Compact Inspired Home Show Intros Make Most of Small Space

Compact home electrics and related housewares are becoming more prevalent and are designed to meet a range of lifestyle considerations.

The proliferation of kitchen electrics has taken up a lot of counter space. Consumers are increasingly aware that when kitchen electrics wind up on cupboards, they are often forgotten or unused. Market research suggests that consumers are eating at home more to cope with the effects of inflation and consumers will want to employ the various prep products they have purchased more often. However, not everyone has the counter space to include everything from a soda maker to an air fryer in addition to mainstays such as a toaster, toaster oven or microwave.

Set It Up

Consequently, product introductions at The Inspired Home Show include sets specifically designed for small space living.

Salton developed the Essentials 4-Piece Combo Set with space-challenged kitchens in mind. Versatile, compact and designed to suit apartments, dorms and other tight quarters, it includes a 1-liter corded kettle; a five-cup coffee maker with a pause-and-serve function and reusable filter; a two-slice toaster with seven shade settings and a removable crumb tray; and a two-speed hand blender providing one-touch operation a turbo speed option and a stainless-steel blade for precise blending. It can serve as a starter kit for those who have to cook in small kitchens and comes at the compact suggested retail price of $49.99.

Trudeau has created the Stack Collection (pictured top) to allow consumers with limited space to keep lots of spices on hand. A set of five small and five large jars and a rack to support them is out, but following in July are a pepper and a salt mill with bamboo lids, as well as a pair of cruets organized on a bamboo tray. A 12-bottle spice rack and a 12-bottle daisy spice rack will also roll out in August.

Brewing Smaller

For many consumers, the space crutch means that even products normally found on kitchen counters need to be smaller to accommodate everything else.

Casabrews is a company that combines compact design with affordability. From its launch in 2020, the company has been determined to deliver superior but affordable brewing systems. In 2025, the company is launching new espresso machines and coffee makers, including the 3700 Essential, which incorporates a professional 20-bar pressure system for rich aroma. It comes with a milk frother for creamy texture, the company noted. Available in silver, yellow and black, the design of the compact machine had small kitchens in mind from its inception. In launching the product, Casabrews also kept the gifting market in mind given that coffee is an essential for students and hard working holders of first jobs who often benefit from the kindness and resources of friends and family but have to suffer cramped living conditions.

Cuckoo Electronics will be showing off its recently launched CCM-AK011B K-Cup Coffee Maker in Chicago during The Inspired Home Show. The company designed the coffee maker to be both compact and stylish enough to keep in view. The slim silhouette still has plenty of consumer-friendly factors going for it. For example, the machine can pour coffee in 6- to 14-ounce servings. It features a 1.2-liter water tank for hassle-free brewing and works with K-Cup pods, ground coffee or tea. The auto-clean function simplifies maintenance and user-friendly controls have an intuitive interface and ergonomic design. 

Jura’s S8 uses modern technology to provide a stylish automatic coffee machine that can do a lot in a relatively compact 11″ x 13.8″ x 17.6″ form. As such, it can prepare up to 27 specialties from espresso to flat white without taking up enormous counter space. Users operate the S8 from a 4.3-inch high-resolution color touchscreen, guiding them through the coffee-making process. Icons tap into a system that offers customization options including temperature, strength and volume. In addition, the S8 is a connected product. Users can control the machine via Wi-Fi and, besides operation, can watch instructional videos and view recipes, among other content, with the free Jura Operating Experience app. 

In what the company characterizes as a move that marks the entry of a leader in pressurized gas cylinders into the international hydration market, iSi North America is showcasing its compact and colorful Twist’n Sparkle Virtuoso sparkling beverage system at The Inspired Home Show. ISI designed the system to fit any lifestyle or occasion, even those that have to fit into tight dimensions. The premium sparkling beverage system can enliven anything from fruit and vegetable juices to teas, wines, spirits or still water, suiting the preferences of a wide range of consumers. Indeed, with wellness in mind, iSi encourages consideration of the system as compatible with fresh fruit, herbs, homemade syrups and other natural ingredients. Of course, it’s also good for cocktail concocting. A starter set includes a one quart PET bottle in ivory or onyx, six iSi Sparklets Soda Chargers, a sparkling wand and a silicone lined screw cap for sealing and securing freshly prepared drinks.

Space Is Tight All Over

Have a tiny bathroom? The new Umbra Bellwood Toilet Paper Holder & Reserve is a freestanding holder combining a sleek design with convenient storage to fit into just about any lavatory space. Made of renewable wood and recycled plastic, the product holds up to three regular or jumbo-sized toilet paper rolls and a built-in tray can hold phones, keys, plants and air fresheners.

Another product designed to make small bathrooms more functional is the 7.5″ deep x 8.6″ wide x 4.4″ high YouCopia HideAway Counter Caddy, which keeps personal care essentials neat and within reach. Its front bin features three adjustable dividers that form four custom-sized compartments for hygiene essentials such as cotton swabs/rounds, hair ties and nail tools, among other items. A hinged, flip-top lid keeps things covered yet easy to grab one handed. The hidden back tray can pull together taller bottles of hand soap, cleanser and lotion, as well as haircare and skincare. A sturdy, non-slip base keeps the caddy in place while an antimicrobial treatment hinders growth of the nasties.

Even gardening can be accomplished under compact conditions. For that part of the population that wants to bring nature indoors, which has been a trend for several years, Garden Works is cultivating SproutJoy in the United States. A plant starter kit consisting of a 25-chamber planter can germinate multiple seeds. SproutJoy is ideal for consumers looking to grow plants for their aesthetic and wellness benefits. However, it can also set up urban gourmet gardeners who want to grow herbs and sprouts. Garden Works points out that SproutJoy’s unique partitioned design is easy to use even for novice growers and allows for smooth and stress-free extraction, protecting delicate roots during transplantation.

Fold and Carry

The KitchenSupply Escali Stelo Waterproof Folding Thermometer is high-performance and has a folding probe for safe storage and portability. It delivers what Kitchen Supply describes as lightning-fast temperature readings and has a rotating display for top-flight visibility for left- or right-handers. The folding 1.6 millimeter stainless-steel step-down probe can readily travel with the home cook who takes the kitchen arts on the road to prepare meals for family and friends and who wants to make sure it’s done just right.

The Solo New York Tidal Slim Brief is a new, machine-washable, minimalist means of toting laptops up to 16 inches. Despite its thin design, the brief can organize work essentials at home, at the office, during travels, or wherever tasks require. Although it features lightweight construction, it offers two front panels for quick-access pockets and padding that protects devices inside.