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What to Do with Extra Kitchen Space

Photo by Mark McCammon from Pexels

Most people face the challenge of limited kitchen space. Others, however, have the opposite problem. For them, it’s a matter of what to do about all that extra room. 

Whether it’s an unused wall or an empty nook, extra kitchen space needs a purpose. Let’s take a look at some of the better options available:

Breakfast bar

Whether it’s just the kids or the whole family, a breakfast bar is a great place to chow down and drink coffee before the day begins, and an empty kitchen wall is an ideal spot to put one. Extra seating is always welcome, so aim to fit as many stools as comfortably possible. You can repurpose these seats in the event of a large gathering such as a party or holiday dinner.

Coffee bar

Another way to make better use of an empty kitchen wall is to install a coffee bar. There are many coffee bar ideas to choose from, ranging from rustic and simple to posh and elaborate. An added perk to adding a coffee bar is there’s usually room left over for something else. You might be able to put breakfast and coffee bars side by side – the former for the kids and the latter for the parents.

Play area

Little ones have an adorable habit of wanting to be wherever we are and do whatever we’re doing. That has the potential for danger when we’re busy in the kitchen, but not if there’s a designated play area for children to enjoy while mom or dad is busy preparing dinner. It’s the perfect place for a toddler’s kitchen playset. When children get older, parents can convert this space to a prep area where kids can help with the cooking.

Deep freezer

Recent events have us all thinking about the future. Putting a deep freezer in extra kitchen space enables families to store frozen foods for months and even years, providing peace of mind during uncertain times. A deep freezer will remain useful when things get back to normal by letting families stock up on essential items during super sales without worrying about waste and spoilage.

Pantry

While deep freezers have their benefits, they’re useless in the event of a power outage. Families concerned about disaster preparedness need to think about canned goods. This is where pantries enter the picture. Installing a pantry is an excellent use of extra kitchen space for the sake of storage and preparedness. A pantry means there’s more space in cupboards for non-food items like dishware, cookware, and utensils.

Laundry room

Is your current washer-dryer set up in the bowels of the basement or somewhere else out of the way? If so, consider converting the extra kitchen space into the laundry room. It doesn’t take any more space than a full-sized pantry and takes advantage of the nearby water hookups, complete with storage areas for household products including cleaners and cleaning equipment.

Extra space in the kitchen is what they call a “first-world problem.” With that said, you still want to make the most of that available space. A bar for breakfast and coffee? Storage space for food? A designated area for kids to play? The choice is yours. What matters is you pick the most beneficial option for your situation.

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