Comments on: Creating Counter Space in Your Kitchen http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/creating-counter-space.html Renters guide to solving problems, saving money, and living better. Wed, 4 Nov 2009 07:24:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: ZuZu http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/creating-counter-space.html#comment-10513 ZuZu Sun, 19 Jul 2009 18:01:05 +0000 http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/creating-counter-space.html#comment-10513 Another idea is they have those hooks made by 3m that you can use, I put them on my refridgerator and hang things from them, such as large spoons and my collander even. I also have a hanging basket and since I couldn't find any possible place to put it in my kitchen I put it in my dining room in the corner above a small table with a decorative chain (because the ceiling is high) and put my fruit in them its quite lovely (just don't keep it in direct sunlight because your fruit will go bad quickly) Also I have a double sink and when I hand wash dishes I grab the dishdrainer (without the bottom) and put it inside one of my sinks , wash them drain them, dry them then put them away. The fact is if you have a small kitchen your rent is probably cheaper than rent in an apartment with a huge kitchen, and sometimes when you save money you have to be willing to make sacrafices, such as the time and energy it takes to keep the kitchen clean and organized.. just keep everything put away and you will feel your kitchen is huge. Another idea is they have those hooks made by 3m that you can use, I put them on my refridgerator and hang things from them, such as large spoons and my collander even. I also have a hanging basket and since I couldn’t find any possible place to put it in my kitchen I put it in my dining room in the corner above a small table with a decorative chain (because the ceiling is high) and put my fruit in them its quite lovely (just don’t keep it in direct sunlight because your fruit will go bad quickly)

Also I have a double sink and when I hand wash dishes I grab the dishdrainer (without the bottom) and put it inside one of my sinks , wash them drain them, dry them then put them away.

The fact is if you have a small kitchen your rent is probably cheaper than rent in an apartment with a huge kitchen, and sometimes when you save money you have to be willing to make sacrafices, such as the time and energy it takes to keep the kitchen clean and organized.. just keep everything put away and you will feel your kitchen is huge.

]]> By: Laura http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/creating-counter-space.html#comment-10190 Laura Sat, 30 May 2009 18:32:44 +0000 http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/creating-counter-space.html#comment-10190 These are great ideas! Talk about small kitchens - I spent last summer in a small (27') camping trailer. It made the 18" of free counter space I had between the sink and stove in the apartment I was in last fall and winter look huge! (well, okay, nothing could make that look HUGE) I appreciate apartments with large kitchens. I lived in two apartments (same complex) in Hutchinson, KS, where the kitchens were about the same size as a bedroom, and had THREE walls with counters and cabinets! Those were nice kitchens. They spoiled me. They were temporary assignments, of course. These are great ideas! Talk about small kitchens - I spent last summer in a small (27′) camping trailer. It made the 18″ of free counter space I had between the sink and stove in the apartment I was in last fall and winter look huge! (well, okay, nothing could make that look HUGE)

I appreciate apartments with large kitchens. I lived in two apartments (same complex) in Hutchinson, KS, where the kitchens were about the same size as a bedroom, and had THREE walls with counters and cabinets! Those were nice kitchens. They spoiled me. They were temporary assignments, of course.

]]> By: Katie http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/creating-counter-space.html#comment-9664 Katie Sun, 08 Feb 2009 16:12:46 +0000 http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/creating-counter-space.html#comment-9664 These are all great ideas! I live in an apartment with a small galley kitchen; we have about 8 feet of counter space, of which the sink and dish rack take up half. We do a lot of what people have already said - we store things above the fridge and in cabinets, and we keep up with the dishes and put things away when we're done with them. I've also found that the stove works for quick temporary counter space (if it's not on!). We often use our kitchen table for food prep too. The best thing, though, has been a set of sturdy plastic shelves - I think they're meant for a garage or basement, but I washed them well and we store our microwave, small appliances, and a lot of our food on them (we use small plastic bins/boxes to organize the food and use vertical space). The open shelves look a little ugly in the "dining room" (tiny space off the kitchen), but everything is right there and easy to find when we need it. These are all great ideas! I live in an apartment with a small galley kitchen; we have about 8 feet of counter space, of which the sink and dish rack take up half. We do a lot of what people have already said - we store things above the fridge and in cabinets, and we keep up with the dishes and put things away when we’re done with them. I’ve also found that the stove works for quick temporary counter space (if it’s not on!). We often use our kitchen table for food prep too. The best thing, though, has been a set of sturdy plastic shelves - I think they’re meant for a garage or basement, but I washed them well and we store our microwave, small appliances, and a lot of our food on them (we use small plastic bins/boxes to organize the food and use vertical space). The open shelves look a little ugly in the “dining room” (tiny space off the kitchen), but everything is right there and easy to find when we need it.

]]> By: Guest http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/creating-counter-space.html#comment-9275 Guest Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:28:15 +0000 http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/creating-counter-space.html#comment-9275 Buy a large bamboo cutting board and lay it across your sink when you need instant extra counter space. Buy a large bamboo cutting board and lay it across your sink when you need instant extra counter space.

]]> By: Guest http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/creating-counter-space.html#comment-9274 Guest Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:24:55 +0000 http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/creating-counter-space.html#comment-9274 Wal-Mart sells free standing pantrys for about 45.00! They usually come with 4 shelves and are capable of being placed anywhere. Wal-Mart sells free standing pantrys for about 45.00!
They usually come with 4 shelves and are capable of being placed anywhere.

]]> By: Guest http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/creating-counter-space.html#comment-9273 Guest Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:47:50 +0000 http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/creating-counter-space.html#comment-9273 A lot of leases say that you can use nails and wall mounts to a "reasonable" degree. I would use this to make shelving, to get things off your counters. Also, use the top of your refridgerator. I keep things like bread or, as in my new place, my microwave, so I freed up that much counter space. Also, take advantage of your drawers. While most apartment don't have a wide range of counter space, they usually over do the cabinets and drawers. Keep food items in here or tuck away smaller appliances. Also, keep the appliances you rarely used in the back, tucked away. Keep the gadgets you use often in front. This way, things will be more accessible, and you still have plenty of counter space to spare when you're done using. Last bit of advice? Clean. Don't leave dishes out, or your cutting boards or George Foreman. When you're done with it, clean it up and put it away. You would think this is a no brainer, but we never had any "space" in an old apartment because the couple we lived with never cleaned up after themselves. Once they moved out, I found that our kitchen was huge. A lot of leases say that you can use nails and wall mounts to a “reasonable” degree. I would use this to make shelving, to get things off your counters. Also, use the top of your refridgerator. I keep things like bread or, as in my new place, my microwave, so I freed up that much counter space.

Also, take advantage of your drawers. While most apartment don’t have a wide range of counter space, they usually over do the cabinets and drawers. Keep food items in here or tuck away smaller appliances.

Also, keep the appliances you rarely used in the back, tucked away. Keep the gadgets you use often in front. This way, things will be more accessible, and you still have plenty of counter space to spare when you’re done using.

Last bit of advice? Clean. Don’t leave dishes out, or your cutting boards or George Foreman. When you’re done with it, clean it up and put it away. You would think this is a no brainer, but we never had any “space” in an old apartment because the couple we lived with never cleaned up after themselves. Once they moved out, I found that our kitchen was huge.

]]> By: Guest http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/creating-counter-space.html#comment-9272 Guest Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:21:38 +0000 http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/creating-counter-space.html#comment-9272 I would love to get an island or kitchen cart but I don't know where it would go. All the ones I've seen would take up all the floor space in my tiny kitchen. I would love to get an island or kitchen cart but I don’t know where it would go. All the ones I’ve seen would take up all the floor space in my tiny kitchen.

]]> By: Guest http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/creating-counter-space.html#comment-9271 Guest Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:46:33 +0000 http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/creating-counter-space.html#comment-9271 If you are allowed to bolt things to the wall, Ikea makes several different styles of rails. Bolt them to the wall horizontally, then use hooks or hanging baskets to hold stuff. I like to hang all my mugs up, then use the baskets for "big" utensils like spatulas. They do make a dish drainer that can hang from a rail and get folded up (my dish drainer takes up a ton of counter space), but I'm a little skeptical that they're sturdy enough to hold a load of china plates. If you are allowed to bolt things to the wall, Ikea makes several different styles of rails. Bolt them to the wall horizontally, then use hooks or hanging baskets to hold stuff. I like to hang all my mugs up, then use the baskets for “big” utensils like spatulas. They do make a dish drainer that can hang from a rail and get folded up (my dish drainer takes up a ton of counter space), but I’m a little skeptical that they’re sturdy enough to hold a load of china plates.

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