and visual space.
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4. Spring for custom cabinets. Going with custom cabinets will definitely add cost to your project, but if you’re trying to maximize every square inch of space, customizing will give you the most flexibility. That’s what designer Brad Belka did for the owners of this 100-square-foot kitchen, which includes a recessed cabinet pantry, countertop drawers, rollout garbage cans and backless cabinets that allow plates and glasses to be accessed from an adjacent dining room.
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5. Use fewer but larger cabinets. For this 102-square-foot kitchen, designer Sarah Kahn Turner created a more uncluttered look by installing fewer but larger, more efficient deep drawers and corner cabinets with swing-out shelves.
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6. Go with a waterfall-effect countertop. If you’ve got an island or a peninsula, a waterfall effect creates the illusion that it and the countertop are larger. “It offers a grander look to a small kitchen,” says Violetta Ustayev, who designed this 100-square-foot kitchen.
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7. Consider a skinny cooktop island. This isn’t an ideal option for everyone, but if you have a small kitchen — like this 99-square-foot space — and like to cook with someone else at the same time, a 2-foot-deep island like this with a cooktop can help because it creates an open traffic path so each cook can get around.
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8. Raise the roof — literally. For this 90-square-foot kitchen in a former bedroom, homeowners Vicki and Larsson Omberg pushed the ceiling into an attic and added a skylight to create a well-lit, airy space. Of course, this isn’t a financially or structurally practical option for everyone, but it’s worth considering. The Ombergs saved costs by tackling most of the demolition, construction and installation themselves, and were able to live in the attic and use their previous kitchen while working on the new one. The result cost them a lot of blood, sweat and tears, but they completed the entire renovation for $15,000.
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More: 10 Things You Didn’t Think Would Fit in a Small Kitchen
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More: 10 Things You Didn’t Think Would Fit in a Small Kitchen
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