How to Make the Most of a Small Kitchen in Your Rental

When you’re renting an apartment or a house, you have limited options to change the space that you live in. You might not be able to make any major renovations, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a kitchen you love. With a few simple tricks and renter-friendly upgrades, you can transform your small kitchen into a stylish and functional space.

For renters living in a home with limited kitchen space, finding the right storage solutions and organizational hacks can play a major role in creating a more comfortable space to cook, clean, and live. Make the most out of your small kitchen with the strategies below.

Clear Out The Clutter

First and foremost, decluttering your kitchen will immediately make it feel more spacious. Clutter cramps your available space and makes cooking and cleaning tougher than it should be. Getting rid of unnecessary items can make it much easier to stay organized.

• Get rid of items you don’t use: Be critical while looking at everything that’s in the kitchen. If there’s something you haven’t used in months, be it a kitchen appliance, gadget, or dish, consider donating it or storing it. Every inch of storage should be used for something that’s actually useful to you.
• Stick to must-have kitchen tools: You don’t need every tool and gadget possible. Instead, make sure you dedicate room to multi-functional items, like a high-quality chef’s knife that does the job of multiple specialty cutting tools or a cast-iron skillet instead of several different pans.
• Use walls and cabinets to keep counter space free: Freeing up counter space is vital to decluttering, as this is where you cook. Use the vertical space that’s available in your kitchen. Put hooks on the insides of cabinet doors or install floating shelves for your cookbooks and spice collections.

Get Creative With Storage

After all the clutter is gone, you should start looking at what storage solutions you can use. You can do a lot to maximize your storage in a small kitchen, and many of these tips don’t require permanent changes to the property.

• Hang utensils with adhesive hooks or magnetic strips: Vertical space can be used when there is limited drawer space. Rather than storing utensils in crammed or hard-to-reach places, attach adhesive hooks and magnetic strips to your walls.
• Stack shelves and use dividers to organize them: You can add stackable shelves and separate them with clear containers and labeled baskets. This hack makes finding your dry goods, spices, and kitchen essentials easier.
• Keep your daily essentials within reach: Any items you regularly use should be kept in the most accessible spots so you don’t have to search for them every time. For spices or condiments, where variety is key, a lazy Susan can make all of them more accessible.
• Avoid messy drawers with baskets and dividers: Inside your drawers, organize the space so there’s less intermingling and it’s always easy to find precisely what you’re looking for.
• Add a rolling cart: If you want flexible and accessible extra storage, a rolling cart could be just what you need. It can serve as pantry space, a mobile coffee station, or even extra counter space. The best part is that it can be rolled out of the way when you’re not using it.

Make More Room To Prep And Cook

In a small kitchen, taking advantage of every square inch of space is important. Thankfully, there are plenty of clever additions that can help you expand your prep space.

• Use a cutting board over the sink: Getting a large cutting board that fits over your sink adds extra prep space with no hassle. Some cutting boards are designed with this capability, with built-in strainers and other features. 
• Try a foldable or pull-out countertop extension: You don’t need a major renovation to extend your countertop. Many foldable or pull-out countertop extensions can be installed to your existing counter without much effort. You may also look at kitchen carts and tables with foldable extensions to work as an alternative. 
• Store appliances when not in use: Avoid using counter space if you don’t need to. If you’re not using an appliance, store it in a cabinet or another free space to give yourself more room to work with. Keep only the essentials on your counter, such as a coffee maker or toaster, while tucking away items like blenders or slow cookers until they’re needed.

Add Personal Touches

Just because your kitchen is compact doesn’t mean it doesn’t have room for personality. Adding personal touches to a rental property can make it feel more like home.

• Add stick-on LED lights: Installing these lights under cabinets can improve the ambiance and add helpful visibility when you’re cooking. They can make your kitchen look much more inviting.
• Use light colors and mirrors: How light travels through the room greatly affects how spacious it feels. Light paint colors, reflective surfaces, and mirrors can help create the illusion of more space.
• Peel-and-stick backsplashes add personality: Temporary backsplashes allow you to customize your kitchen without risking your security deposit. Choose a design that complements your style and makes the space feel uniquely yours.

Find a Rental Home in Idaho

If a small kitchen isn’t a deal-breaker for you, then the tips above can help you make better use of your space. If you’re looking for a rental in Idaho with a functional kitchen that suits your needs, Rooftop Real Estate Management can help. We have a wide range of rental properties to fit a variety of lifestyles and budgets. Contact us today or explore our available properties.