Small Space Solutions: 10 Ways to Turn Your Small Kitchen into an Eat-In
Are you living with a tiny kitchen? And thinking that means no space to actually eat in your kitchen? Think again! Here are a handful of ideas and products that might just make an eat-in kitchen possible for you.
1. If you are short on space, get creative on where a table and chairs might go. Why not consider creating a window seat as in the kitchen shown above, from Studio Oink via The Style Files…
2. …or quite literally making one out of a window and a couple of seats…
3. …or, if your kitchen is still in planning phase, building one under the countertop…
4. …or even adding one to the back half of the countertop?
5. The drop-leaf table has been the friend of small eat-ins for eons. Whether your style is classic…
6. …or more modern, there are plenty of drop-leaf tables out there to suit various needs and budgets. Where to start? Try IKEA’s NORBERG wall mounted table (shown above), IKEA’s other options, or our Best Drop-Leaf & Gateleg Tables roundup from last year.
7. Or, forgo the table and pull barstools up to a kitchen island instead. The best thing to do in a super small space is make your furniture do double duty, right?
8. This kitchen island has built-in leg-room for chairs—awesome! This way, your legs aren’t bopping against bowls of tomatoes as you eat, and the chairs have a place to go when dinner’s all done.
9. Look for furniture that fits snugly into the space you have—in particular, chairs that can tuck right under the table. Nothing is worse in a tiny kitchen than a chair that you keep bumping into or a table you keep having to wiggle around.
10. You might only be able to fit one or two chairs in your small eat-in kitchen. When you have guests, what will you do? Invest in folding chairs, or other double duty seating, and if you’re super stuck for space, why not wall-mount them? These NISSE chairs from IKEA are only $14.99 each; for other low-cost folding chair options, check out The Kitchn’s 5 Folding Chairs to Order Now.
Have a tiny, eat-in kitchen? How do you make it work? Share your wisdom below.