#Portable trolley and storage rails in a comapct kitchen

Portable trolley and storage rails in a comapct kitchen

While we all covet a large and sociable kitchen-diner. with room for an island, large range cooker, and a dining table to cram guests around, the reality is that sometimes it s a case of making the most of what you have in this case, a poky kitchen. But diminutive doesn t have to mean drab (like Rachel Khoo s adorable Parisian kitchen). There s a wealth of clever ways to make your scheme feel spacious:

Rethink storage

Wall cabinets can really encroach on space, so consider doing away with yours. Open shelving can make a huge impact in a small space because it creates a more airy, less cramped environment than cabinets. But don t store everything except the kitchen sink up there limit the amount of shelves you use, and what you keep on them.If there are too many items cluttering up the worktops, consider clever solutions like wall-mounted magnetic knife strips, rails to hang utensils, pans, mugs, spice jars and cutlery bins from (the Grundtal range from Ikea offers a wealth of solutions).

Also consider what you need to have to hand every day (chopping boards, wooden spoons, washing-up liquid), and what can be stored away until needed.

Keep it simple

Nothing makes a room seem larger like simple white walls, so why not take it further with sleek, contemporary details that open up the space. Light, reflective materials and minimal designs are your friends in a compact kitchen, so consider white or frosted glass cabinet doors, white stone or composite, or stainless-steel worktops, and white splashback tiling.

A moveable feast

If worktops space is an issue, consider a kitchen trolley on casters, which provides an additional prep surface when you need it, and tucks away when you don t. They also offer an extra storage solutions (for wine racks, cookery books, larger pots and pans), and they could even be rolled out (literally) as a handy serving or drinks trolley when you have guests and don t want drinks and dishes cluttering up the kitchen.

Click through our gallery of the 20 best small kitchen ideas for more inspiration