So you’ve finally made the decision. Maybe it’s your first house or you’re downsizing because all the kids have moved away, but you’re ready for a tiny house. These houses are all the rage these days as people decry the need for lavish, 3,000-square-foot homes in favor of smaller, compact and more intimate houses.
They’re made from a variety of materials from cargo containers to real houses just smaller in size. Many of them are made from the ground up, which means you control everything, but it’s not easy. There are space and design elements that make tiny houses more difficult to decorate than normal houses.
Shapes and sizes
When you have a small house, the key is to have kitchen cabinets that provide plenty of storage without sacrificing space for necessities like the stove, sink, etc. The first thing that needs to happen is to plan the exact dimension of your kitchen and create a design for what goes where. Along with being small, the kitchen area may be shaped oddly or have non-uniform dimensions. Where is the sink located? Where is the stove located? What can be done with the remaining space? Also, keep in mind that many times, tiny house spaces have to do double duty. For example, what might have been a kitchen island with seating is now also a dining table.
Ways to create optimum space
Kitchen cabinets take up a lot of space and it’s a necessity. Storage in a tiny house is prime real estate and the cabinets may not only hold kitchen items, but act as general storage as well. There are ways you can optimize that space so you can fit in the maximum amount of cabinetry. The easiest way to improve space is to choose small appliances. Do you need a full-size stove or would a small two-burner stove be okay? Instead of a double sink, choose a single one. Don’t put in a dishwasher. There are many ways a person can turn a small kitchen into a storage powerhouse.
Putting it all together
The key to a good-looking tiny house kitchen is getting a layout before ordering the cabinets. Make sure every inch is covered with cabinets, appliances and countertops. Space is limited, so every inch needs to be accounted for. You don’t want a six-inch gap between the kitchen and the living room. Everything needs to be seamless. The kitchen needs to be done first because once the cabinets are ordered and up, they’re not going anywhere. Items in the living room and bedroom can be moved, but the kitchen cabinets can’t.
If you’re thinking about a tiny house, then check out the selection of cabinets at RTA Cabinet Store.
