8 Ways to Make the Most of Limited Kitchen Space

If you’re about to put a house on the market and it has a small kitchen, you’re probably painfully aware that buyers often see small kitchens as negative. Kitchens are a central part of any home, and your prospects will want to envision it as such.

If your kitchen is short on space, turn that potential negative into a selling point with these memorable, low-cost kitchen renovation ideas to make the most of your kitchen space.


 1. Install a Folding Table 

Large kitchens have a lot of surfaces, such as islands, for food preparation and dining. In a small kitchen, you can store an additional surface by fitting a folding table against one wall. The buyer can open it to create counter space or a dining table, then put it away when it’s not in use.

2. Use Empty Vertical Areas

Pull more storage out of empty vertical spaces. You can put in shelves on empty walls and above the cabinets and sink. Also, screw useful hardware into the walls and under the cabinets, including drying racks, apron and towel hooks, pot racks, magnetic knife holders, and stemware racks.

 3. Create a Customizable Pegboard

Take some kitchen utensils out of a cluttered drawer and put them on a stainless steel pegboard on a wall. It can even double as a backsplash. Put the pegs in any way you like--it’s great for storing whisks, tongs, spatulas, and other frequently-used utensils. It’ll be easy to clean, and your buyer can customize it later to his or her needs.

4. Use Nested Kitchen Gear

Show potential buyers that there’s plenty of storage space by putting in gear that nests together for easy stacking. This can include measuring spoons and cups, mixing bowls, colanders, spatulas, and more. If it looks neat and stylish, your prospects will be able to easily imagine using this small space.

 5. Put Shelves in Corners

Still need more storage space? If your small kitchen has any unused corners, you can put shelves there, either mounted on the walls or on the floor. They can hold cleaning supplies, spices, plants, and other items people use frequently.

 6. Purchase an Over-the-Sink Cutting Board

During an open house, put in a new over-the-sink cutting board, which rests on the sides of the sink. Get one that looks great and complements the kitchen. Tell prospects they can rinse and cut foods on it, then quickly rinse the cutting board and put it away.

 7. Find Additional Pantry Space

Does your small kitchen lack enough food storage space? Look around for any recessed area of wall or a closet that you can easily convert into a pantry. Clear it out and put up shelves. Then, to make it look neat and tidy, install a door or even a stylish curtain.

 8. Streamline Utensils

To save space, keep only the most useful and multi-purpose utensils and tools in the kitchen. If there are any knives, gadgets, or pans that really don’t get used much, you can leave them out. Make the kitchen look like it has plenty of extra room.

Pick one or a few of these tactics and have a great time getting ready to make buyers say “wow” at your next open house. Try to make the kitchen look as spacious and easy-to-use as possible. To get even more home renovation tips for house flippers, register for a Rules of Renovation workshop.

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