We've all had moments where we've had to live in homes that aren't big enough for us. This is especially a problem in the kitchen, where small appliances and room can make it simply impossible to do the cooking you want to do. While there's no easy way to actually add space to the kitchen, there are ways to use it more efficiently. Here are a few tips on how to do this.

The best thing you can probably do for yourself is bring in a drop leaf dining table to use as your kitchen table. These tables will give you the table space you need when you have people over, and will break down and get out of your way when you need the space to move around in the kitchen. This combination makes the tables essential for any kitchen where you need to watch your hips when you walk around, for fear of running into something.

Another thing you can do to make the room feel a little more open and less cluttered is more aesthetic, but just as powerful: keep your kitchen counters clear of everything. And that means everything - put the dish soap under the sink, even try hiding the knife block and spatulas for a week, just to see what kind of reaction it makes on your view of the room. Chances are it will leave you feeling like you have more space to move around in, even though it's a mostly cosmetic change.

If you want to make a bigger change, then try this exercise. Imagine if your kitchen had fewer cabinets in it. You may think that there's no way you could deal with less storage space, but just imagine what the kitchen would look like. It would probably be pretty nice, right? Just let the idea of removing a cabinet simmer for a few days, and think about if you actually did it. It may end up being an option for you.

Having a kitchen that feels cramped is terrible, and you need to make some adjustments if you're in that position. These are suggestions that should help get you on track.