Independent homes
Kitchen Small Space Design for Independent homes
Keep one clear route and make infrequent activities share a footprint. Measure what happens when the room is occupied.
Explore the ideas
Plan in this order
- Remove items used elsewhere and list what still needs to fit in the room.
- Put frequent-use storage against a fixed edge and test whether shallow storage works there.
- Tape the occupied footprint of the largest movable item, including the user and the space needed to operate it.
Worked example
A studio kitchen has one short counter shared by coffee making, meal prep and dish drying.
Give the counter a daily prep strip; move drying to a compact rack over the sink and store occasional appliances elsewhere.
How to test it
Rehearse the busiest moment with everything open or pulled out. If the route disappears, change the furniture size or position.
Apply it to this space
- Layout
- Separate hot cooking, wet cleanup and pantry access; keep the yard route clear of the work zone.
- Detail
- Use robust counter surfaces, task lighting and a ventilated pantry for dry goods.
- Trade-off
- An open kitchen improves connection but carries cooking noise and smells into living space.
- Trace grocery and waste routes
- Check daylight and exhaust outlet location
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