A kitchenette is a smaller, more basic version of a normal kitchen. It usually includes only what's necessary for preparing basic meals and may not have full-sized appliances.
Kitchenettes differ from place to place, meaning some kitchenettes will have only a few feet of counter space, a microwave and a mini-fridge, while others may include a small stovetop and oven with a full-sized refrigerator.
Because a kitchenette is smaller than a regular, full-sized kitchen, it takes up less space in an apartment and can reduce the price of rent. Along with that, your utility bill is lower as you aren't constantly running as many appliances and those that you are running are smaller and use less energy. A smaller kitchen also means less cleaning and easy maintenance.
On the other hand, a kitchenette doesn't have quite the same functionality as a full kitchen. Depending on the kitchenette, you may need to get creative with storage space and how you prepare meals since you won't have all of the same appliances and a large area dedicated to food preparation.
Although a kitchenette may not have all that a full kitchen has, it's still a practical alternative that allows you to cook and prepare food, just in a smaller space.
Even if it's a tiny kitchenette in your apartment, you can make good use of whatever you have with some creativity.
Morgen Henderson is a writer who grew up in Utah. She lived in the Dominican Republic for a year and a half, where she was involved in humanitarian service. Some of Morgen's work has appeared in State of Digital, The Next Scoop and TechPatio. In her free time, she loves to travel, bake, master DIY projects and improve her Spanish skills.