One of the challenges when doing up our house was working with the limited space and transforming a small service yard within our kitchen into a functional and practical area. Whether it’s for laundry, storage, or other household tasks, here’s how we tried to make the most of it:
1. Streamlined The Design & Opted for Countertop above appliance
For this area, we kept the design simple and streamlined. We opted for uniform materials eg same countertop, cabinet design and material to make the space feel cohesive with the kitchen. We felt that this helped the service yard blend in and prevented it from feeling cramped or out of place. We also requested for countertop to be above our washing machine so that we could double up as a functional space to put essential items related to laundry.
2. Buy Space Saving items
Here on the countertop, we display one of the laundry essentials - hangers. We love how the clothes rack storage organiser helps to organise the unused hangers and keep this space tidy and more importantly, saves space. As the area is small, the last thing we want is mess cluttering all over.
3. Maximising Vertical Spaces
We took advantage of vertical space inside our cabinet by purchasing shelf of double layers to keep and organise our laundry essentials. This definitely helps to keep the cabinet space clear and organised.
4. Invest in Compact and Efficient Appliances
It was definitely a resounding yes for both Mister E and me when it comes to investing in a Steigen. Besides being energy-efficient drying with lower energy consumption than traditional dryers, the space-saving design is perfect for compact homes and limited laundry spaces.
Tip for saving some money for this: Join your estate's group buy to get discount for your purchase. We saved quite a fair bit for this!
5. Installation of Folding Doors
As our service yard is part of the kitchen, we installed bifold glass doors to separate the areas while saving space. This allows to keep the service yard hidden when in use, maintaining the kitchen’s aesthetic and preventing it from feeling overly cluttered.
Decorating our small service yard area with these two key reminders for us to take our laundry seriously hehe :P
Some concluding thoughts for this space:
A small service yard in the kitchen doesn’t have to feel cramped. With smart design choices, efficient storage solutions and multi-functional appliances, one can create a highly functional space that enhances your household tasks without taking up valuable room. By integrating it smoothly into the kitchen’s overall design, the service yard can become a seamless extension of the heart of your home.