If the kitchen in your Cheney rental home is on the smaller side and does not have enough storage for all the essentials, daily tasks may become inconvenient. What’s good is that there are a lot of ways to maximize your kitchen space and have a functional space that is also aesthetic. In this article, we list down some ideas you can use to add storage and utility to your rental home’s kitchen.
While some of the mentioned upgrades are easy do-it-yourself projects you can remove when you leave your rental home, others may require the permission of your landlord before you can begin. Be sure to check the terms of your lease carefully and follow the process for requesting permanent changes.
Declutter and Organize
The best strategy to create a clean and functional kitchen is to first declutter and organize it. If you have more dishes, utensils, small appliances, or kitchenware than you have cabinet space, simply getting rid of things you don’t use regularly can help everything fit better. You can also invest in organizing trays and racks that fit into a drawer or cabinet to corral things like silverware, pot and pan lids, and spice jars. Once everything has its place, you are on your way to a more functional kitchen.
Use Vertical Spaces
Another way to maximize your kitchen is to create more storage. Adding hooks and pegs to unused areas like walls, sides of cabinets, or even the ceiling is a great way to make up for limited cabinet space. You will be surprised how much space you can free up by hanging your pots on a rack or your coffee mugs on hooks! These usually take up an entire cabinet or two that you can now use for other things. Just be sure to install your hanging storage using damage-free mounting tape or get permission from your Cheney property manager to drill holes in the walls or ceiling.
Add Rolling Storage
For tenants, another great way to get more storage space in a small kitchen is by adding a rolling island or storage cabinet. These help fill in the underutilized gaps and corners that are common in small kitchens. By adding some standalone storage or counter space, you can store your things better. Rolling islands are especially great because aside from offering both storage and counter space, you can also get an additional place to sit just by bringing in a couple of stools. There are also narrow storage racks made to fit between a fridge and a wall or other tight spaces so you have more places to store your kitchen essentials or pantry items.
Add Shelves
For kitchens that have a lot of wall space but not so many cabinets, installing shelves is an inexpensive way to add more storage. Open shelves give your kitchen functionality and beauty in addition to giving you places to display glassware or keep small appliances away after use. Since adding shelves is a much bigger project, you may need to ask for your landlord’s approval, so be sure to ask first. Most leases also stipulate that any permanent installations, like shelves, have to be removed upon leaving and you may need to repair any damage left behind.
Your lease, like many leases, may also require you to have the installation done by a licensed professional, so be sure to check with your landlord about the guidelines you have to follow. Otherwise, the cost of removal or repairs may be deducted from your security deposit upon move-out.
While all of these are great tips to maximize your kitchen space, you might need to look for a rental with bigger rooms if you still feel cramped. If you’re ready for a move, give Real Property Management Spokane County a call. We have a wide range of rental home listings, possibly even one with your dream kitchen in it! View our listings online or reach us at 509-462-1042.
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