In my very first urban apartment, the kitchen was really a hallway. I had only one drawer, one cabinet, and about two feet of counter space. If I placed my cutting board on the counter, the coffee maker had to go on the floor.
I began trying to purchase “mini” versions of all things, but they all just seemed like playthings. Then I tried stacking things until they tipped over. Later, after a great deal of trial and error and several avalanches of Tupperware, I discovered which tools really functioned.
Living in a compact space has nothing to do with owning fewer stuff but rather owning stuff that doesn’t consume “dead air.” These are the gadgets that helped me turn my compact kitchenette into an efficiency workspace.
Read more: Why I Finally Ditched My $10 Grocery Store Thermometer
The Golden Rule: Create Counter Space
The hardest part of a compact apartment isn’t the space to store things; it’s space to prepare them. What’s one supposed to do with the onion if the pasta pot is occupying most of the counter space?
This is exactly why Over-the-Sink Cutting Boards are a necessity. It has collapsible strainers or bins included, and it fits securely over your sink. Immediately, you have created two extra feet of counter space out of thin air. You chop, push it into the sink, and keep the actual counter space clear to prep your meals.
Quick Cheat Sheet: What Works?
In a small kitchen, the best space-saving solutions for your cabinets and drawers include those that emphasize collapsibility and verticality. Look for:
- Collapsible Silicone Colanders that collapse to the size of a dinner plate.
- Magnetic Spice Racks that use the unused side of your fridge.
- Mixing Bowl Sets that nest fully into each other, compacting five products into one space-saving device.
Go Vertical (The Fridge Side)
Consider the side of your refrigerator. Is it empty? This is wasted real estate.
I invested in a strong Magnetic Organizer Shelf. It sticks to the side of the fridge like glue and holds paper towels, olive oil, spices, and oven mitts. Taking all these bulky items that sat on the countertop and storing them on the “wall” of the fridge made the kitchen instantly double in size.
The Problem with Round Containers
Open your cabinet. If you use round storage boxes, you are squandering space. The gaps between circular bowls cannot be filled.
The use of Square, Stackable Containers was a huge success. These containers could be placed against each other like bricks in a Tetris game. With this design, you could pack 30% more food into the same space.
What to Avoid (Don’t Buy These)
Avoid the “All-in-One Breakfast Station” deals. You know what I mean the thing that does it all: toasting, egg frying, and coffee brewing. Just kidding. They just end up taking up all your counter space because they’re all bulky and big. They’re hard to clean and honestly, they kind of suck at all of them.
Stick with separate items that can nest or fold. You don’t need a big kitchen to prepare tasty food. You just have to start converting your space by not storing air. Now your hallway just converted into a home.
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