How To Maximize Counters In A Small Kitchen

How To Maximize Counters In A Small Kitchen

*Today’s post was made possible by CrossCountry Mortgage. All opinions are my own.

The kitchen in our mid-century ranch is tiny. Like, really tiny. The photo above shows the bulk of our workspace, and the photo below offers a view of the other side by the fridge and the minuscule counters that we have available over there. I think you can get a pretty clear idea from those perspectives of just how little we have to work with. When we replaced the old countertops two years ago, we did opt to extend the new ones as far as we could to (a) give us more counter space for meal prep and serving, and (b) to create bar seating, and that upgrade has been a welcome one. But we still have to be really intentional in the way we lay things out so we can maximize square footage.

The main thing we’ve learned is that there can be nothing on our counters that we don’t use every day. Everything (aside from a few thoughtfully placed decorative plants, that is) has to be utilitarian and functional so that we’re not wasting space. It was hard at first and we had to make some key investments, but now we have things worked down to the finest detail and no spot is left unused. I think the overall look, though, doesn’t feel cluttered because of how strategic we’ve been with our color/design choices when it comes to appliances and accents. Keep scrolling to read my tips for curating items that maximize counters in your own small kitchen.

How To Maximize Counters In A Small KitchenHow To Maximize Counters In A Small KitchenHow To Maximize Counters In A Small Kitchen

How To Maximize Counters In A Small Kitchen:

1. Make use of vertical square footage by storing typical countertop accessories up on the wall or ceiling using things like open floating shelves or a tiered hanging fruit basket by the window.

2. Style your open shelves with practical-yet-pretty kitchen accents, such as your kettle and a ceramic mixing bowl for whipping up sauces, plus a few pieces of décor (think: plants, leaning art) to round things out.

3. Store everyday spices on the countertop in a neat row using something like a vintage storage box or basket. Learn more about the secondhand box I upcycled for exactly this purpose here. Essentially, though, this method helps spices look more decorative rather than purely utilitarian.

4. Purchase nice-looking, color-coordinated appliances and containers so that your counters look styled rather than cluttered. I love our minty green toaster (it matches our kettle that sits up on the floating shelves!), and our cream-colored countertop Wonder Oven. Even the coffee maker looks nice and sophisticated out on display, I think, because of its soft gray color.

5. Swap out your wooden knife block for a magnetic rack that stores knives in a flat orientation up high rather than in a bulky bunch right on your countertop. The one we chose is attached to the side of the fridge with magnets on the back, so there was no drilling required.

6. Consider using a decorative console in a neighboring room (think: your dining space) to store extra appliances, like a microwave, and backup food items, like extra peanut butter and spices. You can see the one we use in our own dining room just off the kitchen in the photo below. If you store the food in opaque baskets, no one will ever know that your dining room plays host to a bonus kitchen pantry! 

How To Maximize Counters In A Small KitchenHow To Maximize Counters In A Small KitchenHow To Maximize Counters In A Small KitchenHow To Maximize Counters In A Small KitchenHow To Maximize Counters In A Small Kitchen

I hope that insight helps inspire you as you work to reorganize and rearrange your kitchen in honor of the new year. I know I started this post off by lamenting about how tiny our kitchen is, but I love the way it works for us. The small square footage actually makes moving around and grabbing items while cooking really quick and easy. The kitchen at our old house was larger, but I prefer our current kitchen over that one because of how efficient it is. I think our careful countertop arranging has also made this space function so much better for us. Leave your own space-saving kitchen styling tips in the caption if you have some to add!

How To Maximize Counters In A Small Kitchen

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*This post contains affiliate links, which means that I may earn a small commission when you purchase products that I recommend at no additional cost to you. This allows me to provide free creative content for you to read, save, and share. Rest assured that I never recommend products we wouldn’t use or don’t already love ourselves.

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Tuft + Paw Pet Bed And Carrier Review

Tuft + Paw Pet Bed And Carrier Review

*This story was made possible by the generous support of Tuft + Paw, and features gifted product for testing purposes. All opinions are my (and my cat’s) own.

Our two sweet rescue kitties Marlo and Gladys asked if they could take over the blog today to tell you about two of their favorite gifts from the 2024 season: the Porto Carrier and Kip Cat Cushion, both from our go-to pet furniture brand, Tuft + Paw. We’ve been long-time fans of their high end pet furniture, litter, and treats, so it only made sense to spoil our girls with a couple of new pieces from their collection. Keep scrolling to read our full review of both the carrier and cushion in case you’ve been meaning to treat your own pets to something nice in honor of the new year.

Tuft + Paw Pet Bed And Carrier Review

Tuft + Paw Pet Bed And Carrier Review Tuft + Paw Pet Bed And Carrier Review

Kip Cat Cushion:

As you may know, I like to move things around in our house. No piece of furniture is ever really permanently situated in any given room because I’m simply that addicted to change. The same goes for our pet accessories. You’re seeing our girls’ new Kip Cat Cushion pictured in our guest room in today’s post, but I’ve since moved it to my office so they can lounge with me while I’m working.

Point being that I really appreciate how moveable this pet bed is! It’s as light as a bed pillow, but the anti-slip bottom makes it so that it doesn’t budge wherever I set it down. The faux shearling cover is super soft, and the concave shape of the bed makes it ideal for curling up against. I’ll often walk into the room and find one of our cats’ toys lying in the bed making me think that I must have just missed either a really epic play session (we ordered the “Wide” size, so that it’s big enough for play), or a really solid nap.

Tuft + Paw Pet Bed And Carrier Review

Tuft + Paw Pet Bed And Carrier Review

Tuft + Paw Pet Bed And Carrier Review Tuft + Paw Pet Bed And Carrier Review

Porto Carrier:

I could go on and on about the awesome features of the Porto Carrier (like the water-resistant canvas, removable faux shearling mat, multiple zippered entry options, and breathable mesh windows), but I think the best proof I can give to you of a high rating is the fact that my vet likes this carrier! She has traditionally been resistant to fabric zippered pet carriers when I’ve asked her about them in the past, so I was nervous about showing up with this one in hand. Happily, she was really impressed by the design and functionality of the carrier, so I could breath a sigh of relief.

It really is an amazing crate. Gladys goes in without a fight, and seems to like the soft mat (I haven’t had to put Marlo in yet, but I have high hopes that she’ll be just as relaxed). I like that you can unzip the flaps on either side or opt for top entry in case your kitty refuses to come out the sides. There are pockets so you can tuck away vet bill receipts and instructions, and the hidden structural panels for added stability give me lots of peace of mind. It’s also airline-approved in case you and your pets are big travelers. My only complaint is that you can’t really see through the mesh to gaze at your kitty while she’s tucked away in the carrier, but that’s not really necessary. I still give it a firm five stars.

Tuft + Paw Pet Bed And Carrier Review Tuft + Paw Pet Bed And Carrier Review

Our pets are our kids since we’ve opted to be human-child-free adults, so we love spoiling them with the best of the best when it comes to treats, bedding, and toys. I can say without a doubt that Tuft + Paw really is the best. The items in their collection are definitely on the higher end in terms of price point, but the quality of those pieces convinces me that it’s worth the investment.

As a fellow pet parent, I’m sure you’ve noticed just how hard it is to find good looking cat furniture and accessories, too. That’s another reason why I love shopping with Tuft + Paw. Their sleek designs seamlessly integrate into any modern home. They make a statement, but also aren’t in your face in case you want to style them in a way that doesn’t make them a focal point (like a litter box).

What would you treat your cat to from this lineup? And see my other review of their ultra mod pet furniture here.

Tuft + Paw Pet Bed And Carrier Review

Your DIY Guide To Home Decorating eBook

*This post contains affiliate links, which means that I may earn a small commission when you purchase products that I recommend at no additional cost to you. This allows me to provide free creative content for you to read, save, and share. Rest assured that I never recommend products we wouldn’t use or don’t already love ourselves.

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