This Laundry Room Staple Is A Game-Changer For A Kitchen Lacking In Counter Space

Ample counter space is non-negotiable when you cook up a storm to commemorate special occasions, host dinner parties, or run a successful ghost kitchen. However, countertop real estate can be difficult to come by in a small cooking space. The plot thickens further if you have to share the room with another person or have limited time to prepare dishes and let the baked goods cool down. So, if you're looking for a simple way to create extra counter space in your kitchen, a laundry room staple—the infamous ironing board—would be an absolute game-changer.

While this hack might seem like an odd solution to your everyday limited counter space problem, it won't cost you a dime and will come in incredibly handy when you need a quick fix. The best part, though? You can use the unassuming ironing board any way you want. It can double as a cooling rack in a jiffy or save you from a stressful game of Tetris involving the cooked dishes and your small countertop. You can even turn it into a side table for holding the cutlery, glasses, napkins, drinks, and plates during dinner parties. Simply cover the board with a fetching tablecloth, and you're good to go.

To use the ironing board as an extension of your countertops, fetch the board from your laundry room and strip off its cover to expose the metal grid underneath and avoid accidental splashes from staining the fabric. Next, clean the grid with a disinfectant before you start using the board. Don't forget to lay down a cloth, towel, paper liner, parchment paper, or something else to ensure the grid doesn't get dirty. This will save your clothes from bearing the brunt of the grease, sauces, and spices from the food crumbs when you use the board to iron them later.

Voila! Your extra counter space is ready. Use it to let your cookies, muffins, and pies cool down while the breads rise, and store prepared dishes for later. Since the board is designed to withstand heat from the iron, it can easily tolerate hot items without getting damaged. Better yet, the board won't take up too much space, its height can be adjusted to your needs, and you can easily put the fabric back on and fold it up once you're done. Bonus advantage: You won't have to constantly trek between your kitchen and living room to find temporary homes for the cooked items. However, keep in mind that this is a temporary solution and shouldn't be used for food preparation. Further, given its unstable legs, exercise caution when using this guest counter, especially if you've got children or pets at home.