If we were told that we’d have a single-wall kitchen, we’d likely all make a face. Wouldn’t we? Do you know a family that would consider a one-wall kitchen sufficient for its daily cooking and prepping needs? Even bachelors or two-member families consider single-wall kitchens too small to be good. Right?
But, boy, don’t we have good news for you who are stuck with a one-wall kitchen and don’t know what to do to maximize its usefulness and charm!
Let’s get our facts straight: not all single-wall kitchens are the same
Let us start by saying that one-wall kitchens do not necessarily imply small kitchens or no sufficient space, if you will. Some one-wall kitchens are truly long or have space for an island – hence, additional work and storage space. Then again, some families or bachelors hardly use their kitchen and so it’s all about making it beautiful. For example, imagine a long counter with the necessary appliances and sink and one or two open shelves above it with the needed dishes and glassware, and plants. Splendid!
The good thing about today is that there are kitchen remodeling ideas to meet all needs and satisfy all tastes. And although there are often space limitations – because let’s face it, most single-wall kitchens are found in small homes, there are still tricks to make them work for you. It’s all about finding the perfect one-wall kitchen design for your space and needs.
What can you do to maximize a small one-wall kitchen?
Before you even speak to a kitchen remodeler, put your needs on the table. Nobody knows your kitchen-related needs better than you. What you need to think of is how big of a kitchen sink you want, if you need more cabinets or drawers, how big the drawers should be, et cetera. For instance, if you have enough over-the-counter cabinets, you may install big cabinet drawers under the counter.
Is there room for a kitchen island?
One-wall kitchens are often combined with an island. A kitchen island creates more storage and work space, as we said already. It also creates a more convenient workflow between the sink, fridge, and range – the triangle. Also, islands are very elegant and may have seating stools too. If there’s space for an island, go ahead and include an island in the kitchen design – even a small one. Depending on how big the island is – hence, how much counter space you have, you could use the wall only for cabinets – floor-to-ceiling cabinetry.
If there’s no space for a kitchen island, put your dining table where the island would go. This way, you declutter the open plan space and use the dining table not only as a table but also as a workspace.
Take advantage of the wall’s height for extra cabinetry
Most kitchen cabinets do not reach the ceiling. This is old fashion and doesn’t help you take advantage of the one wall you have on your hands for the kitchen. It’s best if you dress as much of the wall as possible with cabinets – or a combination of cabinets and open shelves. Many modern homes today have either tall up-to-the-ceiling cabinets or two-layer cabinets, keeping the upper layer for the things the family hardly uses and the lower layer for everyday things.
Prefer monolithic cabinets, monochromatic color schemes
One-wall kitchens are often found in small apartments or open-plan homes. This means their functional design should be combined with some elegance. To make it look imposing without making the room busy, prefer monolithic cabinets with no hardware – a minimalistic look. Also, prefer a monochromatic color scheme – playing with relative colors. Avoid vivid colors and contrasts that will be tiring after a while. Wooden surfaces go well with blacks, whites, and greens. All-white and all-black or all-gray color schemes are also welcoming.
On top of using colors matching the home style and kitchen design, use beautiful boxes and baskets of the same style to hide small items and thus, keep the kitchen consistent and free of clutter.
It’s not all bad with one-wall kitchens
One-wall kitchens have several advantages. They are cheaper to build. They are cheaper when you plan a kitchen remodel too. That’s because you have one wall to worry about. They also allow you to have everything you need within easy reach. And although we all love having many things in the kitchen, the limited space forces us to keep only the useful ones – depending on how big this wall – hence, the storage room, is.
The other good thing today is that there are lots and lots of decorative ideas, materials, and designs that allow you to be creative even with one wall. And then, who said that you cannot be creative with the empty space right in front of this wall? And so, the only thing left to handle to make your one-wall kitchen work for you is to consider its negatives, like the limited space, and fix it. We hope you’ve got some ideas from us.
