What to do with the extra space in your kitchen

Whatever the size of your kitchen, it’s the room in the house which is usually the most used, especially if it’s open plan. So it makes sense to utilise all of the space you have. Carefully planning how to use those extra bits of space can make day-to-day life so much easier. Check out the creative solutions below.

Tips on how to utilise extra space

Use the windowsill 

Kitchen windowsills are often used as a dumping area, but there are stylish storage solutions available to fit perfectly along this narrow space. You can buy narrow windowsill baskets in French cane, rattan, rope or wicker — or industrial-style in wire or metal. These baskets will neatly store any everyday kitchen cleaning products. The kitchen sink is often beneath a windowsill, so if you have an instant boiling water tap installed, you can neatly line up your favorite tea/coffee mugs in a windowsill basket or coffee cup holder. If you want to add some greenery, there are chic indoor windowsill herb planters on the market. 

Consider a breakfast bar

Breakfast bars are a useful way to fill an extra space in your kitchen. They’re compact and don’t take up much space, but provide somewhere to sit and have your morning coffee. If you don’t have much floor space, then you can buy breakfast bars that pull down from the wall. 

Add a coffee bar or drinks station

If you have a spare wall that looks out of place surrounded by cabinets, create a coffee bar or drinks station. Buy a free-standing kitchen console table and then place all the items on the surface that you need to make hot drinks: things like a coffee machine, pods, caddies, cups and sprinkles. Add a sign, chalkboard or menu and a lamp to make it look inviting. Ideally place the console table near the kitchen sink for convenience. 

Add pantry pull-outs

For that extra space down the side of the fridge or between kitchen cupboards, you can buy pull-out trolleys with shelves for storing all your tins and dry food. 

Invest in a free-standing pantry

Walk-in pantries are the dream, but a free-standing pantry takes up less space. There are some beautiful designs on the market. Open up the doors and there’s a place for everything.

Hang up your mops and dustpans and brushes

If you have space on a wall or behind the kitchen door, you can buy wall racks with grip holders for mops and brooms, so that they’re kept neatly away, but ready to use.

And don’t forget the space underneath

If balancing mugs on top of each other in the cupboard has become like a game of Jenga but without the fun, then remember that extra space underneath the wall cabinet. Just add hooks to the bottom of the cabinet to hang your mugs. Or you can add a magnetic strip for a handy magnetic spice rack — there are lots of designs and different magnetic pots to choose from.

What can I put in the empty space under my kitchen counter?

An empty space beneath a kitchen counter abruptly stops the flow of a kitchen design. Perhaps a large appliance was moved, or the mix of appliances and cupboards naturally leaves a gap. It can be difficult to know what to do with this cavernous space. Here are some ideas:

Add a wine cooler to show off your wine collection 

Measure up for storage on wheels, so that you can easily pull the shelves in and out

Use the space for a caddy to sort out your recycling (but to avoid unpleasant smells from rotting food waste, swap the food caddy for a food waste disposal unit)

Store a kitchen island or butcher’s block on wheels — simply wheel it out when you need an extra kitchen surface for preparing food 

Solutions for awkward kitchen spaces

Awkward spaces call for new ideas! If wondering what to do with that awkward space in your kitchen is making your brain hurt, then check out the clever solutions below.  

The space around pipes on the wall

Kitchens sometimes have pipes or boxed wiring on the wall, which can be frustrating, especially if you want to use the space to put up shelves. Instead, buy a wire memo board or grid and simply fix it behind the pipework. This creates a handy place to add some kitchen utensils and to personalise your kitchen with your shopping lists, photos, your favourite recipes, reminders and a calendar.

A large shallow cupboard

If you have a large cupboard which is too shallow to be useful, you can adapt it to create a whole new area. Remove the cupboard doors and mount a strong piece of wood at table height to use as a desktop surface. Add shelves above it and you have a stylish home-working space. For a chic look, add statement wallpaper to the wall in the nook and set it apart from the rest of the kitchen. 

The corner of the wall above a kitchen countertop

Create a hanging display by putting hooks on both the adjoining walls and add hanging planters.

A bay window

Bay windows are attractive but create an awkwardly shaped space. Make the most out of the natural light and add a cafe table and seating. Or create a window seat by placing a made-to-measure bench cushion on the windowsill. 

The area above a washing machine

If you are lucky enough to have a utility room, add some floating shelves above your washing machine for rows of wicker baskets: perfect for clean, folded towels and laundry detergent. 

There’s so much you can do with the extra space in your kitchen. It may be that you have space you hadn’t even thought of using before. Small nooks don’t have to equal unused space — there are some really innovative solutions out there.