There’s nothing more frustrating than a lack of kitchen counter space. Prepping, washing, cutting, cooking—there’s just no room!
As hopeless as the situation feels, we’re here to tell you it isn’t! There are plenty of contemporary ways to add extra kitchen counter space to your home. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular.
Make Use of Your Backsplash
The space between countertops and cabinets has potential but is often left empty. We get it–limited counter space usually means limited backsplash too.
Still, hanging shelves for dishes, hooks for utensils, a paper towel holder, or even a magnetic knife holder will free up extra counter space you didn’t realize you needed.
Utilize Shelf Risers
Many victims of small kitchen counter space avoid shelf risers because they view it as just more clutter on their counter. However, if you strategically utilize shelf risers, they can create an abundance of room.
For example, you can place your seasonings and cooking oils on top of the shelf, but use the bottom for storing napkins, frequently used dishes, or whatever you please. A corner shelf riser is especially useful as it adds space to the area we place our items anyway—the corner!
Shrink Your Kitchen Sink
If you have a small kitchen, you likely think you cannot afford to shrink anything. Hear us out! Compromising just half or even a quarter of your sink to place a cutting board or dish drying rack will add counter space you probably didn’t even realize you were missing.
Besides, giving up a portion of your sink doesn’t have to be permanent if you don’t want it to be. When you aren’t washing, you can place a long cutting board over the entirety of the sink to add extra prep space and remove it once you are finished.
Find a Strategic Dish Dryer
Dish drying racks are bulky and often take up more counter space than any other item. As mentioned above, you can find a dish dryer that fits on one side of your sink, but if you’re not up for giving up sink space, find a strategic dish dryer!
If you have a wall behind your sink, consider finding one that hangs on the wall. Alternatively, you can opt for an over-the-sink dish dryer that extends above the sink rather than beside it, clearing up extra kitchen counter space.
Make Use of Your Cake Stand
Free up cabinet and counter space by taking your cake stand out of storage and using it to organize the clutter on your counter. Cake stands work similarly to shelf risers as they create elevated space.
Even better–their vintage look has become extremely trendy in the past few years! Because they’re a bit larger, many people choose to use them for the more significant items they keep on their kitchen counters, such as fresh produce like bananas and apples.
Invest in a Kitchen Cart
Chances are, you don’t have room to add an entire kitchen island. However, you can add a smaller, portable version. Kitchen carts are popular amongst small kitchens because they add both counter and cabinet space. Most kitchen carts fit perfectly against a wall or already present kitchen island.
You can use it for cutting boards, utensils, paper towels, fruit bowls, and so much more. However, their mobility is what makes them most popular. You can roll them to whatever area of the kitchen you need more space in at any given time!
Mount a Folding Wall Table
A folding wall table conveniently saves space as it can be folded up and hidden away whenever you’re not using it. No counter space kitchens make it difficult for more than one person to work in.
Because folding wall tables are usually off to the side, they’re perfect for multi-person households or people that frequently host dinner. Not only does it create additional working space to prepare food, but it gives guests another place to sit when they eat or as you cook for them.
Final Thoughts
Limited kitchen counter space is a headache that seems impossible to cure. Luckily, today’s market has risen to the occasion. There’s an abundance of attractive ways to give yourself some extra kitchen counter space.
Sometimes it’s a simple fix like finding a clever way to dry dishes, and other times it requires installing the extra space yourself. We hope you use this article as a guide to help you find the best solution for your home.