You spend a lot of time in the kitchen but are you spending more time there than you really need to?  Many kitchens are actually quite inefficient to use but you can solve that problem by creating dedicated workspaces.  This works in just about any kitchen, and you’ll end up with a space that you’ll just love to use!  Here are some great hints and tips.  For more advice, have a chat with your local kitchen designer. They’ll be only too happy to help.

Close off Unused Entries

Many modern kitchens are very open plan, with multiple doors leading into and out of it.  While this often looks great, it can result in a lot of wasted space, and space is the number one thing that you need in the kitchen.  If your budget allows you to, you can simply fix this by closing off a hardly used interior door or building a wall to span an existing opening.  Depending on the size of the opening that you are closing off, this can dramatically increase the amount of usable space in the kitchen!  Build cabinets across this newly created space and you’ll find that you have much more kitchen storage, and the additional benchtop will give you much needed space for cooking prep.

Add a Kitchen Island

If your kitchen is quite large, chances are you have a lot of empty floor space.  Create a brand new workspace in your kitchen simply by building a new island in the centre of your kitchen!  The island can be permanently installed or you can buy a butcher block on wheels and place it there instead.  The kitchen island will give you a whole new prep area and adding cupboards or shelves underneath will allow for more storage.  Alternatively, you can install a dishwasher or extra oven underneath the island.  Utilise the space above with hanging racks that hold all your pots, pans and utensils.

A Spot to Pay the Bills

Many kitchens end up being multipurpose areas, used for more than just making the daily meals.  People end up dumping the mail there, spreading bills out on the kitchen counter or even doing their homework!  It’s easy to let this take over the kitchen but you can solve that problem by creating a special workspace just for paying bills, doing homework or doing other miscellaneous tasks.  You don’t need a lot of room to do it either.  Create a workspace by running a bench off of some of your kitchen cabinetry so that it forms kind of a low breakfast bar.  Add a chair or a couple of low stools and you’re set! Hide paperwork and stationery in some attractive baskets or boxes and you’ve got a space that does double duty.  Alternatively, you can have a cabinetmaker build you a special working area in an unused corner of the kitchen.  This can be as simple as a cavity sliding door hiding a small built in desk with a chair.