Having lived in many tiny and studio apartments, we know all too well the discomfort and awkwardness that can exist when one's bed is way too close to the kitchen. Though it's not the ideal layout, we have some tips on how you can deal with this too close for comfort situation.
Keep it clean (inside and out) : Don’t let your eating and cooking space get dirty when your sleeping space is so nearby. Clean the fridge, take the trash and recycling out often and try to wipe down surfaces (inside fridge and cabinets too) weekly. Being so close to your bed means not letting dishes stack up and always putting food away after using it.
Get appliances checked out: Refrigerators are supposed to have a bit of a hum, but they shouldn’t make too much of a racket. If they do, have it serviced to see if the noise can be kept down to a reasonable level. Also, have someone check your stove and make sure it's in tip top shape. Having a silent kitchen will help you forget that it's so close when you're trying to fall asleep.
Disguise it Just because you have a fridge or kitchen next to your bed doesn’t mean it has to look like it. If it's the fridge that's too close, there have been lots of creative ideas to disguise one over the years, from chalkboard surfaces, to paint to magnets and more. Check out this AT post: Beyond the Chalkboard Fridge: Decorated Refrigerators.
Visual barriers: If there’s the space, consider incorporating visual barriers, like a fabric panel hung from the ceiling, a thin and narrow shelf or perhaps a chair. It’s not as good as a wall, but it might trick your brain into thinking it’s not inches from where you last cooked dinner.
Don't cook too close to bedtime Impossible for some (ourselves included) this is just something to consider. By giving some time between your last meal and your bedtime, it might help you mentally distance yourself from the space. And, it won't still smell like dinner as you lay in bed.
Know you'll eventually get used to it: It sounds harsh, but it’s easier than you think. The first time we ever slept beside a fridge we were horrified. The sounds, the smells (hopefully this could all be taken care of if you do the above steps) but honestly, after the first night it never bothered us again. Just like many of the sacrifices that living in a studio and small space requires, you’ll adapt!
Does your bedroom reside just a little too close to your kitchen? What are some of the ways you've learned to cope with it, or the ideas you've implemented to work around it?
(Images: Beyond the Chalkboard Fridge: Decorated Refrigerators; 2modern )
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I used to pretend that my master bedroom off the kitchen was really a deluxe master suite, like the ones you see in McMansions. Who needs a "coffee bar" in the dressing room when you've got a whole kitchen steps away from your bed???
I clicked through because my wall bed is right next to the kitchen. I put An Utby island betweethe bed and fridge. When the wall bed is open there is just inches to get in on that side but the solid separation makes it feel like a defined "bedroom."
But the important question is what is the story with that marble top table in the pic? I have its smaller, side table cousin that I got from my grandma 10 years ago and I assume she had it for decades prior. I've always wanted to know its story and see if there are other similar pieces I need.
Since I moved into my small condo and am feet away from appliances I have become devoted to my earplugs. They take away all the incidental noises like the fridge, washer, dryer, traffic etc. but still allows me to hear important noises like the fire alarm, my alarm clock and even the doorbell! Now, even when it's quiet, I can't sleep without them.
that bed is LOVE, does anyone know where I can buy this?
We once lived in an apartment so small that although there was a bedroom, the room was so small that the bed was 4 feet from the TOILET. Thankfully there was a sliding door between the two, but it makes for some interesting acoustics.
I stuck square IKEA mirrors in two rows down the side of my fridge. It made the appliance feel more like part of the (one) room, and it bounced light around a bit. (Sort of a cubist take on a full-length mirror but better than nothing.)
I've got my bed on the other side of a partition wall from my fridge. I like to think of it as a food preserver/white noise machine all in one. I actually hung bamboo yoga mats from to help absorb some sound and extend the wall a little wider.
It's like you read my mind. I am moving into a tiny rectangular studio, with the kitchen all out in the open, in July, and I've been obsessing over the floorplan. I think I'm going to end up with my bed next to the range, with a narrow bookshelf between them.
So, how is the picture above relevant to "bed close to kitchen?" I don't see the bed.
i once lived in a teeny studio for a few months. i just grew a thick skin and embraced my bad habits :D