Is Your Kitchen Too Small For An Island? Here's The Minimum Space You Need
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Small kitchens present a long list of challenges. From restricted countertop space to less room for gatherings, you need to be mindful of the limitations of these tiny living spaces. This will help you avoid mishaps, make necessary adjustments to the way your store things, and prepare for renovations and upgrades appropriately. If you have a small kitchen, you may have questioned whether you can comfortably fit an island in the space. There are specific measurements your space must meet to ensure you have enough room to make this upgrade. Your kitchen should be at least 12 feet wide by 8 feet long to fit an island in the center with enough room to navigate around the structure.
Due to these limitations, islands are not always a good idea for small kitchens. This might be disappointing for those who were hoping to make this upgrade to add additional storage and countertop space to a small kitchen. If this applies to you, fear not because there are quite a few ways to add more storage and expand kitchen countertop space without installing an island. You may even have a few of the materials you need for these upgrades lying around your house already.
How to expand storage space without a kitchen island
If your kitchen is not at least 12 feet by 8 feet long, or if you are not able to leave at least 42 to 48 inches of room around a kitchen island, it might be time to explore other options. You can get creative to enjoy the benefits associated with this kitchen upgrade regardless of the size of your living space. Covering your kitchen sink with a cutting board is a great way to create extra counter space without having to install an island. Simply grab a cutting board that is large enough to fit over your sink without falling inside. This provides a bit of additional space to prepare food.
While you might not have enough room for an island, a rolling rack or cart is a great way to add more storage as well. When you need more room in your kitchen, such as during a party or gathering, you can simply roll it into another room. The SOLEJAZZ Rolling Storage Cart from Amazon would a great fit for small kitchens. Floating shelves and wall racks are also helpful hacks to secretly add more storage to your kitchen. You can install floating shelves to store or display anything you would normally place inside the drawers or cabinets at the bottom of a kitchen island. Wall racks with hooks allow you to hang up pots and pans without taking up countertop space.