How can I make the most of my small kitchen?

[DontDIY]

I’m hoping to get my kitchen replaced this year, nothing fancy, just so the flat easier to sell in the coming years.

It’s really quite small, and some of the space isn’t even used just now.

I have attached a drawing to give an idea of current layout and was wondering what advice people could give me on how to redesign it to maximise space?

There are no windows, the boiler is in the space up above the washing machine at present, and looking at it, I’m not even sure I can fit a dishwasher in it. Would a lot of wall cupboards make it seem even smaller? I’ve had the radiator turned off for months and I’m thinking I could perhaps do without one all together?

Any suggestions?

Whereabouts is the radiator on that diagram? Would it be possible to move the fridge to the space to the left of the door as we are looking at it on the diagram?

Donny I’ve not drawn it in, but it’s on the blank short wall beside the door. Just a small rad.

Do you mean the area to the left of the door which I’ve scribbled out? That isn’t any space, it’s where the hall cupboard backs in to the kitchen.

Ahh ok, yes I’ve got you now, so to the left of the door is a short wall? If you removed the radiator is the space to the right of the door big enough for the fridge? It would mean you had a longer wall where the fridge is currently for a breakfast bar/small table.

Or if you wanted to do a complete do-over you could move the units and cooker from the left wall to the right wall and keep the fridge on that side too leaving you the whole other wall for table? You would need to shift the washing machine to the other side of the sink but it shouldn’t be too hard to plumb that side and you may find you have room for a slimline dishwasher beside it.

Move the units to the right then, starting with the fridge. Have a few shelves and a fold down table or small breakfast area on the hall cupboard wall. Put in UFH or plinth heaters instead of the radiator. Get a single dishwasher drawer.

Like this

Thanks for these!

I’m liking the idea of shelves on the hall wall ( and maybe round onto wall 4) and a little table underneath.

Might even be able to squeeze an integrated fridge/freezer onto wall 4, and that would mean I could put more wall cupboards to the right of the cooker. Or put in pan drawers under a hob, and build the oven and a bit of cupboard space into the fridge area on that drawing.

And know I have figured out what those little grates are that I’ve seen in some kitchens - plinth heaters, yes?

Next question:

Will I be able to get a kitchen cabinet that will hide away the ugly boiler??