The majority of our houses today have large rooms at the expense of kitchen space. We all know how important it is to have endless storage in the kitchen and how hard it is to actually find space for this storage. I have worked on a few ways to make kitchens friendlier and more convenient places to work in than they actually are. But first a look at the list of items that should be enough in one's kitchen.

Bottle opener

Tin opener

2 saucepans (1 medium, 1 large)

1 frying pan

1 sieve/ colander/ strainer
2 large chopping knives and one small chopping knife
2 large wooden spoons
1 chopping board
4 plates, mugs, dishes, knives, forks, dessert spoons and teaspoons (depending on the number of family members)
1 rolling pin

Try sticking to these absolute basics for a while. Now consider these other tips too.

Light-coloured walls and ceilings make a small kitchen seem larger. However, you can use a dark shade on the wall closest to the entrance and use lighter colours on walls further away. This trick can make your kitchen appear larger in size and length.

Let the sunlight in. Consider not using any curtains, or if you do, use only light, airy curtains.
If the money and space are available, consider installing a skylight or bay window.

Cabinets that go to the ceiling make a kitchen seem larger, plus, they give you more storage. But keep them in a light hue again.

Cabinets without doors or glass cabinet doors can make a kitchen appear larger. If you are a messy cook, you may consider frosted glass doors instead.

Over-decorated walls can make a kitchen seem smaller and waste useable space. Make use of any empty wall space by putting up shelves.

Hanging baskets can store extra items.

A pot rack can make more cabinet space available.

If there is enough room, you might also consider using a bookshelf to store extra items like cookbooks, canned goods, etc.

Low hanging light fixtures can make a kitchen appear smaller whereas recessed lighting can open it up.
Under-cabinet lighting can make a kitchen seem larger and brighten up those dark corners. Automatic lights inside cabinets also come in very handy.

Organise your cupboards to create more room.

Use under-the-counter appliances whenever possible.

Eliminate clutter on countertops.

Discard items you dont need. If you havent used an item in a year, you probably don't need it. Furthermore, knick-knacks just make your kitchen appear more cluttered.

Store appliances you don't use very often in cabinets that are more inaccessible or out of reach to make room for items you do use frequently in the easier-to- reach-cupboards. You might also consider storing these items in another room.

A shoe holder or wire rack can be hung over your kitchen door to store items. Especially potatoes, onions, garlic and ginger that always seem to have no proper place and make things messy.

Wire racks for the inside of cabinet doors can also free up more space.

Drawer organisers can help unclutter drawers.

You can make an extra drawer available by storing all kitchen utensils in a pretty ceramic crock.
If you have enough room, consider buying a plastic drawer storage unit to hold dish towels or other miscellaneous kitchen items.

Opt for pull-out larders instead of conventional cabinets. These larders are installed with wire racks of different sizes to cater to all kinds of storage.

Corners where two cabinet units join are generally used for storing large pots and pans. They can also be fitted with carousels or pull out drawers to utilise all the space completely

Try storing the more frequently used items around the height of your work place; avoid bending and twisting much for things you require all the time.

Don't overlook ergonomics. Look for wide-opening hinges, smooth closing doors and slam-proof drawers that are a pleasure to use.