Small useful spaces

Ruth Bell, editor of Kitchens Bedrooms & Bathrooms magazine says don’t despair if your kitchen is tiny, you can still have the space you’ve always dreamed of…

It seems to be the rule that kitchens shown in magazines – including ours – are usually big. This is simply because they’re easier to photograph – and everything looks better on a larger scale. But don’t think that this means everyone in the media has a beautiful and palatial kitchen. Mine is very much on the small side and not remotely glamorous! Basically, the message is that you shouldn’t believe a stylish kitchen is beyond you if you only have a compact space available.

Key to making the most of the space is choosing a layout that will work well within it and clever storage solutions that allow you to keep it clutter free. Nothing makes a kitchen feel small and unusable like clutter all over the worktops, so creating a place for everything and keeping it there will make your kitchen vastly more practical to use.

Décor can also play a part – dark materials and colours will make the walls close in so choose light shades and reflective materials that will help bounce light around and make the kitchen feel as open as possible.

This is only a starting point, however, the February 2013 issue of Kitchens Bedrooms & Bathrooms has nine pages devoted to practical and inspirational ideas for small kitchens. The issue is also packed with features: bathroom basins and taps, buying a dishwasher, bedroom furniture, kitchen and bathroom safety, plus beautiful real homes, original shopping shoots and much, much more. In all good newsagents now!