How much of your kitchen space contains
appliances you rarely use? Do you long for excess cupboard space,
bare counters, and no clutter? If so, a minimalist kitchen is perfect
for you.
With a minimalist kitchen, everything
has a place. Only the essential appliances have a home within the
kitchen. Best of all, the clean counters and organized cupboards make
it fun to cook a meal and quickly clean up.
Beneficial Built Ins
Every kitchen needs three, possibly
four depending on your floor plan, appliances. These appliances
include an oven/stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, and possibly a
washer dryer. While many homes have the washer and dryer in the
mudroom or basement, they do appear in the kitchens of many
apartments or mobile homes.
When it comes to a washer and dryer,
there are space-saving combination units that are perfect for a
kitchen. Look for front-loading washer/dryer units. When the wash
load is done, the machine doubles as a dryer. While these
washer/dryer combination units have been popular in Britain for
years, they are becoming easier to find in appliance stores
throughout the United States. Alternatively, there are space-saving
units that have the washing machine on the bottom and the dryer sits
over the top-loading washer.
Ranges provide the stove top and oven
in one unit, and that saves space. Plus, many have storage drawers
beneath the oven, so you have a great spot for storing baking sheets.
A dishwasher often seems like a
splurge, but it eliminates the need for a draining rack in a sink or
on a counter. They also make it easier to ensure that bacteria die
during the longer wash in hot, soapy water.
Essential Decluttering
Decluttering is often harder than it
seems. You pull out an item, only to find yourself reminiscing about
special times when you used that item. Set clear goals before you
start decluttering your kitchen. Decide what will fit with your
minimalist plans and get rid of everything else.
If you use a small appliance once or
twice a year, there's no reason to keep it. Only items that are used
at least once a week should have a place in your minimalist kitchen.
Cupboards with glass doors force you into avoiding clutter.
Innovative Space Savers
Even with a limited number of
cupboards, there are innovative space savers suitable for kitchens.
The wasted space under a cabinet is ideal for a coffee maker or lock
radio. Magnetic strips on the wall are the perfect place to hang
knives or metal spice jars. Save cupboard space by hanging your pots
and pans from a pot rack that hangs from the ceiling or wall.
Necessary Small Kitchen Appliances
There are small appliances that speed
up prep time. Keep them small enough so that they fit in a cupboard
when they're not in use. Typically, the items that most people use
daily or weekly include a coffeemaker, food processor, and microwave.
It's hard to store a microwave in a
cupboard, but there's an easy way to save space. Choose a
wall-mounted microwave that hangs over the oven/stove and saves
space.
Remember with a minimalist kitchen that
clutter is your biggest issue. Avoid temptation to add small
appliances, dishes, and gadgets without removing something else
first. Always make sure the counters are bare at the end of the day
by putting everything you've used back into its appropriate place. By
stopping clutter from building up, you retain the clean look of your
minimalist kitchen.
