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).
How would you like to set up your small kitchen?
We would be happy to provide personal advice and work with you to discover the possibilities your small kitchen offers and how best to equip it with compact appliances.
Planning a Small Kitchen: Layout, Colors, and Materials
When planning a small kitchen, it is important to choose kitchen furniture, colors, and materials that are well-suited to a compact space. When every centimeter counts, not every kitchen layout is an option. For instance, long galley-style runs fit perfectly into narrow kitchens, while a small U-shaped layout works well in square kitchens.
Light colors and materials are ideal for the design, as they avoid creating an oppressive feel. However, you do not necessarily have to forgo dark colors; they can be used effectively to create contrast.
Extra tip: Ensure you have good kitchen lighting, which can quickly make a small kitchen appear larger than it actually is.
- Suitable layouts: e.g., single-wall (galley) kitchen, L-shaped kitchen, U-shaped kitchen, ...
- Matching colors: Light shades like cream or gray, pastel tones, dark accents for contrast, ...
- Preferred materials: Wood for warmth and a natural look, light stone-effect finishes, glossy lacquer to reflect light, ...
Which kitchen appliances are suitable for small kitchens?
Every bit of available space is valuable, so kitchen appliances in a small kitchen shouldn't take up too much room. Skip large appliances like a side-by-side refrigerator and opt for compact solutions instead. There are several ways to save space without sacrificing convenience or quality—such as choosing a compact appliance with smaller dimensions or a combination unit that integrates two appliances into one.
- 45 cm dishwasher: Saves 15 cm in width compared to a standard 60 cm dishwasher.
- Compact oven: Has a lower installation height than a 60 cm oven.
- Oven with microwave: Combines two appliances in one.
- Cooktop with integrated extractor: Eliminates the need for a range hood above the cooktop; the 60 cm model with integrated extraction is particularly notable.
- Undercounter refrigerator: Utilizes the space beneath the worktop.
- Fridge-freezer combination: Combines a refrigerator and freezer to save space.
Compact Dishwashers
A narrow, compact dishwasher is the ideal choice for single-person households that don't generate large amounts of dirty dishes. Options include 45 cm wide dishwashers (instead of the standard 60 cm), modular units that are only 45 cm high, and small countertop dishwashers (ideal if there is no room for a built-in model).
However, when buying a dishwasher, don't just look at the dimensions; consider the capacity in place settings (i.e., how much dishware actually fits inside?), as well as water and energy consumption.
- 45 cm dishwasher: Saves 15 cm in width compared to a standard 60 cm dishwasher.
- Modular dishwasher: Has a compact height of 45 cm.
- Countertop dishwasher: Can be placed on the worktop to save space.
Small 45 cm dishwashers in the shop
Compact Ovens
An oven is an essential kitchen appliance—whether in a large family kitchen or a small kitchen for one. However, compact oven models are available to save space during installation. A mini oven like this can either be built into the kitchen cabinetry just like a standard oven or placed on the countertop, much like a microwave. Combination ovens are also a great choice if kitchen space is limited. A combination oven integrates a wide range of functions from several different appliances; for example, it might be an oven with a microwave function or an oven with a steam cooking function.
- Compact oven: Often features an installation height of just 45 cm instead of the standard 60 cm.
- Combi-oven: Combines the oven with additional functions such as a microwave and/or steam function.
- Countertop oven: A small oven unit designed to be placed on the worktop.
- Microwave: Can sometimes replace the oven if you do not bake very often.
Small ovens in the shop
![[Zweite Wahl] Miele H 7840 BP Einbau-Backofen Obsidianschwarz](https://www.mykitchens.de/media/f0/3f/c2/1728649596/miele-h7840bp-einbauherd-backofen-obsidianschwarz-produktbild.webp?ts=1728649596 "[Zweite Wahl] Miele H 7840 BP Einbau-Backofen Obsidianschwarz")
Compact Cooktops
You can also save space when it comes to cooking—for instance, by choosing narrow cooktops instead of standard 60 cm models. Measuring just around 30 cm in width (or even less, depending on the model), they are significantly more compact and easier to integrate into a short countertop. Another option is to forgo a traditional range hood and opt for an integrated extractor system instead. Cooktops with integrated extraction are often available in widths starting at 80 cm; however, some models—such as the BORA cooktop extractor (S Pure)—are ideally suited for small kitchens.
- Narrow cooktops: Compact widths (approx. 20–50 cm) and fewer cooking zones – ideal for short countertops.
- Cooktops with integrated extraction: A 2-in-1 appliance that eliminates the need for a separate range hood.
- Tabletop extractors: An alternative to integrated cooktop extraction, where the extractor unit is positioned behind the cooktop and operates independently of it.
Narrow cooktops with 2 cooking zones
Small Refrigerators
The refrigerator is the largest kitchen appliance and inevitably takes up a fair amount of space. However, there are ways to integrate a refrigerator into a small kitchen without sacrificing too much room. Options include under-counter models or mini-fridges designed for cooling smaller quantities. A 2-in-1 appliance, such as a fridge-freezer combination, is another viable choice.
- Mini-fridge: An especially small refrigerator or minibar, e.g., 50 cm in size.
- Under-counter fridge: A compact cooling appliance integrated beneath the worktop.
- Fridge-freezer combination: Combines a refrigerator and freezer in a single unit, saving space and energy.
Small fridges in the shop
Small Kitchen Helpers
Cooking, baking, and chilling require more than just large appliances; practical small kitchen helpers—such as coffee machines, electric kettles, and immersion blenders—are also essential parts of a basic setup. Be sure to choose items that can be stored in a space-saving way (for example, in a kitchen drawer) and opt for compact appliances, such as an immersion blender instead of a full-sized countertop blender.
- Compact coffee machines: There are narrow coffee machines available, such as Smeg’s small fully automatic model that measures less than 20 cm in width.
- Mini kettles: You don’t need a standard-sized kettle for just a few cups; a mini version—like Smeg’s KLF05, which holds enough water for about three cups—is perfectly adequate.
- Immersion blenders: Instead of a large countertop blender that takes up unnecessary space, a small immersion blender often suffices and can simply be tucked away in a kitchen drawer.
Small kitchen helpers in the shop
![[Zweite Wahl] Smeg SMIC02 Eisbereiteraufsatz Weiß](https://www.mykitchens.de/media/19/77/9e/1728636569/smeg-smic02-zubehoer-weiss-produktbild.webp?ts=1728636569 "[Zweite Wahl] Smeg SMIC02 Eisbereiteraufsatz Weiß")
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