Some suggestions for making the most of your kitchen bench space
Some suggestions for making the most of your kitchen bench space
We would all appreciate additional bench space in the kitchen! What do you do, though, if a kitchen expansion is not possible? If your kitchen appears small, what should you do? The answer is straightforward: you just need to maximise the amount of bench space you do have in your kitchen. Read on to discover our best advice for kitchen bench space ideas as well as some creative ways to add extra bench space.
What is kitchen bench space and why is it important?
First things first, let’s define what kitchen bench space means. All of the worktops and spaces in the kitchen where food is prepared are together referred to as “kitchen benches” or “kitchen bench space.” It is the area used for kitchen activities. It makes sense that having more kitchen bench space is important and that most homeowners want to know about any kitchen bench space ideas they can find.
There is never enough room on your worktop. When was the last time you heard someone gripe about the kitchen’s excess space? That’s right. Have you ever heard someone complain that their worktop is too long? No. Yes, it’s too short. But never too long.
You can’t have too much room to prepare food, can you? After all, even while kitchens have increasingly evolved into spaces for dining, socialising, and family get-togethers in recent years, they are still used for cooking and food preparation.
As kitchens become smaller, bench space becomes less available
The size of our homes is another concern about kitchen bench space. While large and spacious homes are available throughout the nation, we can also say that many of us are living in smaller spaces as the population expands. When compared to Victorian or 1930s homes, new ones tend to be smaller.
A lot of homes and apartments are getting smaller kitchens as a result of properties becoming smaller, especially in towns and cities. Not everyone can afford to upgrade or spend a lot of money on expansion. For this reason, kitchen bench space ideas are even more essential to modern living.
The good news is that there are numerous creative ideas and tricks you may use to increase kitchen bench space. Nothing is lost, even in the smallest of kitchens. There are numerous methods that can help you free up extra worktop space. It is always possible to design a kitchen that saves space while remaining extremely useful.
How can I extend my kitchen’s bench space?
In a kitchen, how much bench space is needed? Answering this question is difficult, and much will depend on your personal demands. The average family will normally need more bench space than a single person. However, if that person is an aspiring baker or chef, this may not always be the case!
It is clear that your habits, lifestyle, and specific needs will influence everything. However, the efficiency and functionality of the kitchen will surely be impacted by the available space. Therefore, one of the top priorities for many homeowners looking to upgrade their kitchens is adding more bench space.
De-clutter
It can be challenging if you don’t have a lot of bench space in your kitchen. It may seem impossible if your kitchen is small or has an odd layout that wastes room or leaves vacant space. You may be forgiven for believing there isn’t much you can do besides a total renovation or addition.
In reality, when it comes to wasting counter space in our kitchens, we tend to be the greatest competitors to ourselves. Clutter is the main culprit, and it never changes. Worktop appliances waste valuable space and are a common source of problems. These things usually aren’t utilised very often. This is a major red flag that should be taken seriously until you use anything every day or at least a few days weekly. It’s a sign that you’re wasting space.
The space would be far more useful if the object were removed and placed in a separate, easily accessible location in the kitchen. In the same way, you might be shocked at how many things that are mainly unused are scattered all over our counters. When this happens, it’s difficult to justify maintaining something, let alone allowing it to take up valuable kitchen space.
Time for a serious decluttering session!
Rearrange and add open shelves
Having the appliances and things we use often in the kitchen at an easy reach is totally acceptable. Kitchen countertops are frequently used as storage space for this reason. Adding an extra level is one way to cope with busy worktop surfaces. Space on the worktop itself is freed up by open shelving above the worktops. Another benefit is that everything you need is always nearby and easily accessible thanks to the open shelving. In general, it keeps everything neat and up to date. Also, because the open shelves can accommodate nearly everything, they can contribute to the charming, cosy atmosphere in your kitchen while maximising counter space.
Hooks, racks, and inserts are some other options to clear bench space
If you use your worktops to store utensils, pots, and pans, you’ll undoubtedly be able to find better ways that create extra counter space. Using the wall space for open shelving is only one of the many options available. Hooks are another wonderful method to keep all of your most-used products on display while freeing up valuable kitchen worktop space. Other basics, such as oils and spices, might be stored in decorative containers hanging from these hooks. Indeed, the hooks do not even have to be attached to the walls. Hooks could also be attached to the backs of cabinet doors as an alternative way to create extra storage.
There is a solution to the large amount of space that dishes can occupy while they are drying. A great option is to install drying racks on the wall. You can mount the rack above the sink. In this way, your dishes can drain gently without taking up too much room on your bench.
Consider a sink insert
While we’re talking about sinks, it’s essential that you try to maximise every inch of space. If you stop to think about it, the sink area is a bit of a waste when not in use. This explains why detachable inserts are a great idea. Extra space might be useful as an extra area for food preparation thanks to these extensions that go over the sink. Moreover, there is an extensive range of inserts available. Basically, the simplest ones produce an additional flat surface. The most clever and creative inserts can even incorporate integrated cutting boards and mixing bowls.
In the same way, if your kitchen sink has two bowls and you discover that you don’t really use the second bowl very often, it could be best to get rid of it completely. Single-bowl sinks are more space-efficient and provide additional bench space.
Pull-out benches and induction cooktops
In recent years, induction cooktops have truly transformed kitchen design. In addition to providing a fully functional hob, they also serve as an additional space for food preparation. It’s difficult to argue against the useful advantages of the bench space that induction cooktops offer when not in use, even if you are a gas stovetop enthusiast.
Therefore, if you often find yourself stumbling around the kitchen, balancing tools and supplies in a small area, an induction cooktop can be the best solution to free up additional bench space.
Cooktops that use induction have a unique design. If you look at one from the right angle, you wouldn’t even realise it’s a cooktop. Also, they cool down quickly, so you won’t have to wait around for too long to be able to adjust their function. Furthermore, they provide the worktop with a seamless appearance because they are almost flush with its contour, contributing to a cleaner kitchen look.
Why not get an island for the kitchen?
A kitchen island might be the best option if you are lucky enough to have a large kitchen floor but struggle with not enough bench space. Kitchen islands come in a variety of sizes and styles. They also offer you useful additional storage and a significant amount of extra bench space in your kitchen. What’s not to enjoy?
You can quickly create an extra dining area or a place for the kids to complete their homework by adding a couple of bar stools to your kitchen island. A kitchen island could be anything you want it to be.
The traditional kitchen island has been elevated to a whole new level by modern kitchen design ideas. They can now truly serve as the kitchen’s centrepiece and main attraction. They can also include drawers, sinks, and other creative storage options.
Possible alternatives for kitchen islands
A kitchen island is a logical and functional option, but not everyone has the required amount of floor space in the kitchen. But a butcher block on wheels would be a smart substitute. It gives you the extra room that an island bench does. And you also have the freedom to rearrange it however you like. A movable butcher block is therefore a fantastic addition to both large and small kitchens. You can move the extra area around the kitchen whenever and wherever you like because it is on wheels.
A very pleasant bonus is also included. They offer an additional storage option because the majority of wheeled butcher blocks also have cabinets and drawers.
Are you looking for yet another fantastic kitchen storage idea? A butler’s pantry, maybe? This is a clever method to find a new, better place for the little gadgets that often take up bench space in your kitchen. In addition to saving important space near the hob and sink, a butler’s pantry helps in the decluttering process.
How to make the kitchen more spacious
You can also install working zones that slide out and fit over your bin, much like sink inserts do. This is another excellent method for adding hidden extra kitchen bench space. Some even have a conveniently located hole that allows waste to be scraped straight into the trash can, which is a huge help when cooking! Other designs may include a basic chopping board or bowl inserts.
Additional space-saving solutions
Making an unplanned inspection of your kitchen in its current state is yet another fantastic method for making the most of the space you have available in your kitchen. Which surfaces, areas, or corners aren’t being used right now?
There are always a lot of different ways to create extra storage that offer functional features in these unused spaces.
Moreover, don’t overlook the area above your current kitchen cabinets. There is no reason why you can’t put such rarely used items on top of them, as long as they are made of robust materials. Making the most of every square inch of space in the kitchen is essential in a modern, busy home.
Choose the perfect place for your appliances
Your kitchen may seem to be dominated by your appliances at times. Without a doubt, they occupy a great deal of area. Also, it merely takes up space that may be better used in other places.
If an appliance isn’t used regularly, move it or throw it out completely.
Is it possible to double up your kitchen furniture?
There are numerous methods to cleverly generate some useful additional kitchen bench space, as we showed with sink, drawer and even bin inserts. Looking at your dining table is another option, particularly if you don’t have space for a kitchen island. Is it possible to use it as an additional kitchen bench?
The majority of dining chairs fit tables that are about 750mm high. Typically, bar stools are utilised with higher benchtops, which are between 850 and 1050 mm tall. Make your decision based on whether you plan to spend more time standing or sitting while cooking.
Speak with a qualified designer
Even though the great majority of these suggestions for optimising your kitchen bench space are obvious, there are instances when it is best to seek advice from a qualified kitchen designer. It goes without saying that you are more than capable of organising yourself. To make the kitchen more functional and usable, you may simply rearrange and reorganise items to make more room. However if you truly want to maximise your available space, particularly if your kitchen has an odd or inconvenient layout then a professional designer is the person to seek this advice from.
Create a breakfast corner nook to maximise kitchen space
Creating extra bench space in the kitchen requires careful consideration of available space. An excellent solution to provide temporary additional bench space, a pre-made added eating area, or an improvised desk for work is using a folding table. When not in use, though, you can easily tuck it away to save floor space.
In any space, corners can be troublesome. In general, corner spaces tend to waste a lot of counter space, but there are ideas to make them more functional.
Making the most of a corner can be achieved with a small breakfast nook. But more significantly, it might be the perfect way to begin the day. Because it occupies a little corner space, a corner nook exudes a comfortable and homely vibe. Just consider how you can create a cosy and private room out of a cold, wasted, and empty nook.
There are many different kinds and designs of breakfast corner nook furniture sets available. Use a combination of chrome, gloss white, and stainless steel to create a corner nook that feels modern and contemporary. A breakfast nook can be the ideal choice if you’re looking for something sleek, modern, and well-organised. It’s a smart idea to mix subtle and lively colours to avoid making it appear overly clinical.
How much kitchen bench space am I going to need?
To tell you the truth, you are the only person who can provide an answer to that question. Exactly what you need is the determining factor. On the other hand, as we have demonstrated in this article, there is always a method to create more space in the kitchen, and this is something that everyone desires. Get in touch with the My Beautiful Kitchen team right away if you would like to discuss your plans with our friendly and expert team of professionals. If you have any questions or need any assistance, we are always available to provide it.