Kitchen is Small? 5 Genius Solutions for Tiny Cooking Spaces
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"My kitchen is small."
I hear this ALL the time from fellow mamapreneurs. It's said with defeat. With frustration. With the implication that good cooking just isn't possible.
Well, I'm here to call bullshit on that.
My own kitchen? A tiny 2m x 1m space where I've cooked for 15 homeless people at Christmas, run a successful food business, and prepare fresh meals with my toddler most nights.
Your kitchen's size isn't the problem. Your systems are.
The Small Kitchen Reality Check
Let's get real about kitchen sizes for a minute. The average kitchen in modern homes has shrunk dramatically.
New build properties often feature kitchens barely large enough to swing a wooden spoon. Urban apartments? Even smaller.
And don't get me started on those "cozy" city flats with kitchens the size of a postage stamp. This is my current reality.
But here's what most people miss: Some of the world's BEST cooking happens in tiny spaces.
Street food vendors create culinary masterpieces from carts. Parisians cook incredible meals in notoriously small apartment kitchens. Professional chefs work magic in tight restaurant line spaces.
When your kitchen is small, you don't need more space. You need better systems.
This is my current kitchen where I run Tech & Tastes from. It is very small with no cupboards or drawers. Yet this is NOT the smallest kitchen I have had!
Vertical Thinking: The Game-Changer
When floor space is limited, the only way is up.
Stop thinking about your kitchen in square meters and start thinking about cubic meters. Your walls and ceiling are untapped real estate.
Wall-Mounted Magnetic Knife Strips
Get those bulky knife blocks off your precious counter. A magnetic strip keeps sharp tools accessible but safely out of children's reach while freeing up valuable space. I adore my knife strip and it's saves space in my utensil bucket.
Pro tip: Mount it high enough to be out of kids' reach but where you can still grab knives easily.
That awkward cabinet where pots and pans hide, requiring you to pull everything out to reach the one at the back? Eliminate it.
A simple ceiling or wall-mounted pot rack puts everything in easy reach AND creates that professional kitchen vibe. Those copper pans suddenly become decor rather than clutter.
Door Organizers: The Forgotten Space
The inside of cabinet doors might be the most overlooked storage opportunity when your kitchen is small.
Thin racks mounted on doors can hold spices, oils, utensils, or cleaning supplies without taking away from your cabinet's primary storage capacity.
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Counter Space Creation: Making Magic
When your kitchen is small, counter space becomes precious gold.
But here's what I've learned: You can create counter space out of thin air.
Over Sink Dish Rack: A Genuis Idea!
Over the sink is one of the best space creating opportunities when your kitchen is small.
Over sink dish racks can hold your plates, pans, utensils, cutlery and cups whilst they drip dry into the sink (and when they are dry if needs must) without taking away from your primary kitchen worksurface.
I love mine and doubled my workspace instantly with this one hack.
Stovetop Covers
The simplest game-changer? A large wooden board that fits over your stovetop when not in use.
Instant prep space that tucks away when cooking starts.
Over the sink is one of the best space creating opportunities when your kitchen is small.
The Power of Purging
This goes way deeper than just adding things to your small kitchen space. Purge. Get rid of things. Be ruthless.
That melon baller you've used twice in five years? That specialized zester? The egg slicer?
If it doesn't earn its keep, it doesn't deserve your precious space.
Every item should justify its existence through regular use or extraordinary results.
Small Kitchen Workflow Revolution
When your kitchen is small, how you move matters as much as what you store.
The Prep-Cook-Clean Cycle
The biggest mistake in small kitchens? Trying to prep everything at once.
Instead, break cooking into manageable chunks:
1. Prep a few ingredients
2. Clean that space
3. Cook those items
4. Wipe down as you go
5. Repeat
This prevents counter congestion and the dreaded "no space to put the hot pan" emergency.
The One-Pot Focus
When your kitchen is small, one-pot meals become your best friend. Not just for fewer dishes, but for workflow efficiency.
My slow cooker, Dutch oven, and air fryer are my tiny kitchen MVPs.
The 10-Minute Reset
Never start cooking without a clean kitchen. Period.
Develop a 10-minute reset routine that completely clears your workspace. Do it between breakfast and lunch prep, after lunch before dinner prep.
This single habit has transformed my cooking experience more than any organizational product.
The Small Kitchen Mindset Shift
When your kitchen is small, your mindset matters most.
Constraint Breeds Creativity
The world's most innovative cooking comes from limited resources.
Think about it - peasant cuisines are often the most flavorful because they had to make magic with little.
Your small kitchen isn't limiting your cooking - it's making you more creative.
Less Space = Less Waste
When you can see everything you have, you waste less.
Small kitchens force you to be intentional about what you buy, store, and cook. You'll save money, reduce food waste, and make more thoughtful meals.
The Professional Perspective
Ever watched professional chefs work? They don't wander around expansive kitchens.
They create tight, efficient stations where everything they need is within arm's reach.
When your kitchen is small, you're actually cooking more like a pro.
Making Peace With Your Small Kitchen
Your kitchen's size is a fixed constraint (unless you're knocking down walls). Your systems, workflows, and mindset are entirely within your control. When you stop fighting your small kitchen and start creating systems that work WITH your space, cooking becomes joyful again.
That's when the magic happens. That's when you start creating meals that nourish your family, your business brain, and your soul.
All from a "too small" kitchen that turns out to be exactly the right size after all.
Ready to shift your kitchen systems?
Grab my Kitchen Confidence Guide
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