Designing a Small Kitchen for a Young Family: 11 Rules

How to design a stylish, convenient, and functional kitchen in a small area while also considering the presence (or imminent arrival) of young children in the family? Here are 11 winning tips.

1. Compact Kitchen Unit

Making a small kitchen as functional as possible does not mean cluttering all available space with cabinets. It's better to choose a kitchen unit as compact as you can afford (considering your lifestyle and how much time you usually spend cooking).

Choose taller and more spacious wall-mounted kitchen cabinets to utilize space all the way to the ceiling. This approach not only reduces their overall number but also allows for optimal storage of non-child-related items at a high level.

2. Transforming Table

A hanging or pull-out table or a transformer model saves space on the kitchen. This is particularly useful in small spaces, especially when there's a "mommy’s helper" nearby.

3. Folding Chairs

Another way to save space is to buy folding or stackable chairs for the dining area.

4. Dishwasher

This appliance solves many problems! From saving time and effort (which is very important for young families with children) to saving space (since having a dishwasher lets you get rid of a large sink and a bulky countertop dish dryer).

Besides, with machine washing at high water temperatures, most common microbes are destroyed, which is particularly important in homes with children.

5. Avoid Unnecessary Items

Why waste precious workspace on placing a coffee machine and toaster if you drink coffee no more than once a month, and eat toast even less often? Don’t clutter your small kitchen with unnecessary items.

Also, the fewer non-child-related items are visible — the fewer temptations there are for little family members.

6. Warm Floor

Families with children (or planning to have them) would do well to consider warm floors: it's still impossible to keep an active toddler from playing on the kitchen floor.

Of course, a carpet can be used. However, it's much less practical because little ones often spill something or scatter things.

7. Safety

When a baby joins the family, it's time to take maximum safety measures. Door stoppers, socket covers, drawer and cabinet locks, and tightly closing containers help.

If young children in a young family are still only planned, it's not a bad idea to take some preventive safety measures “for the future.” For example, consider protective glass windows, slip-resistant flooring, and a stove with child-lock features.

Design: Maria Mahmudova.

8. Easy-to-Clean Surfaces

In families with young children (or planning to have them), all surfaces should be as stain-resistant and easy to clean as possible. Children often get messy while exploring their surroundings.

9. Minimal Non-Functional Decor

Limited space requires functional decor rather than over-decoration. This does not mean the kitchen has to be boring: add colors, textures, designer lighting, stylish serving dishes, and choose a stylish kitchen apron.

10. More Light

No dark corners in a small kitchen should exist, as they visually "eat up" already cramped space. Ensure sufficient natural and artificial lighting: avoid heavy curtains, add glossy surfaces, avoid overly dark color schemes, and provide not only general but also local lighting.

If you choose floor or table lamps, ensure they are securely fastened to the surface so little family members won’t knock them over.

11. Readiness for Changes

If you realize that expanding your family in the near future is very likely, make your small kitchen as adaptable to change as possible.

For example, choose a larger refrigerator. When arranging furniture, leave some free space (e.g., for a child’s chair or an extra pair of dining chairs).