Final time you looked for an condo, rental dwelling, or perhaps a resort room, did phrases like “compact cooking space” or “efficiency kitchen” catch your eye? What you’re doubtless coming throughout is a kitchenette.
A kitchenette is basically a smaller-scale model of a full kitchen, however with some key distinctions. These compact cooking areas serve a spread of functions, whether or not you’re renting a studio condo in New York Metropolis or constructing a home in Indianapolis, IN. Right here’s all the things you’ll want to find out about kitchenettes and the way they maximize each sq. foot.
On this article:What’s a kitchenette?The place are kitchenettes often discovered?What are key options of a kitchenette?Kitchenette vs full kitchen: what’s the distinction?The best way to combine a kitchenette into any spacePros and cons of a kitchenetteSpace saving hacks for small kitchens and kitchenettesIs a kitchenette best for you?
What’s a kitchenette?
A kitchenette is solely a compact kitchen. They’re often situated in open areas and have minimal home equipment and streamlined performance. In contrast to a full kitchen, kitchenettes typically lack full-sized home equipment, however they often embody necessities like a mini fridge, sink, stovetop, countertop, and restricted cupboard house, explains Matthew Sherborne, proprietor of dwelling design agency Designing Thought. Different kitchenettes would possibly embody a small oven or go for a convection microwave or scorching plate as a substitute.
Since house is restricted, kitchenettes are widespread in city residences, condos, and different small dwelling areas. They’re additionally well-liked additions to spare rooms, basements, and different gathering areas for simple entry to meals and drinks with out the necessity of a full kitchen.
However kitchenettes aren’t simply restricted to small areas, say DIY renovation consultants Jen and Trent Fancher at Noting Grace: “A kitchenette is a great addition to any living area that is an inconvenient distance to the main kitchen, or for spaces where you want a little convenience without a full-blown kitchen.”
The place are kitchenettes often discovered?
Whereas kitchenettes is likely to be related to small dwelling areas, they are often present in a wide range of settings. Suzanne Taylor at Taylor Made Contracting, who remodels properties for individuals getting older in place, has utilized kitchenettes in a number of initiatives. Moreover being well-liked in studio or micro residences, she explains a kitchenette is likely to be a superb match for:
Basements or in-law suites: Kitchenettes in a visitor room or mother-in-law suite present visitors a spot to organize small meals or drinks with no need to entry the primary kitchen space. “If the home has a separate living area for guests, extended family, or rental purposes, a kitchenette provides convenience without needing a full kitchen,” says Taylor.
Tiny properties or ADUs (accent dwelling items): When your whole house is a number of hundred sq. ft or much less, kitchenettes change into a perfect answer for meals preparation. “A small, independent living space on a property may include a kitchenette instead of a full kitchen to save space and meet zoning requirements,” Taylor shares.
Rental items, Airbnb areas, and faculty dorms: Taylor explains that kitchenettes in short-term leases assist to make the house extra self-sufficient for visitors or tenants, including worth to the general expertise.
Bonus rooms: Moist bars in bonus rooms or completed basements have been well-liked for many years, however full kitchenettes go a step additional with a extra full house. “We personally added a kitchenette to our home to create a functional refreshment area without taking up too much room,” the Fanchers reveal.
Out of doors areas: Bigger yards, visitor homes, poolside areas, and even outside kitchens can profit from the comfort of a kitchenette.
What are key options of a kitchenette?
Most kitchenettes embody some kind of sink, fridge, and cooking equipment. “The most popular appliance choices in kitchenettes are a microwave, mini refrigerator, and a cooktop,” Sherbone notes. Widespread kitchenette options is likely to be:
Centered round a compact structure: In contrast to full kitchens with work zones, a kitchenette is often located straight towards one wall or nook. This design permits most performance within the smallest house.
Compact home equipment: Mini fridges, small sinks, and two-burner cooktops are widespread. Equipment kinds may also differ relying on the structure. For instance, a slimmer kitchenette fridge may very well be positioned to the facet, or a shorter mini fridge would possibly sit beneath the countertop.
Creatively configured: When house is at a premium, kitchenettes might be constructed into numerous totally different configurations and designs.
Kitchenette vs full kitchen: what’s the distinction?
FeatureKitchenetteFull KitchenSizeCompactSpaciousOvenSometimes includedStandardStovetopLimited burnersMultiple burners + ovenRefrigeratorMini or small fridgeFull-size fridgeStorageLimited cabinetsAmple storage spaceVentilationOften lacking a spread hoodFull air flow system
The best way to combine a kitchenette into any house
With any kitchenette design, protecting issues cohesive is vital. “We recommend keeping the design style, color palette and materials consistent with the surrounding space,” Jen shares. “Using the same cabinetry style, hardware, or even a complementary backsplash can help the kitchenette blend seamlessly.”
Open shelving and utilizing a mixture of ornamental and practical components are surefire methods to assist a kitchenette really feel intentional, quite than an afterthought to an area, explains Jen.
Defining zones with refined boundaries, like throw rugs or slight variations in wall shade, is one other strategy to outline the kitchenette house with out breaking the stream, Taylor shares. “Bar stools, a small island, or a nearby dining table can create a seamless transition.”
Professionals and cons of a kitchenette
Whereas each kitchens and kitchenettes function meal prep areas, kitchenettes are designed to be extra compact and space-efficient. Should you’re contemplating one on your dwelling or rental, weighing the professionals and cons may also help you determine if it’s the proper match.
Professionals
Minimal house necessities: Having a kitchenette means extra room for a dwelling house, eating room, and different areas generally.
Low upkeep: Much less countertop house, fewer home equipment, and a smaller footprint can result in much less time repairs and fewer time cleansing.
Price-effective: The mini-sized nature of a kitchenette is often much more reasonably priced to put in and outfit than a standard kitchen.
Can add worth: By maximizing performance in small areas, kitchenettes improve comfort and livability whereas rising enchantment to renters or consumers in search of versatile, space-efficient dwelling options.
Cons
Probably pricey set up: Should you’re including a kitchenette to a dwelling house, a whole set up typically prices at the very least $10,000 whenever you begin from scratch.
Restricted home equipment: Kitchenettes often don’t have sufficient room to suit issues like dishwashers or sinks with rubbish disposals. Much less counter house additionally means much less room for small home equipment, like a espresso machine or toaster oven.
Quick on storage: Kitchenettes naturally don’t have a lot room for cupboards, drawers, and different space for storing.
Rules is usually a downside: Relying on the constructing code or laws in your metropolis, city, or neighborhood affiliation, a whole kitchenette set up might or will not be permitted.
@Taylor Made Contracting
House saving hacks for small kitchens and kitchenettes
Small-space kitchen design is evolving to incorporate extra all-in-one home equipment and multi-functional options, in addition to convertible and hidden options to assist maximize total house, explains the staff at Taylor Made Contracting. However taking advantage of a small house is all about small kitchen group and design options.
Vertical storage: The Fanchers say that when counter and cupboard house is restricted, ”assume up.” Set up floating cabinets, magnetic knife strips, and wall-mounted racks to retailer incessantly used gadgets with out cluttering your workspace. Vertical pantries or stackable shelving inside cupboards may also enable you double your storage and maximize house.
Multipurpose furnishings and home equipment: “Go for furniture that does double duty, like a fold-down table that functions as both a prep area and a dining space,” suggests Taylor. Compact, multi-functional home equipment—like a mixture microwave/convection oven or a single unit with a sink, fridge, and cooktop—may also save house.
Drawer and cupboard organizers: Use pull-out cabinets, stress rods to separate baking sheets, and stackable bins to maintain all the things simply accessible. Lazy Susans in nook cupboards may also make use of in any other case wasted house.
House-efficient options: As an alternative of a full-sized drying rack, attempt an over-the-sink roll-up drying mat. Use nesting bowls and stackable cookware to cut back cupboard muddle. And in the event you’re quick on counter house, says Sherbone, a pull-out slicing board can immediately develop your prep space.
Within cupboard doorways: Set up hooks for measuring spoons, a slim rack for slicing boards, or adhesive organizers for spices and cleansing provides.
Further floor house: Wall-mounted, fold-down tables and extendable counter tops supply further workspace when wanted however tuck away seamlessly when not in use, counsel the Fanchers. A rolling cart is an alternative choice as further storage, a prep station, or perhaps a dwelling espresso bar.
Visible enlargement: Go for mild colours, reflective surfaces, and open shelving to create an ethereal, open really feel. Below-cabinet lighting and mirrors may also assist make the house really feel bigger.
@Noting Grace
Is a kitchenette best for you?
When deciding if a kitchenette is the proper alternative, it comes right down to prioritizing your wants. Take into consideration the way you’ll use the house and what options are most essential to you. Even in a compact setup, small conveniences can considerably impression performance.
“Honestly, we love how our kitchenette turned out,” Jen shares, “but if we could do one thing differently, we would have added a dedicated water line for an ice maker. Even in a small space, convenience is key.”
Kitchenettes is usually a little restricted in measurement, however they nonetheless supply improbable performance for small areas and might enhance your private home’s worth. Should you prefer to prepare dinner massive, complicated meals with many substances, a full-sized kitchen is likely to be a greater possibility. However in the event you simply want the fundamentals, are staying someplace short-term, otherwise you’re after extra comfort in an additional dwelling house, a kitchenette and a bit of creativity might be the right match.
FAQs about kitchenettes
1. Are you able to prepare dinner in a kitchenette?
Sure. When you received’t have a full range or oven, you may nonetheless prepare dinner utilizing a microwave, scorching plate, sluggish cooker, or air fryer.
2. What’s the distinction between a kitchenette and a kitchen?
A kitchen is a full-sized cooking house geared up with important home equipment like an oven, stovetop, full-sized fridge, and ample counter house, designed for making ready all kinds of meals. A kitchenette is a compact model with restricted home equipment, typically together with only a small fridge, microwave, and sink, making it ideally suited for small areas or easy meal prep.
3. Do kitchenettes have dishwashers?
Most kitchenettes don’t include dishwashers attributable to house limitations, however compact or countertop dishwashers might be added.
4. Is a kitchenette cheaper to put in than a full kitchen?
Sure! A kitchenette is considerably extra reasonably priced because it requires fewer home equipment, much less cabinetry, and minimal house. “But the cost largely depends on your room size, features, and chosen appliances,” Sherbone says.
5. Can I add a kitchenette to my dwelling?
Completely! Many householders set up kitchenettes in basements, guesthouses, or dwelling places of work so as to add comfort and worth to their property.
