Compact/Small Kitchens

Small kitchens have been specifically designed to help you make the best use of space and are ideal for properties such as flats and cottages or anywhere else where space is limited. Having a compact kitchen doesn't mean that you can't create a kitchen with plenty of style and character and there are plenty of designs for small kitchens which will help to maximise the available space.

Designs for small kitchens are specifically created so that you will be using the available space in the best possible way to make your kitchen work more effectively and a compact space means that there are fewer steps between the cooker and fridge so that all your essentials are within easy reach.

Small kitchens can be made to feel bright and airy by opting for white high-gloss kitchen doors and drawers, which will help to create the illusion of more space in a compact kitchen by bouncing the light around. High-gloss finishes are one of the latest kitchen trends and will help to create an ultra-chic look. Using wall cabinets with glass fronts is also a good idea and will make the room appear bigger. Compact kitchens suit light colours so it is a good idea to steer clear of dark colours as they will only make the room feel enclosed and oppressive.

Some great ideas for small kitchens include making sure that your work surfaces are kept free from clutter, if there is too much going on it will only make a small kitchen feel even more cramped, so make sure you have a good amount of storage space and that everything has its own place to create an organised kitchen. It is also a good idea to keep any items stored away that you don't use very often so you can gain as much worktop space as possible, also think about choosing a waste bin which is fitted to the inside of a cupboard door to free up more floor space and to provide a neat, tidy finish.

When choosing appliances for small kitchens you could opt for slim-line versions such as compact dishwashers which are specifically designed for compact kitchens. Instead of installing a large fridge/freezer, choose one which has been designed with smaller proportions to maximise the space.

Lighting is also an important factor to get right, make sure you install task lighting under wall cabinets to provide you with useful illumination just where you need it and choose bright spotlights to bring the kitchen to life. Finally think about the all important finishing touches, such as the right style of kitchen tiles to fit in with your design, consider large format tiles to make the room feel bigger and opt for glossy versions to reflect the light.