Discover why modern cooking is embracing vertical kitchen design. Learn how to transform your small space with big kitchen ideas that blend style and function.
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I’ll never forget the first time I cooked for friends in my small apartment kitchen. It was a chaotic mess, with pots and pans scattered across my countertops and ingredients balanced in the most impossible ways. That’s when I realized I needed a better solution, and that’s how my journey with vertical kitchen design began.
Incorporating a vertical kitchen design helped me make the most of every inch of my cooking space—something I shamelessly brought home from my time developing recipes in a commercial kitchen. By stacking up rather than trying to spread out, I turned my tiny kitchen into a functional and stylish cooking showcase, where every tool has its place, and every inch of space is put to good use. This setup maximized my limited square footage and gave me the flexibility to move smoothly from one task to the next, just like in a professional kitchen.
If you’ve ever wanted to create meals in a cozy cook space of your own, keep reading. With a few thoughtful adjustments, you can elevate your cooking experience too. Whether you’re working with a galley kitchen, a studio setup, or just a corner of your living space, there’s a vertical design that can transform your cooking experience.
Why Vertical Kitchen Design?
When you’re working with limited square footage, every inch counts. That’s why a vertical kitchen design can be a huge efficiency upgrade for anyone cooking in a small space. Going vertical gives you a more organized, and aesthetically pleasing environment that turns your cooking experience into a choreographed dance rather than a cramped space performance act that only a Cirque du So contortionist could appreciate.
Every element in a vertical kitchen serves a dual purpose and you’ll thank yourself in short order when you experience the peace of mind of having essential tools within arm’s reach. And at the same time, you’ll have made your kitchen equipment part of your home decor. Who doesn’t appreciate a form and function boost in the kitchen?
One of the biggest advantages of this setup is having everything you need within arm’s reach, leaving your precious countertop space ready for some proper mise en place action. With my vertical kitchen arrangement, I can effortlessly move from one task to the next—just like in a professional kitchen where efficiency is key.
And let’s not forget the style factor since everything is on display in a small space. It’s all about balancing form and function when designing your vertical kitchen. My portable cook space continuously evolves over time, and I love the inspiring comments I receive about how the aesthetic showcases my personality. I think I’m just making little changes here and there, but the reality is that I’m curating a personalized area that reflects my lifestyle.
Setting Up Your Vertical Kitchen
The main idea in setting up a vertical kitchen is all about making thoughtful choices that maximize your space in a way that enhances your cozy kitchen aesthetic. Here are a few practical tips to get you started:
1. Start With the Shelving
The foundation for a great vertical kitchen is a versatile, freestanding wire shelving unit. I love being able to organize my heavy-duty cookware alongside my favorite kitchen gadgets and have it all just work. Bonus if your unit is on wheels because the freedom to move the unit around when you want to rearrange your space or clean up after a big meal is something you’ll wonder how you lived without. Oh, and the flexibility doesn’t sop there. The adjustable shelves on freestanding shelving units allow you to keep some areas open for larger items.
2. Organize by Use
When setting up your vertical kitchen, think about how you cook. I keep my most-used items—like my trusty carbon steel pans,—at eye level and within easy reach because I use these almost every day. The things I use less frequently go on higher or lower shelves. Keeping your space well-organized and clutter-free is key to creating an efficient cooking environment; more on my mise en place obsession in a moment!
3. Utilize Hooks and Hangers
Thoughtfully placed quality S-hooks hung on your vertical shelving units are a simple yet effective way to keep your pots, pans, and utensils organized and within quick reach. I love hanging my favorite tools around the outside perimeter of my shelving unit. It’s a small touch that makes it easy to spot what I need at a glance. Once your space is set up, I’m sure you’ll find yourself playing around with all sorts of vertical space optimizing tricks too.
4. Make Room for Appliances
Before setting up my vertical cook space, I’d often wish I had just one more spot to cook up an extra dish. My apartment’s 4-burner range would only get me so far when trying to time multiple courses for dinner guests, so I went on a mission to find a solution.
If you’re like me and love cooking with precision, do yourself a favor and reserve a shelf spot for a chef-worthy portable induction cooktop. You have a lot of options given the rise in popularity of these energy efficient powerhouses, so choose one that will grow with you and fits seamlessly into your shelf space (and your budget!). You’ll want to position your induction cooktop at countertop height so that it feels just like you’re cooking at your regular range. This setup will change your life!
5. Add Personal Touches
A chunky wood cutting board is a classic necessity that serves as a practical prep surface and also brings a warm, inviting vibe to your kitchen. I keep mine front and center, ready for action—it’s a small detail that really enhances the overall look and feel of the space.
Making The Most Of Your Vertical Kitchen
Ok! Now we’re really cooking! [Sorry, I had to!] But don’t worry—I’ll make it up to you with some quick, bitesize tips. [Again…]
1. Embrace Mise en Place: If you still need convincing to see your shelving unit as an extension of your prep area, then your prep game is already at epic proportions. Congrats!
2. Streamline Your Workflow: Keep your kitchen moves smooth and efficient. Arrange your tools and ingredients so you can transition from prep to cook like a pro. Less chaos, more joy!
3. Make Use of Multi-Function Tools: Why have three gadgets if one gets all the jobs done? Invest in versatile tools and appliances that can handle multiple tasks to save space and time like the best indoor pizza oven that you can use outside too. Plus, multi-function means less stuff to clean up later.
4. Clean As You Go: Wait, did I say ‘clean up later’?
5. Don’t Be Afraid to Get Creative: Your vertical kitchen is your personal culinary playground. Experiment with new tools and techniques to make the experience your own. Oh, and be sure to give everyone around you a daily surprise by rolling your portable cooking tower to a new spot each day. They’ll love you for it!
