Small Kitchen Remodeling: Getting The Most Bang For Your Buck

When you work in a small kitchen, you know that every single inch is totally important to the overall quality of food that you put out. A small kitchen is generally designated by it's square footage which is usually less than 126 square feet. When you remodel your kitchen and it's not possible to kick the kitchen out, then you need to plan everything accordingly.

Kitchen remodels are by no means an easy remodel. There are many different things that you have to take into consideration. You have to worry about water, electrical, plumbing, and communications lines. You have to measure exactly where the fridge, stove and microwave will go. You also need to consider the size of your work station and where you will do your prep work and where the sink will be located.

Larger kitchens do have a lot more space, but there are many things you can do in your small kitchen which will make it look like a real show piece. For example, because you are working with a smaller space, you can probably upgrade not only your appliances, but also your faucets, fixtures, cabinets and countertops since the per square foot area is so much smaller. This means getting what you want and not what you can afford. You may have to skimp on space, but not on quality.

Depending on where you are in your budget, you can either opt to do the work yourself or you can have a professional come in and do the job. Because of the size of your smaller kitchen it is feasible to complete your demolition and renovation during a long weekend. One of the things you should consider beforehand is if you are going to keep your kitchens current specifications or if you are going to change things up by adding more countertop or cabinet space. If this is the case, then you will need to have a good idea of where everything is going to go before you start your demolition. Also remember that you will not be able to have a kitchen island, so think about making other spaces available to have your work space on.

You have to maximize every available inch of your small kitchen. Consider getting a microwave/convection oven. This may be a little bit pricier, but instead of having two appliances you will have one that works better than the other two do alone. Create your kitchen sink area so that it can also serve as a prep station when you are cooking with a sink that can have a cutting board set right into it. Create cabinets or buy stock cabinets that will go all the way up to the ceiling so you can maximize your storage space. And consider putting in mirror design elements since they help elongate and give the impression that your kitchen space is much larger.

Obviously, even in a small kitchen, you will have an area that could be bare. If you find yourself with one of these areas, the best thing you can do is put up inexpensive cork board and put up pictures, recipes and coupons. Or, you can easily turn this area in a kitchen utensil peg board where all the utensils you use on a regular basis will be available and within reach. This will limit drawer clutter and could free up needed counter space.

Last but not least, you need to consider lighting. There are many slim design LED lights that can easily fit under cabinets and you don't have to be an electrician to install them. Consider getting lights that don't put out a lot of heat, since your kitchen space is already small, you don't want or need the added heat. And as with any small kitchen, a nice table lamp can have a lovely home ensconced under a cabinet to make your kitchen appear more homey.

There are so many practical and innovative ways to make your small kitchen a real winner.