Setting Up a Small Kitchen: Mini Kitchen Appliances for Microliving
How to set up a small kitchen - in the Mykitchens Magazine, we've gathered the best mini kitchen appliances for microliving, tiny houses, and single households.
Reading time: approx. 2 minutes
Microliving is a trend where people live in small spaces. Small homes (Mini Houses - Tiny Houses) are becoming more popular. The minimalist style, where you focus on the essentials and eliminate unnecessary items, also falls into this category. No matter what it's called, when you have limited living space, the lifestyle requires some practical and multifunctional solutions. Our example: the minimalist kitchen. If you need to set up and organize a small kitchen, you need to rely on flexible and multifunctional appliances. We've gathered here at Mykitchens Magazine which kitchen appliances are suitable for narrow kitchens, tiny kitchens, and single households (and therefore perfectly fit the microliving trend).
Basic Kitchen Equipment: For Both Large and Small Kitchens
Before we introduce the best models in terms of small kitchen appliances, we asked ourselves: Which kitchen appliances actually belong in a well-organized kitchen? Which purchases are sensible, and which are unnecessary? We list the basics for kitchen equipment and, at the same time, reveal how to set up a small kitchen.
- Oven / Stove
- Cooktop
- Microwave
- Range Hood
- Fridge / Freezer
- Dishwasher
- Washing Machine / Dryer
- Small Appliances, such as Toaster, Kettle & Coffee Machine
The Cooking Area
Oven, stove, cooktop - the three basics for the kitchen ensure well-cooked food and are indispensable appliances. We also recommend a microwave for quick thawing and reheating.
A Range Hood
For fresh air while cooking, it's important to install a good range hood in the kitchen. It filters odors and removes cooking fumes. Particularly space-saving is an integrated range hood in the cooktop, also known as a cooktop extractor or downdraft.
Storage and Fridges
To keep food fresh longer, it should be stored in a cool place and sometimes frozen. Space-saving cooling appliances are fridge-freezer combinations, which combine a fridge with a freezer compartment.
Sink / Dishwasher
Washing dishes can be done by hand, but a dishwasher is quite practical. It doesn't even have to take up much space in the kitchen, as there are also small single dishwashers for light loads that are also water-efficient.
Appliances for Laundry Care
In some kitchens, appliances for laundry care must unfortunately be included, especially if there is no other place, such as a bathroom or utility room, available for them.
Kitchen Helpers / Small Appliances
In addition to major appliances, you also need some small appliances in the kitchen. These include small, practical kitchen helpers like toasters and kettles. Coffee machines and blenders are also considered essential in the kitchen.
Mini Kitchen Appliances for Microliving
Now that we know which kitchen appliances are useful and necessary, we have gathered specific examples for the microliving kitchen.
- Small Dishwashers
- Mini Ovens
- Narrow Cooktops
- Mini Fridges
- Small Kitchen Helpers
Small Dishwashers
Single-person households usually do not need large dishwashers, as there is not much dishware to wash. Often, a simple sink is enough for washing dishes. However, if you don't want to miss the convenience of a dishwasher, small dishwashers are a great option. Appliances with a width of 45 cm are the perfect dishwashers for small kitchens, single kitchens, and offices. The greatest advantage of a small dishwasher is (besides space-saving installation): lower energy and water consumption. Less dishware means less effort required.
Narrow Dishwashers with a Width of 45 cm
The first choice for small kitchens are 45 cm dishwashers. They have the same height (82.5 cm) as standard dishwashers but only 45 cm in width and a smaller loading capacity. Narrow 45 cm dishwashers typically hold up to 10 place settings.
Modular Dishwashers with a Height of 45 cm
As an alternative to the 45 cm dishwasher, some manufacturers offer so-called modular dishwashers. These are as wide as standard models (60 cm) but not as tall — only 45 cm or 60 cm. This makes them more flexible and space-saving to install.
Countertop Dishwashers
A prime example of a mini dishwasher is a countertop dishwasher, which can be placed directly on the countertop. Due to its compact size, it is extremely flexible, but it is very, very small and only suitable for one, at most two people.
Kleine 45 cm Geschirrspüler im Shop
Mini Oven
An oven is an essential kitchen appliance, whether in a large family kitchen or a small single-person kitchen. However, to save space during installation, there are oven models with smaller dimensions. Such a mini oven can either be built into the kitchen front like a regular oven or placed on the countertop like a microwave. Combo ovens are also a great choice when there is limited space in the kitchen. A combo oven combines the functions of multiple appliances. For example, it could be an oven with a microwave function or an oven with a steam cooking function.
Compact Oven
Compact ovens are mini ovens and baking units in a smaller format. They are often only 45 cm high but offer a variety of programs.
Combination Oven
A combination oven combines traditional oven functions with additional features, such as a microwave in the oven and steam assistance.
Microwave
For those who cook and bake little, they may skip the oven entirely and opt for a small microwave instead.
Microwaves in the Shop
Narrow Cooktop
Continuing in the area of cooking for single kitchens, we move to the next kitchen appliance: the cooktop. Narrow cooktops are smaller than standard 60 cm wide cooktops and have fewer cooking zones. Efficient installations are also practical when it comes to cooktops, especially when two devices are combined in one. For example, opt for cooktops with built-in extractor hoods, saving the need for a separate range hood.
Small Cooktop
Narrow cooktops range from 20 to 50 cm in width. They are available as mini induction cooktops or gas cooktops and often have only one or two cooking zones. Particularly practical is that narrow cooktops are usually domino cooktops. This means they can be combined in larger kitchens to create different, expansive cooking surfaces.
Practical Cooktop Extractors
Practical cooktop extractors combine a cooktop and extractor hood in one. The downside of these cooktop extractors is that they are typically only available with a wide induction cooktop. To address this common "installation problem," BORA is the first manufacturer to offer a narrow solution – with the narrow Cooktop Extractor S Pure, which is 60 cm wide.
Table Vent
As an alternative to the cooktop extractor, there is also the cooktop ventilation solution in the form of a table vent, like the elegant, retractable table vent from Siemens. The extractor is built behind the cooktop and rises out of its niche in the countertop during cooking. Once the cooking is finished, the table vent disappears back into the cabinet, becoming invisible.
Schmale Kochfelder mit 2 Kochzonen
Mini Fridge
Actually, it's the largest appliance in the kitchen: The fridge. Still, you can get models in XS versions. We present three great examples of mini fridges for the mini kitchen.
Minibar
When thinking of a small fridge, the idea of a minibar is not far behind. The Smeg Fab5 is the mini version of the popular FAB Retro Fridge and, with 40 cm and 34 liters of volume, is the ideal kitchen appliance for the mini kitchen.
Fridge-Freezer Combination
If you don't want to miss the convenience of a freezer, a fridge-freezer combination is a great option for a small kitchen. This combines two appliances (a fridge and a freezer) into one. Alternatively, there are fridges available that have a small freezer compartment either on the top or bottom.
Under-Counter Fridge
If there isn’t enough space for a freestanding or large built-in fridge in the kitchen, you can opt for a small under-counter fridge. It has compact dimensions, sometimes even includes a freezer compartment, and is space-efficiently installed directly under the kitchen countertop.
Small and Practical Kitchen Helpers
In the kitchen, you don't only need large appliances for cooking, baking, and cooling. Practical small kitchen helpers, such as coffee machines, kettles, and immersion blenders, are also essential in a well-equipped kitchen. Here are the most important small appliances with some examples for the small kitchen in a microliving style.
Small Coffee Machine
Narrow coffee machines are available from SMEG, for example: a small espresso machine with only 18 cm width (models with BCC01 and BCC02), as well as an espresso machine with a portafilter (models with ECF01) – 15 cm wide. With these two standalone coffee machines, coffee enjoyment can also take place in small and narrow kitchens.
Mini Kettle
Water- and energy-saving is also the next practical, small kitchen helper from SMEG: The Mini Kettle KLF05 from the 50's Style series. With a 0.8-liter capacity, 15 cm diameter, and 20.5 cm height, this small kettle from SMEG offers the ideal boiling function for a single household. Water for up to 3 cups can be heated in it at 1,400 watts. Stylish in appearance, it is also available in various colors: Black, White, Cream, Blue, Cadillac Pink, and Red.
Immersion Blender
Small and practical, an immersion blender is also a great tool in the kitchen. It is also called a hand blender or magic wand because it can quickly and easily chop and puree food. It is suitable for soups, smoothies, or sauces, for example. Due to its compact size, the immersion blender can be easily stored in a utensil drawer or kitchen cabinet when not in use.
