Putting Those Awkward Kitchen Gaps To Work

Every kitchen has them: narrow strips beside the hood, a sloped bit of ceiling, a gap where an old appliance used to sit. Here are a few practical ways to turn those leftover spaces into useful ones, without any building work.

Reclaim the space around the extractor hood

Extractor hoods and exhaust fans tend to swallow up more wall space than they actually need, leaving narrow strips on either side that often go to waste. Magnetic rails and wall racks are a simple fix, since they can be fixed almost anywhere and hold almost anything from utensils to spice jars. In a compact Maltese kitchen, where every centimetre of worktop matters, lifting storage onto the wall like this frees up counter space for actual cooking and keeps frequently used tools within easy reach.

SKÅDIS clip, white, 2x8 cm, 2 packSKÅDIS container, white, 7.5x8x9 cmSKÅDIS storage basket, set of 3, whiteSKÅDIS pegboard, black, 76x56 cmSKÅDIS 7-piece accessories set, whiteSKÅDIS connector, white, 2x18x5 cm, 2 pack

Shop Wall Storage

Give a sliver of space a proper job

A thin gap between a cabinet and the wall does not have to sit empty. A hanger designed for inside a wardrobe works just as well mounted in a narrow kitchen gap, turning it into a spot for cleaning cloths, tea towels or an apron. Sloped sections above cabinets, common in older Maltese townhouses and maisonettes with pitched roofs, can be styled rather than ignored too, with bottles, jars or cookbooks lined up by height to fill the dead space with something worth looking at.

Fill an odd gap with a slim trolley

Kitchens that have been updated over the years often end up with an odd-sized gap where an old appliance used to stand. A narrow trolley such as the RÅSKOG, at only 45cm wide, slots neatly into that kind of space and gives you extra storage for tins, bottles or cooking essentials on wheels, so it can be pulled out when needed. If you would rather it stayed out of sight, a simple curtain hung in front keeps the gap looking tidy while the trolley does its work behind it.

RÅSKOG trolley, grey-green, 35x45x77 cmRÅSKOG trolley, white, 28x38x61 cmRÅSKOG trolley, white, 35x45x77 cmRÅSKOG trolley, black, 35x45x77 cmRÅSKOG trolley, grey-green, 28x38x61 cmRÅSKOG trolley, pink, 28x38x61 cm

Shop IKEA Råskog

Use tall thin gaps for things you fold away

Not every awkward space is wide, some are simply tall and narrow, and these are easy to overlook. A pair of MOSSLANDA picture ledges, each just 12cm deep, can be repurposed as a holder for folding chairs, keeping them upright and out from underfoot until they are needed. It is a neat solution for Maltese homes where extra seating gets brought out for guests but has nowhere obvious to live the rest of the time.

MOSSLANDA picture ledge, white, 115 cmMOSSLANDA picture ledge, white, 55 cmMOSSLANDA picture ledge, black, 115 cmMOSSLANDA picture ledge, black, 55 cmMOSSLANDA picture ledge, walnut effect, 55 cmMOSSLANDA picture ledge, walnut effect, 115 cm

Shop IKEA Mosslanda

Small, awkward spaces are rarely a lost cause. Browse Maltashopper's range of kitchen storage online, with orders delivered to homes across Malta and Gozo.

More kitchen ideas