Some of the kitchens in Atlanta rental homes can be on the small side or may not have enough storage for all the essentials. This can make doing daily tasks more difficult. What’s good is that there are a lot of ways to maximize your kitchen space and have a functional space that is also aesthetic. In this article, we list down some ideas you can use to add storage and utility to your rental home’s kitchen.
While some of the mentioned upgrades are easy do-it-yourself projects you can remove when you leave your rental home, others may require the permission of your landlord before you can begin. Be sure to check the terms of your lease carefully and follow the process for requesting permanent changes.
Declutter and Organize
The best strategy to create a clean and functional kitchen is to first declutter and organize it. If you have more dishes, utensils, small appliances, or kitchenware than you have cabinet space, simply getting rid of things you don’t use regularly can help everything fit better. You can also invest in organizing trays and racks that fit into a drawer or cabinet to corral things like silverware, pot and pan lids, and spice jars. Once everything has its place, you are on your way to a more functional kitchen.
Use Vertical Spaces
Another way to maximize your kitchen is to create more storage. Adding hooks and pegs to unused areas like walls, sides of cabinets, or even the ceiling is a great way to make up for limited cabinet space. If you hang your pots on a rack or your coffee mugs on hooks, you can have an entire cabinet or two available for other things. Just be sure to install your hanging storage using damage-free mounting tape or get permission from your Atlanta property manager to drill holes in the walls or ceiling.
Add Rolling Storage
Tenants have also added storage space to a small kitchen by bringing in a rolling island or storage cabinet. Have you noticed that small kitchens often have gaps or corners that are not fully utilized? With these standalone storages, you can add more counter space or storage for your things. Rolling islands are especially great because they not only add storage and counter space, you also get more places to sit if you add a couple of stools. To maximize tight spaces, like that between a fridge and a wall, you can get narrow storage racks to store your kitchen essentials or pantry items.
Add Shelves
For kitchens that have a lot of wall space but not so many cabinets, installing shelves is an inexpensive way to add more storage. Open shelves add function and beauty to a kitchen and give you a place to display glassware or store small appliances away after use. Since adding shelves is a much bigger project, you may need to ask for your landlord’s approval, so be sure to ask first. Also, many leases state that anything permanent you have installed, like shelves, has to be removed and any damage left must be repaired or perhaps they can be left where they are.
Your lease, like many leases, may require you to get a licensed professional to do the work so be sure you follow your landlord’s guidelines. Otherwise, the cost of removal or repairs may be deducted from your security deposit upon move-out.
While these are all great ideas to maximize space in a kitchen, you might also want to look into a rental with bigger rooms if you still feel cramped. If you’re ready for a move, give Real Property Management Greenway a call. We have a wide range of rental home listings, possibly even one with your dream kitchen in it! View our listings online or reach us at 770-364-9668.
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