5 Tips for Making the Most of a Small Kitchen

This post is sponsored by P.C. Richard & Son. All opinions are my own.

Are you working with a teeny, tiny kitchen? Me, too! Today, I'm sharing five tips for making the most of small kitchen.

Making the Most of a Small Kitchen

Do you ever dream of having a bigger kitchen? I know I sometimes do.

I love cooking big, multi-course meals, but my kitchen is truly tiny. I have to be very strategic if I'm cooking multiple dishes. My husband gets the boot, and you can bet I'm using every available surface!

In terms of New York kitchens, my kitchen is not that bad. Plus, I've learned some great ways to maximize my space.

If you're working with a cramped kitchen (even if it's not NYC tiny), my five tips for making the most of a small kitchen will help you maximize your space!

1. Get Rid of Anything You Don't Truly Need

When I moved to New York three years ago, I knew what I was getting into. I got rid of a ton of dishes, pots, pans, etc., and it was really hard. I love my stuff!

You know what though? I don't really miss any of these items. My kitchen has exactly what I need, and the few cabinets and drawers that I do have fit everything I own.

If you want to make most of your small kitchen, start by taking stock of everything you own. Get rid of anything you don't really use or need.

Be wary of future purchases, too, since clutter tends to creep up over time. Keep in mind that if you buy something new, something old probably needs to go.

2. Pick the Right Appliances

When you have a tiny kitchen, selecting the right appliances is very important. Size is key, but you don't want to give up functionality either.

I'm definitely that shopper who compares every model and feature for hours before making a purchase, which is one reason P.C. Richard & Son is such an excellent resource.

The selection of items for every room in your home is amazing, and there are multiple options at every price point and lots of choices for small kitchens.  Plus, I love that P.C. Richard & Son is a family owned and operated business.

These are some of my favorite kitchen appliances:

• KitchenAid Artisan Series Stand Mixer - I love, love, love my KitchenAid Mixer. Even though it's not the most petite appliance ever, I use it all the time. It's worth the extra space it takes up!
• Ninja Coffee Bar - I was gifted this coffee maker, and it's pretty much the best thing ever! My favorite feature is the Over Ice Brew (iced coffee on-demand ... yes!), but it also makes individual cups (no pods necessary), half and full pots, and even latte style coffee drinks.
• GE Countertop Microwave - I adore the sleek look of this compact microwave. I'll probably need to purchase a microwave after our move to Dallas, and this one is at the top of my list (although P.C. Richard & Son has lots of other great options, too).
• Avanti 20" Free Standing Gas Range - Size aside, my kitchen is really nice, except for a couple things: floors and stove. The range is ancient, and I actually have to light the pilot light to use the oven. This terrified me when I first moved in, and it took me months before I got the courage to use my oven. Long story short, I definitely wouldn't mind an upgrade to something like this beauty! P.C. Richard & Son has a great selection of smaller ranges, which can be hard to find.
• De Longhi Icona 2-Slice Toaster - This toaster is really sharp, and I like how well it pairs with the other appliances. Plus, it's from a highly regarded brand, so you know your bagels and breads will be perfectly toasted.
• Avanti Bottom Freezer Refrigerator - My refrigerator is an older model, and it's really small. You need to crouch down to see what's in it. This refrigerator is the same size as mine, but the freezer is on the bottom (so rare in small fridges!), making it so much more functional.

As you can see from my coffee maker and stand mixer, I didn't always select the smallest model when purchasing my appliances. I did set my priorities though. My kitchen doesn't have a lot of room, so there's no panini press, although I do have an ice cream maker. What are your priorities? If you eat paninis every day, maybe you'll find room for a press in your kitchen.

My last tip with appliances is to try to match finishes. It will give your kitchen a seamless look, which is really important in a small space.

3. Keep Your Counters Clear

As you can see, I have very little counter space, so I try to keep my surfaces as clear as possible.

I only keep out items I use every day: a large cutting board, a bottle of olive oil, and some garlic. You can't see it, but my stove is right next to that cutting board, so having the board there is very functional.

On the other side of my kitchen, is a long, narrow eating bar.

My toaster, coffee maker, and a crock filled with cooking utensils are on one end of the bar. I use the rest of the bar for prepping food or eating. The microwave sits on a shelf above the bar, which saves so much space.

If you're working with a tiny kitchen, too, keep your counters as clear as possible.

Pack away anything that you don't use every day, so you can maximize counter space.

4. Make the Most of the Space You Do Have

When you're making the most of a small kitchen, you want to use every square inch to its full potential.

Go vertical and install shelves or hang a pot rack on your wall. Invest in baskets to hold little used items on top of your cabinets. Fill the empty space above your refrigerator with cookbooks. Invest in cabinet and drawer organizers to create more room.

In my kitchen, I've filled the area under my sink with small appliances, mixing bowls, and large pots. In past kitchens, I had reserved that space for cleaning products, but I was able to fit a lot of stuff down there!

Another thing I love in my kitchen is the eating bar. This narrow shelf more than doubles my counter space, plus it provides a place to eat in my apartment ... other than the couch, that is!

5. Add Your Personality

My last tip is to add a little personality to your space. No matter how cramped your kitchen is, personal touches will put a smile on your face every time you step into the room.

I don't have a backsplash, so I installed fun DIY removable wallpaper instead. It adds so much character to my kitchen, and it will be easy to take down when we move out.

Sitting on my eating bar is the On Cloud Wine free printable I made last year. To the right of that, I hung a large star marquee light. My kitchen is also filled with vintage finds, like an old crate I use to hold spices, an Eat Drink and Be Merry sign above my cabinets, and an old soda bottle used as a vase.

All of these personal touches make me so happy to be in my kitchen, even if I do wish it was a little bigger at times!

Do you have a small kitchen, too? What are your tricks for making the most of it?