Ways we saved space when designing our new kitchen

As I've recently shared, in the last couple of months we’ve had our very old kitchen replaced with a lovely new one - I’ve shared lots of details and more photos here - but one big issue we had to tackle was space.

It’s a really small room, and obviously without knocking down walls/extending that was never going to change. However, there were a number of things we were able to do to save valuable space, and make the room appear bigger.

So here’s some things we did when designing our new kitchen to make the most of the space, and even make the room appear larger.

Breakfast bar

We previously had a deeper breakfast bar along this back wall. It was 600mm deep, and I to be honest I didn’t realise how far it stuck out into the room, until this new one was installed. 

This new one is only 450mm deep, and while 150mm doesn’t sound like much floor space, it’s made this end part of the room feel much bigger. Even 15cm matters when your kitchen is so small! This works so much better as the bar stools fully tuck under the bar, so fully maximising all the space. 

Wide shelves

Talking of this awkward end of the kitchen, we’ve added long shelves spanning the full width of this back wall. This works to draw the eye wide and make the space look bigger. 

I’ve tried not to over style them either - my top tips for styling open shelving is here - leaving empty space to again give the impression of space.

Wider wall and floor tiles

We’ve gone for wider tiles on both the wall and floor. When I was choosing the wall tiles I initially wanted 15cm wide ones, however after ordering numerous samples, I swapped to a longer 30cm version at the last minute. Similarly, the LVT tiles we’ve gone for on the floor are a wider version.

By going for a wider length, the eye is drawn out and a space appears wider.

Clever storage solutions

We’ve squeezed as much storage into this room as we could - from a microwave under the boiler, to a pull out bin inside a cupboard. That way we’re minimising the amount to things out on the worktops - a clutter-free space will always feel bigger.

Light, bright colours

I’ve chosen a neutral colour scheme for in here, with a taupe shade for the cupboards and a bright marble effect worktop. I even opted for white grout too, all of which optimises the light in here and makes the room look bigger.

I was tempted by a navy kitchen cabinets, however I don’t think it would have worked as well in this room, which to be honest, struggles with natural light most of the day.

Inside cupboard storage

I’ve worked hard to organise the insides of the cupboards as best as I can, maximising space everywhere. That way, nothing looks too cluttered, making spaces feel more spacious.

During lockdown I created a mini pantry in this cupboard, and it made such a difference.
I've used labelled glass jars for dried foods, storage containers for packets and trays inside cupboards to keep things looking neat. This doesn't have to cost a fortune either - all my storage containers are from budget-friendly places such as Asda, B&M and The Range.   

How do you save space in small rooms? 

Thanks for reading, 

Sam Xx