People that live in small spaces are ninja masters of utilizing space to it’s full potential. From loft beds to convertible kitchens, there is something everyone can learn from people who live in small homes about getting the most use from minimal spaces. Here are 5 things you can learn from homeowners with kitchens under 100-square-feet.

1. Custom cabinets

Every kitchen is going to have a specific configuration that makes it slightly different from any other. Cabinets may come in standard sizes, but kitchens do not. To make the absolute best use of your space, there is no substitute for custom cabinetry. Custom cabinets allow you to take advantage of small nooks and crannies or strangely shaped spaces that you can’t put standard sized cabinets. Refrigerators, stoves, ovens and other appliances will sit and fit flush with your cabinetry. Custom cabinets creates a smooth, uniform look that will make your space appear larger and airier.

2. Take advantage of height

Standard cabinets come in very specific heights and are generally hung at a standard height. Generally, this is 18 inches over a countertop, which leaves cabinets stopping short a foot or more from the ceiling. Not only is this a huge waste of space, but it can also make your counter space seem cramped. 18 inches doesn’t leave a lot of room for today’s taller appliances like food processors and blenders and larger knife blocks. Some people use the top of their cabinets as a display area for pottery, plants or to store infrequently used cookware. Longer cabinets that are hung slightly higher gives you more countertop space and enclosed storage higher up for less frequently used items.

3. Use fewer, larger cabinets

Many kitchens have a number of small, almost useless cabinets. Sometimes these are a result of strange corners or standard sized cabinets that don’t fill a space exactly. Larger cabinets offer you greater control over configuring your space exactly the way you want it. Larger cabinets also make smaller kitchens appear much larger. You can always use smaller dividers and organizers to divide larger cabinets into smaller sections, but you can’t fit large items into multiple small cabinets.

4. Create a skinny island

Sometimes there is no reason certain kitchen features have to be the way they are, except that’s just how it’s always been done. Islands don’t have to be wide and blocky, they can be thin and narrow. You can even install a cooktop or sink in a thin, narrow island to create additional work space.

5. Think vertical

If you are considering a kitchen renovation, you may only have so much room to expand outward. Instead of expanding upward, you may have more room to expand upward. If you have attic space above your current space, Alair Homes Vancouver may be able to raise the ceiling to create more vertical space. For that matter, if you are doing major renovations to your home, you might consider moving your kitchen to a different part of your home entirely. There is no right or wrong, only what works best for you. One of the things we can learn from tiny homes is that they throw out the way things have always been done. Tiny homes instead focus on what works best for the space and the people that live there.