10 tips for a compact kitchen

‘In addition to being practical, storage should offer a measure of beauty. The things you see every day should delight you.’ – Pottery Barn Storage & Display

1 Don’t be tempted to stow away pots, ornaments or the boxes of small appliances on top of kitchen cupboards. It only draws more attention to the lack of space and looks untidy.
2 Floor-to-ceiling units can make a small room appear larger. If you can’t reach the top cupboards, invest in a small ladder that you can store in the broom cupboard.
3 Turn the small space at the base of your cupboards into a drawer in which you can store flat items such as trays.
4 Use a corner sink unit or one sink with a drying rack; many modern sinks come with a cutting board top – a new innovation that helps to save work surface space.
5 If you can, make your units deeper than normal to allow for more storage.
6 It’s a good idea to create a hidden sliding panel in the space between your splashback, worktop and top kitchen cupboard – even if it’s only 10cm wide, it can house your spices, tins or glasswaree.
7 Hang mugs on hooks on a holder or under a shelf; you can also hang wine glasses or bottles on specially-made bar shelves.
8 Hang kitchen utensils on the wall closest to the stove.
9 One of the most useful storage items in a kitchen is deep drawers for pots, pans and large containers.
10 Be clever about how you pack items: put small pots in bigger pots, for example.

Show it off
If you like to group your favourite items together, such as a tray and teaset, keep these tips in mind:

• repetition is key for visual impact – repeat the same bowls, jars or containers in a row on a shelf or in a display cabinet.
• Introduce a theme in your kitchen just as you would in a child’s bedroom. Carry the theme through in your displays, accessories and colour scheme.
• Use interesting and creative lighting to highlight displays.