Creative ideas to add extra storage space to small kitchens
Q. Our rental has a small kitchen with very little counter space, and we’re not sure where to put everything. Do you have any ideas for storing utensils and small pots? It’s our first kitchen, so we don’t have a lot of stuff yet.
A. Fixing up your first home is so exciting!
When you are renting, there are some rules you are asked to follow, but if you leave a space better than you found it, that’s a good deal. If you choose a dark color, be prepared to repaint the walls before moving out, and you’ll need to repair any holes you have made by hanging artwork and shelves.
Working on a budget brings out the best in my imagination. Thinking outside the box will often solve your problems, as it did with the small kitchen spaces shown here.
A visit to your local hardware store or building center will get you started. The idea is to discover alternate uses for everyday items.
In the larger photo, corrugated galvanized metal panels seemed like a novel idea for a backsplash. The surface is modern and easy to clean, and because it is galvanized, it won’t rust. The friendly helpers at your building store can cut the metal to size for you. Once you get your new backsplash home, wearing gloves, sand down the sharp edges. The metal panel is held in place with cement screws and washers.
Once the backsplash was in place, we were ready to take care of storage needs. We mounted metal shelves above the shiny backsplashes and suspended pots, pans and strainers from S-hooks.
It’s lovely to have a large window in the kitchen — it makes the space bright and cheerful. But this window took up muchneeded storage space. To compensate, we hung chains in front of the window, added more S-hooks and created lots more room for utensils.
Bold shades of paint — blue and red — were chosen to produce a punchy, youthful atmosphere. The window frame and old countertops were painted a lively russet and then were finished with a coat of high-gloss varnish. The uniformity of the blue walls and cabinets unite all the metal accents. Even though dark colors are thought to make a space appear smaller, they add so much character that the size becomes irrelevant.
Another small kitchen I revamped also had a shortage of cabinets for storage. The owner’s existing cottage theme gave me an idea, and we went on the hunt for an old window frame.
We found a long, narrow storm-window frame, shown on page 7, and filled it with a mirror instead of glass — a favorite accessory in country decorating.
I used a simple antiquing technique to freshen up the frame. We sanded any loose or flaky bits of old paint off the wood, then applied a rough coat of white paint and let it dry. Next, we brushed a thin coat of brown paint over the frame and rubbed the paint back with a soft cloth while still wet. Dark paint is left behind in the cracks and crevices, highlighting the wood’s imperfections.
Once it was refinished, we hung the frame on its side and screwed in S-hooks to hold a row of utensils. The mirror reflects light and adds depth to the room.
This is an easy solution that can be moved to another home or room. Continue to use it as storage in a kid’s room; children will enjoy hanging up their little toys on the hooks. It also works in a hallway for hats, mitts and scarves.
Debbie Travis’ House to Home column is produced by Debbie Travis and Barbara Dingle. Email questions to house2home@debbietravis.com. Follow Debbie on Twitter at www.twitter.com/debbie_travis, or visit her
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