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Struggling to work out where to store large kitchen appliances? Where is the best place to put the fridge, the freezer, the washing machine and the oven? You’re not alone. As it happens, there are a few things you can try to make your kitchen space that little more practical from day to day.
When it comes to figuring out the layout of our kitchens, only so much of it is actually in our control. Certain appliances will have to be placed based on the actual configuration of the house – and that can also dictate where you store the rest! We’ve all been there.
However, no matter how small your kitchen is, you can make it work. Just because certain appliances have to be stored somewhere doesn’t mean that you can’t decide how your kitchen is laid out from there.
Here, we’ll help guide you through the process of storing your large kitchen appliances, then how you can tailor your kitchen to perfection by laying out the smaller appliances along the way.
Where to Keep Kitchen Appliances
As mentioned, the placement of your bigger kitchen appliances will most likely be out of your control. That is, unless you have a seriously large kitchen!
Take your cooker, for example. If you already have a gas or electric power source in your home, then your cooker will have to be placed where the central line leads in. You can have it moved in some cases, but it could cost you a lot of money and cause a fair bit of hassle.
That being said, if you switch from gas to electric, or are simply redoing your kitchen entirely down to the bones, then you may have more of a say about where the appliances can go.
If that is the case for you, then you need to remember a few things:
Give Yourself Space
Your appliances need space all around them. When you are placing your larger appliances, remember that you will need room to open them and move around them.
For example, your dishwasher may fit perfectly between its placement and the kitchen table. However, if there is little room in front of it, then you will find yourself having to climb over and having to walk around the entire kitchen multiple times simply to put items away.
Having that extra space in front of your appliances will also allow for more general movement in your kitchen, which is essential if you live in a big household.
Focus on Natural Flow
Ever heard of natural flow? It’s quite a simple concept. When you are preparing your food, for example, it is best to have your fridge and your oven in pretty close proximity to your workstation.
You do not have to have to walk across the room every time you need a new ingredient, nor do you want to have to carry an entire platter full of ingredients over to your oven.
Having both appliances in close proximity to your workstation will save you a lot of time and energy in the long run. Let’s face it – cooking can be difficult at the best of times. So, finding simple layouts like these to make the process easier is always a good idea.
How to Organise Small Kitchen Appliances
The layout of your smaller kitchen appliances tends to only depend on the placement of your power sockets. Hopefully, you will have quite a few sockets in your kitchen, and in different areas of the room. From there, it is entirely up to you when it comes to what goes where!
However, it is wise to use the same natural flow concept for your smaller appliances. For example, keeping your blender or food processor on the workstation, near the fridge and cooker, is a great idea. Both appliances can easily be accessed that way and become necessary parts of your food preparation.
On the other hand, your kettle and coffee maker should have their own separate part of the kitchen, near your tea bags, coffee beans, etc. That way, when you are ready for a cup of tea in the morning, everything is close together, making it easier on you as you slowly wake up.
But what About those Appliances That You Rarely Use?
Appliances that are only used sparingly (such as an ice cream maker, popcorn machines, etc) tend to clutter up the kitchen after a while. That is why it is best to keep them in their own separate cupboards or spaces out of sight.
If you have the room in a pantry or walk-in cupboard, then saving an easy-to-access shelf makes a lot of sense.
Or, if you are redoing your kitchen entirely, then creating specialised cupboards for those appliances will make them easy to store and reach, and can keep things nice and cleanly hidden away.
Is There a ‘Proper’ Way to Store Appliances?
Not really – it’s all about making sure your appliances are easy to reach, but at the same time, aren’t necessarily upsetting the flow or design of your kitchen space.
Yes, kitchens are meant to be highly functional spaces – however, given most of us tend to spend a lot of time in our kitchens, it makes sense to be careful with how we plan and lay them out.
What’s more, the way you lay your own kitchen out will likely vary to the next person. Don’t always be so willing to follow the crowd. Consider your own daily needs and personal tastes.
