The need for small kitchen designs doesn't necessarily mean that your small kitchen has to be a disappointment. These days everything is getting smaller-phones, home video discs, MP3 players. It doesn't have to be a bad thing. Look at the smaller space available to you as an opportunity to flex your creative muscles. With small kitchens, creativity is definitely needed to get the most out of the available space, but at the same time, it can be more convenient and lead to you spending less time in the kitchen and more in the parts of the house where, perhaps, you'd rather be. In order to make your kitchen really stand out, here are six of the best ideas for maximizing space and efficiency:

Storage space. If you've got less room to move, then you need to be certain that you're getting the most out of the kitchen's capacity to hold appliances, pots, pans, flatware, and other items that belong there. Nothing is quite so frustrating as limited space for movement and storage. So it's important, no matter what the final design you choose is, to include plenty of storage space for items that are not in use. To help with this function, you may wish to place an island in the center of the kitchen that is capable of both storage and use. Whether that means a place to chop onions, prepare meals for the oven, or even a spot to grill, the island can combine functionality leaving you with less requirements on space.

Galley up. The galley kitchen design is also a great tool in your toolbox of small kitchen design ideas. Lining up cabinets and appliances in hallway fashion can give you the ability to get a lot done in a limited amount of space, thus cutting back on time. This style highlights a key function that most small kitchen owners master early, and that is the "two birds with one stone" concept. If you can accomplish more than one task in a given location, make sure that you do so.

Compact appliances. Remember a little further at the top of this article when it was mentioned that being smaller doesn't have to mean you're lesser? Well, appliances are one of the best areas where this compact line of thinking has taken hold. Today's manufacturers try to help you save space, because everyone knows that a kitchen aficionado likes comfort just as much as function.

Small tables, drop tables, and barstools. The concept of combining functions can extend to your kitchen dining area. By combining the two, you can give yourself a chance to spread out. Drop tables, small tables, and barstools can turn your kitchen from food laboratory to family center.