9 Lessons to Learn from These Airbnb Kitchens in Korea
With everyone headed to PyeongChang for the Olympics, we thought we’d check out some local Airbnb spaces. Because many of the most popular Korean rentals are located in teeny-tiny apartments in the big cities, we were not surprised to find many smart storage and organizing features in their kitchens!
Here are a few lessons we can all learn from Airbnb kitchens in Korea — whether we’re Olympics-bound or not.
1. Open up your cabinets.
In a small kitchen, it’s hard to get the right balance of enough storage without filling the space with bulky-looking cabinets. Many of the Airbnb kitchens had this winning combo: a mix of opaque cabinets and ones in clutter-shielding glass that open up on a hinge along the top instead of opening to the sides like traditional American cabinets do.
See the rest of the space: HongDae
2. Use rails.
Another popular feature in many of these Airbnb kitchens: adding storage along the backsplash using a combination of rails, S-hooks, and flexible shelving. Great for everything from cooking utensils to cutlery, it’s a smart way to make use of wall space while only taking up a few inches of countertop.
Take a tour: Dongdaemun DW2
3. Add under-cabinet power.
One place I’d never think to put a power strip? In that space underneath your upper cabinet! If you need extra outlets for small appliances, it can be an innocuous spot to hide a power strip that’s easily accessible and out of the way, too.
See more pics: Myeong Dong
4. Hide behind bifold doors.
In a studio apartment that combines the bedroom, workspace, and kitchen into one room, it can be hard to create true zones for one activity or another. But this studio does it perfectly, with a kitchenette that hides behind bifold doors when not in use. You’d never know it was back there!
Look around: Maum Atelier 1
5. Use a shelving unit to extend the kitchen.
If you don’t have quite enough space for storage in your kitchen, give it another few feet of space by tucking a counter-height shelf in similar materials right next to your cabinets. The open storage doesn’t feel too cluttered and can create space for a microwave and more.
Tour the rest of the space: Lavi’s House
6. Add a coffee station — even if it’s tiny.
What does a breakfast nook really need? Just a way to make coffee! I love how this sunny dining spot has two teeny shelves (on the right) with just what you’d need to see the sun rise: an espresso machine and a single mug. Because why add any more shelving than absolutely necessary when you’re tight on space?
See more pics: Artist’s Luxury Flat
7. Use the sides of cabinets.
With a few hooks, the sides of cabinets become exponentially more useful. Use the space to hang pots and pans, utensils, and more. You’ll add storage space and keep stuff easily within reach.
See more: Urban Nest
8. Store dishes in drawers.
People often opt of out upper cabinets when trying to make a small kitchen appear bigger, but that can limit the amount of space you have to store dishes and glasses. Try installing drawers in your base cabinets, instead of cupboards, and it’ll make it easier to store your dining gear there.
Check out the rest of the kitchen: ‘Cho’ old&cozy traditional house- type
9. Try a pullout dining area.
I saw this ingenious idea in more than one home! When there isn’t space for a dining table in a studio apartment, try a dining table that’s integrated into the cabinetry, and pull in chairs from other parts of the home. It’s just enough space for two people to eat together.
Poke around: 5min Lotteworld, Lakeview, Jamsil