[BODY]Tiny living is the new luxury phenomenon. It’s no longer just an imposed lifestyle because of space or budget limitations. People are choosing to simplify their lives by creating spaces that are smart, innovative, energy efficient, easy to maintain, and even mobile. In these small spaces, the kitchen takes center stage. Small kitchens are even harder to plan than large ones. The challenge is how to make the aesthetics work while balancing the kitchen’s functionality and maximizing its purpose in the small environment.[BODY]

[TITLE]Multipurpose[TITLE] [BODY]The kitchen in a small space needs to fulfill several functions. It will be primarily for cooking and eating, but it may also be used for serving, storage, laundry, working, and studying. Much creativity must be put into the kitchen planning. For instance, a drawer can double as a worktable extension or a chopping board area. The sink bowl can be covered with a wood or stone cut out so that it can serve as additional counter space when the sink is not in use. The back of the cabinet doors can have hanging tracks so small items can be stored there. [BODY]

[BODY]The open toe kick area can have drawers to maximize the storage space. Organizer accessories can be placed at the back splash area or underneath the wall cabinets. Each component should have at least 2 different functions to make it worth its space.[BODY]

[TITLE]Safety, Clearances and Ease[TITLE]

[BODY] The cabinet doors as well as the lighting, countertops, and decorative finishes create the mood and express the lifestyle and tastes of the family. Visual impact can be achieved no matter what design style, as long as there is a right combination of complementary and contrasting elements- wood with polished stainless steel, shiny lacquer with honed granite, and even monotone colors with varied textural finishes can be dynamic and timeless. The masterful composition of design elements is what draws the attention at first. However, the outward design of a kitchen is only as good as the efficiency of the storage solutions inside the cabinets. [BODY]

[TITLE]Open or hidden[TITLE] [BODY]Clutter and dirt are the ultimate enemies of small spaces. Nobody wants to enter a home and see dirty dishes or splattered oily walls. Nowadays there are many ways to conceal the mess of the kitchen. There are full sliding doors that hide the cooking area, appliance garage cabinets that store small appliances, handle-less cabinets that blend seamlessly into the interiors, and even faucets and range hoods that disappear into the countertops. [BODY]

[BODY]Another new trend is freestanding kitchen elements. These are designed to look like furniture and make it seem like it is just part of the living décor.[BODY]

[BODY]Of course, keeping the kitchen organized and clean is still the best design solution. The key is to manage your choices of finishes to suit your living habits. Polished or glossy surfaces need to be wiped down often, but these finishes can create a very crisp and modern atmosphere. Dark colored materials reveal dust and fingerprints more than light colored ones. Although wood and stone absorb liquids and stains faster than their synthetic or engineered counterparts, they have grains and natural textures that have warmth that can’t be matched. [BODY]

[TITLE]Illusions of space[TITLE] [BODY]The mind can be tricked to make the space look bigger than it actually is. The usual technique is to use reflective finishes for the doors and material accents such as mirrors, colored glass, lacquer, and polished metals.[BODY]