With more and more people moving away from the suburbs and into the city, living spaces are getting smaller and more efficient. This can be a tough transition for people used to wide-open spaces, but a little smart planning can help you adjust. Rooms like the kitchen can be especially difficult to adjust. Fortunately, plenty of people have made the transition already and have some great ideas for how to save space. If you’re ready for a kitchen renovation, read on for great space-savvy ideas from Alair Homes Winnipeg.

Build Upwards

Kitchens without much floor space can still have a lot of storage if you concentrate on building upwards. Simple tweaks like opting for taller upper cabinets can provide extra storage space for dishes you don’t use often. You can also have cabinets built over other appliances, so you can store things above your refrigerator or around the hood for your cooktop.

Consider raising the roof in your kitchen too. Of course this option isn’t possible for everyone, but if you are able to raise the ceiling, it will provide a lot of benefits. You can build your cabinets even taller, simply leave it open and allow the open air to give your kitchen a lighter feel.

Customize Your Counters

Picking custom counter widths can help you make the most of the small space you have. Consider things like using more slender counters to provide a little more open space in the center of the kitchen. You may also have a small area that can’t accommodate a full counter, but could give you a little extra surface area with a counter that’s half the normal depth.

Half-sized kitchen islands may also be a good option, depending on your layout. It can give you more surface space and control the workflow of the kitchen without taking up too much of a footprint. It may even be able to accommodate a cooktop. Talk to an experienced home builder like Alair Homes Winnipeg about creative solutions for incorporating more counter space.

Open Your Kitchen

To keep your small kitchen from feeling cramped, think of ways you can open it up to the rest of the house. You may be able to knock down a wall and open up your kitchen to another room. Creating a pass-through is another great option. You can even set it up as a counter with bar stools and get rid of your traditional dining table, which is a great space-saving move.

If possible, expanding the windows in your kitchen will let in more light and make the room seem bigger. More windows gives you more opportunities to catch the few hours of sunlight during our dark, Winnipeg winters.

Add Recessed Storage

Recessed storage, such as a slender shelving unit that can slide out from the sliver of space next to your refrigerator, is perfect for small kitchens. Putting a lot of smaller items somewhere else can add up to a lot more pantry space. Canned goods, cereal boxes, and spices are great things to stash away in recessed storage. You can use the added pantry space for counter-top appliances or bigger food items like flour bags.