The kitchen is almost always the room that catches people out after a move.
You’ve already done the hard work — you’ve sorted, decluttered and let go of a lot. So everything you’re bringing with you is there for a reason. Now the challenge is making it all work in a smaller space. Here are my top tips:
Start before you unpack — not after
Take ten minutes to open all the cupboards and drawers in your new kitchen before anything comes out of the boxes. Get a sense of what you are working with. Then decide what goes where. If you unpack first, you will simply fill the space without really thinking — and you’ll end up moving everything again. If possible, of course, we’ll already have worked this out together before the boxes are taken off the removal lorry!
Measure before you assume
Your new kitchen may look similar to your old one, but the dimensions will be different. That tall cupboard might be shallower than you expect. Measure before you decide something won’t — or will — fit.
Use the space you have, not the space you had
Vertical space is your friend. A simple shelf riser can effectively double your storage in a standard cupboard. Drawer dividers make a surprising difference. And the inside of cupboard doors can hold spice racks or foil and cling film — things that always seem to take up more space than they should. Plus, it’s unusual for me not to change the height of shelves in clients’ new kitchens. Things are not the same!
Create zones — even in a small space
Where do you prepare food? Where do you make hot drinks? Group things by task and keep them near where you use them. When unpacking in a hurry we tend to find a home for things rather than the right home — zones help you avoid that. The kettle should be near the sink so you can fill it up easily – so look at where the nearest sockets are, and then choose the nearest cupboard for mugs and tea / coffee.
Don’t try to make it all work in a day
The first arrangement might seem good, but if after a few weeks of actually using the kitchen you decide it’s not working for you, don’t be afraid to change it!