Cute kitchen ideas
100 Best Kitchen Design Ideas
Brie Williams, styling by Matthew Gleason
They say the kitchen is the heart of the home, but if you're living with a too-cramped layout or outdated feeling cabinetry, it can feel more like heartache than true love. Updating your kitchen can be as simple as a refresh (think: a quick one-day DIY project like swapping out pendant lights or cabinet hardware) or as complicated as a full remodel (think: you’re calling the contractor, and the next thing you know it’s demo day). But there are plenty of projects in between that will make your kitchen feel more fun, more functional, and in many cases, brand new. Just imagine what a transformation giving your cabinets a fresh coat of paint would bring. (If that’s sounding like a good idea, check out our guide on how to paint kitchen cabinets.)
If you're ready for a change, this photo gallery of 100 kitchen ideas is sure to get your planning going. No matter if you’re looking for a budget-friendly facelift or splurging on a complete renovation, you'll find kitchen design ideas here at all price points and skill levels.
But the inspiration doesn't stop here. Need additional seating and more prep space? We have tons of kitchen island ideas to check both boxes. Want to give your kitchen a brand new color scheme? You'll find the perfect palette among these kitchen paint color ideas. Not even sure where to start? Browse these pretty white kitchens and farmhouse-style kitchens to cook up gorgeous design looks to suit your space and taste.
David Hillegas
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Painted Floor
“The best way to express color and pattern in a kitchen is with a painted floor,” says designer Heather Chadduck. “I’ve always been inspired by those in Bunny Mellon’s homes and wanted to do something similar.” To get the look, try a floor stencil (cuttingedgestencils.com), then give it instant age by using a palm sander to remove some paint. Coat with polyurethane.
KARYN MILLET
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Bifold Windows
Bifold windows (lacantinadoors.com) above the kitchen sink fully connect the indoors and out.
Outside the windows, a bar-height terrazzo counter extends the kitchen's entertaining and dining space and serves as the small kitchen's work space. Meanwhile, a couple of wood chairs left as trash in an alleyway put homeowner Raili Clasen on the hunt for more mismatched pairs, all which she gave a uniform look with a very California appropriate avocado-toned green hue.
See more of Raili's California cottage here.
Get the Look:
Chair Paint Color: Avocado by Sherwin-Williams
David Tsay, styling by Becki Griffin
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Classic Country Color Combo
Blue and yellow make for a classic country color combination, as seen here with happy canary yellow cabinets and a quilt-like cement tile backsplash.
SHOP WHITE TEA KETTLES
MARTA XOCHILT PEREZ
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Open Fronted Cabinets
Homeowners Nora and Doug O'Leary host lots of guests at their Wisconsin cabin. To make everyone feel more at home and make hosting a little easier, the couple chose to install their cabinets without doors inviting guests to help themselves.
“The idea was to avoid people asking where things are,” Nora says. “It’s all right there.” Beadboard cabinets, soapstone countertops, and handmade terra-cotta tiles set on the diagonal add to the vintage cottage vibe.
Get the Look:
Cabinetry Paint Color: Phillipsburg Blue by Benjamin Moore
David Tsay, styling by Becki Griffin
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A Pretty Eating Bar
Courtney and Ashley Robertson artfully outfitted their Texas kitchen with materials that are pretty but not precious. For example, soft gray concrete countertops pair well with limed oak barstools upholstered in an indoor-outdoor fabric. Reclaimed beams frame the inviting gathering spot and tie in to the other wood details in the kitchen.
Get the Look:
Stool Fabric: For similar, try “Ticking Indigo” by Bella Dura; calicocorners.com.
RELATED: To find some reclaimed wood for your home, check out 6 Best Places to Find or Buy Reclaimed Wood Near You.
Annie Schlechter
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Bistro Shelving
Give a white kitchen the look of a French bistro with floor-to-ceiling subway tile (choose a dark grout) and bistro-style open shelving.
SHOP FRENCH BISTRO SHELVING
DANA GALLAGHER
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Stone Range Hood
Mixed materials—an eye-catching stone range hood, soapstone countertops, subway tile, reclaimed beams, Douglas fir cabinets, and rush barstools— reinforce a collected aesthetic.
See more of this cozy cabin here.
Annie Schlechter
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Hardworking Prep Area
Dr. Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell of Beekman 1802 recently renovated their 200-year-old farmhouse giving the kitchen old-meets-new results. Tucked away behind the fireplace, they created a hardworking prep area that houses recessed shelves to keep ingredients within arm’s reach. The hanging collection of copper pots ensures the practical merges with the pretty.
See more of their kitchen here.
SHOP POT RACKS
ANNIE SCHLECHTER, styling by Matthew Gleason
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Creative Wall Storage
A peg board (painted a sunny yellow) keeps tools at the ready and creates smart storage. Butcher block countertops from Ikea warm up the otherwise white kitchen.
SHOP PEGBOARD PANELS
LAUREY W. GLENN
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Skirted Sink
Achieve ultimate farmhouse-chic status with a sink skirt in a patterned fabric that looks vintage and sweet.
SHOP CAFE CURTAINS
Annie Schlechter
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Blue-Stained Cabinets
To give the turquoise blue cabinets a slightly weathered look, Jolie Sikes-Smith (one half of the Junk Gypsy sister duo) first coated the them with blue interior oil stain, then used a rag to apply and partially rub off a layer of Provincial Wood Finish stain by Minwax. "Embrace color," says Jolie. "Just because kitchens are utilitarian rooms doesn't mean they should be quiet, sterile, or boring.
"
Learn more about Jolie's kitchen here.
Brie Williams, styling by Matthew Gleason
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Floating Shelves
Homeowner Kay Stanley installed a pot rack above the sink for easy access to cast-iron skillets and other kitchen accessories. Above a pair of simple floating wood shelves hold antique finds such as stoneware, breadboards, whiskey jugs, and a collection of Native American baskets.
Tour more of Kay's North Carolina cabin here.
DUSTIN HALLECK
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A Pass-Through Bar
A pass-through bar connects indoors and out making for easy entertaining. It makes a great casual spot to grab breakfast too!
SHOP WHITE METAL BARSTOOLS
DAVID TSAY
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A Cozy Breakfast Nook
Turn an under-utilized corner into a useful breakfast nook with a tiny round bistro-style table and pair of wooden chairs.
SHOP SCHOOLHOUSE STYLE PENDANT LIGHTS
David Hillegas
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Blue and White Cabinets
To give air to this itty-bitty kitchen, the designer painted the lower cabinets a happy blue hue but matched the upper cabinets to the light wall color.
SHOP BLUE AND WHITE PLATES
DAVID A. LAND
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An Antique Work Island
An old printing press work table is now a one-of-a-kind kitchen island in designer Hadley Wiggins-Marin's Long Island kitchen. Shallow drawers that once held type pages now house cooking utensils.
Tour all of Hadley's farmhouse here.
SHOP BREAD BOARDS
CHRISTOPHER DIBBLE
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Unconventional Cabinetry
Lacquered plywood is an unusual material for kitchen cabinets. Normally matte, the lacquer finish gives a great shine and makes them wipeable. Brass hardware, modern lighting, marble countertops, and a creative backsplash complete the unique design.
Rikki Snyder
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Clever Hardware
Think outside the box when it comes to hardware. Vintage lover Jeannette Fristoe swapped out her drawers' store-bought pulls for repurposed silver spoons and forks.
Tour all of Jeannette's antique-filled bungalow here.
Diana Paulson, styled by Jennifer Berno DeCleene
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Eye-Catching Backsplash
Encaustic tile really pops in this kitchen along with a cool blue island topped with easy-to-clean quartz countertops. Tractor-seat barstools, wood cabinets, and a wood ceiling add warmth to the open layout.
SHOP FIESTA MIXING BOWLS
Eric Piasecki
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Overscale Pendant Lights
Instead of a standard cabinetry island, a built-in marble-top table anchors this kitchen by architectural firm Historical Concepts and interior designer Barbara Westbrook. A pair of bold-colored oversize pendants hang overhead.
Tour a tour of the rest of this dreamy farmhouse here.
SHOP COPPER COOKWARE
Annie Schlechter
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An Island with Room for All
This kitchen is equal parts fun and function, thanks to a massive 5-by-10-foot island made from an old trophy case, commercial-grade appliances, and super-durable concrete countertops mixed with fun vintage collections, like plaid patterned coolers and colorful dart boards.
SHOP PENDLETON BLANKETS
Thomas J. Story
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Checkerboard Floors
This total kitchen renovation captures this home's old spirit, thanks to crisp board-and-batten walls, open shelving, a retro refrigerator, and classic black-and-white checkerboard floors.
SHOP SMEG REFRIGERATORS
Hector M. Sanchez
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Hanging Plate Rack
In this kitchen with ample cabinetry already in place, homeowner Rachel Hardage Barrett opted for a Gothic-inspired plate rack on a wall adjacent to the refrigerator. The wood adds a nice pop of contrast against the blue and lets her put some of her favorite whiteware on display.
Take a tour of the Country Living 2022 Makeover Takeover Farmhouse here.
KIM CORNELISON
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Salvaged Wood Peninsula
The trendy-looking peninsula in DIY expert Jeni Yolo's kitchen is actually made out of salvaged wood that's been wrapped around the existing piece.
SHOP WOODEN BARSTOOLS
DUSTIN HALLECK
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Freestanding Bar Cabinet
Store all your mixology items and more in a cute upcycled freestanding cabinet like this one, with whimsical wallpaper inside for an eye-catching effect.
SHOP BASKET STORAGE
DAVID A. LAND
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Tone-On-Tone Color Scheme
This kitchen establishes its cozy feel by using a similar blue tone on the floors and cabinets to beautifully complement all the dark wood.
SHOP WOODEN BARSTOOLS
DUSTIN HALLECK
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Copper Pots on Display
A long brass pot rail displays these vintage copper pots and pans, turning kitchen tools into stunning kitchen décor.
SHOP POT RAILS
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$10 AT COUNTRY LIVING
It’s the small touches that can freshen up a room. Now you can get dozens of easy makeover ideas you can finish in just a weekend (really!) with Country Living's new digital guide!
BRIAN WOODCOCK
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Basket Pendants
These rustic, yet chic, oversize basket lights pair nicely with the soft hues in this charming kitchen.
SHOP BASKET PENDANT LIGHTS
VICTORIA PEARSON
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Basket "Drawers"
Nothing says "country kitchen" like open shelving for a casual, yet intentional, look. The baskets under the counter add even more of an organized feel.
SHOP BASKET STORAGE
70 Best Small Kitchen Design Ideas
Stacy Zarin Goldberg, Ema Peter
Turn your kitchen into your happy place, no matter its size — it's the heart of the home, after all. From cooking healthy family dinners, sitting around the island with friends to organizing — then reorganizing — your limited cabinet space, you inevitability spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Just because your kitchen is small, doesn't mean it has to feel small. To help you make the most of your limited space, we've rounded up the best small kitchen ideas — whether your design style is modern, traditional or country.
Even if you're redesigning on a budget, you deserve a kitchen that feels functional and stylish.
Make use of every crevice, clear clutter from counters and decorate blank walls. As you explore this photo gallery of small kitchen decorating ideas, you'll find fast and affordable solutions like hanging mirrors to create the illusion of more space, layering bold hues to brighten an interior and adding shelves to take advantage of vertical space.
We've included kitchen storage tips that'll keep your counters clean and orderly — like where to store liquor or the best way to organize a kitchen pantry. If you're considering a full renovation, we've sprinkled in DIY projects like finding a fresh paint color for the kitchen, setting up a separate bar or swapping in chic backsplash tiles. Whether you live in an apartment, condo or your house is lacking kitchen space, you're sure to find an interior to love.
Stacy Zarin Goldberg
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Add Sleek Open Shelving
Suspend open shelving from the ceiling or hang a rack high on the wall to add height and create the illusion of more space.
At the same time, the added storage will minimize clutter on the counter.
Barbara Egan/Reportage
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Go Bold on Top, Neutral on Bottom
Here's a playful way to make your smaller space feel more vertical: go for bright upper cabinets. What's more? This modern kitchen has double-stacked cabinets for a ton of storage space. Keep it neutral on the bottom to create contrast.
Cherished Bliss
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Create a Portable Stove
Instead of installing a full stove, blogger Ashley Rene went for something much more versatile: a double burner on a rolling cart and a vent hood with a charcoal filter. When the homeowner isn't cooking, they can easily put the burner away and have infinite more space.
Get the tutorial at Cherished Bliss »
Ema Peter
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Put the Microwave Down Below
Save on counter space by designating a home for your microwave, whether that be built in below your kitchen counter or hidden away in a pantry.
Lauren Pressey
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Add Corner Shelves
If you don't have the space for wall-to-wall open shelving, go for small corner shelves. Designer Kate Lester created instant storage by hanging three reclaimed barn wood shelves.
Design: Reena Sotropa In House Design Group; Photo: Phil Crozier
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Use a Bar Cabinet
Don't waste cabinet space on booze. Here, interior designer Reena Sotropa uses a geometric bar cabinet to create separation in a small space.
Lindsay Salazar
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Go Big With Art
Just because you're working with a small space, doesn't mean you can't display your art collection. Use a mix of small and large prints to create a gallery wall that adds dimension to your kitchen.
Monica Wang
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Maximize Kitchen Corners
Learn to work with the space you have by capitalizing on every corner and nook. If your actual kitchen is small, there may be a small crevice or awkward nook that can be reworked into additional kitchen space.
Inspired by Charm
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Build a Butler's Pantry
Here, blogger Michael Wurm Jr. turns what was once a full bathroom into a butler’s pantry and a small powder room — but this concept also works if you have a closet or small alcove you're not maximizing.
See the full remodel at Inspired by Charm »
Mike Garten
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Choose Floor-to-Ceiling Whites
We all know that light, bright spaces feel more spacious than dark, dreary areas. Stick with white cabinets, walls and trim for your small kitchen, then layer in wood accents and black cabinet hardware to keep things trendy.
Taylor Architectural Photography
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Embrace an Open Layout
The work of John McClain Design, this small kitchen is also a dining room and living room — and, yet it feels super spacious and sophisticated. Two small bistro tables near the sofa provide additional dining space.
Aliyev Alexei Sergeevich
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Disguise Your Dishwasher
For those of us with limited cabinet space, a dishwasher can take up half the kitchen.
If you want to achieve a clean and streamlined aesthetic, install your dishwasher to fit seamlessly beneath your kitchen counters.
The Handmade Home
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Add a Runner
Elongate a narrow space with a long patterned runner, while also adding style and softness to your interior.
See more at The Handmade Home »
Stacy Zarin Goldberg
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Create Consistency
For a striking statement, bring the same paint color, wallpaper or wood paneling from the wall to the ceiling. Stick with lighter hues and smaller prints, so you don't overwhelm the space.
Design by Velinda Hellen; Photo by Sara Tramp
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Go for Light Appliances
While stainless steel appliances are most popular, this sleek Smeg fridge proves that white appliances can look just as chic. Lighten up your space by pairing it with crisp white tiles, blonde wood floors and baby blue cabinets.
See more at Style by Emily Henderson »
Annie Schlechter for Country Living
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Install a Pegboard Wall
Paint a pegboard in a cheery hue to create a functional focal point.
Once attached, load it up with some of your kitchen must-haves — measuring cups, wooden spoons, cast iron skillets and more.
Design by Studio Merlin; Photo by Richard Chivers
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Add a Built-In Seat
In an effort to merge the kitchen with the living room, Studio Merlin Founder Josh Piddock added a built-in kitchen seat into these rich blue cabinets from Reform.
Design by Jess Bunge; Photo by Sara Tramp
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Create the Illusion of More Space
Mirrors reflect light and trick the eye into perceiving a space is larger than it actually is — plus, they look great while doing it.
See more at Style by Emily Henderson »
Courtesy of HGTV
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Hang Rattan Pendants
The natural tones in rattan pendants add warmth, but the open and airy construction welcome breeziness into any small space.
Christopher Dibble
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Go for Multi-Colored Cabinets
Let the primaries — red, yellow and blue — breathe life into your space.
Paint cabinet doors at random, but leave a few au naturel for maximum contrast.
Boxwood Avenue
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Keep Spices Organized
Alec Hemer
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Add Pops of Color
The brighter the space, the bigger it'll feel. You can go with shades of white and gray, then layer in two tones of a bold hue to add intrigue.
Max Burkhalter
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Incorporate Bottle Storage
Build custom cubbies to keep wine and liquor bottles off the kitchen counters. Store wine glasses, bottle stoppers and other accessories in a nearby cabinet, so you can pour with ease.
Amy Bartlam
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Create More Counterspace
If you're working with limited counter space, consider building another area that serves as an extension of the kitchen — even if it's a few steps away. You can use a sideboard and open shelving, like Kate Lester Interiors does here.
Mike Van Tassell
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Warm up the Whites
White on white can open up even the smallest of spaces, but go with a reflective backsplash, like pearl iridescent subway tile, to bounce light around.
RELATED: Stunning Kitchens With White Cabinets
Jessica Alexander for Pure Salt Interiors
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Get Smart With Floating Shelves
Don't let windows get in your way. Stretch floating shelves across the entire wall, making sure to leave enough room between them to allow the natural light to come through.
Joe Schmelzer
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DIY a Kitchen Island
While you're cooking, a small kitchen island is as helpful as a big island (which is not an option for most tiny kitchens). You can even find a rolling one if you're not looking for a permanent solution.
Miki Duisterhof
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Try Backless Stools
When living in a small home or apartment, you need all the counter space you can get — even if that means creating your own with a dining room table that serves two purposes. Plus, backless stools can live under the table to conserve space when they're not being used.
Alison Gootee
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DIY Pantry
Gridley+Graves
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Use Small Nooks for Dining
Even a narrow nook can comfortably seat the whole family if you choose built-in benches instead of chairs.
10 ideas for the kitchen that we spied on in the projects of our designers — INMYROOM
Guide
Plants instead of shelves, a sink in the closet and 8 more unusual and memorable design hacks
Even the most inexpressive interior will become more charming if you add a couple of original, eye-catching solutions. In this post, we will talk about kitchens and analyze what techniques Russian designers use to add style and expression to customers' kitchens.
Color as the main decor
In order for color to produce a wow effect and be instantly considered in space, include it in the decor as a large-scale solid block, as in the kopeck piece project in Novosibirsk. The wall above the apron, the upper cabinet and the partition that goes into the hallway on the reverse side were painted in a complex orange shade.
The reception helped to highlight the kitchen and entrance areas against the background of quieter rooms.
Design: Mango Studio
Wine racks in bar design
Another feature from the same project is wine shelves built into the bar counter: this is practical if the house has a good wine cellar and looks unusual. True, it is not known whether the future tenants will appreciate the idea: the customers plan to rent out this apartment.
Design: Mango Studio
Kitchen in the closet
We mentioned this little girl in another post with design hacks, but we do it again, because the solution is really good. Firstly, such a size, design and filling is the best choice for those who, like the customers of this project, cook little, often travel and travel a lot.
Secondly, compact invisible kitchens are a trend. Leading Italian and German manufacturers offer to hide the entire cooking area or hide its individual elements, merging the kitchen with the living space to the maximum.
Design: Irina Ezhova
Mirror elements
Finishing the backsplash and facades of the kitchen island with mirror panels, as in this elegant St.
Petersburg kopeck piece, is a solution as effective as it is impractical. However, one can somehow live with the latter circumstance if there are no children and a housekeeper comes into the apartment at regular intervals.
Design: Inna Azorskaya
Shelving with plants instead of upper cabinets
And another long-term trend is the replacement of upper cabinets with weightless shelving. In this Moscow apartment, they were installed as a continuation of the loft theme, but, in general, such racks are appropriate in any interior in a modern style.
The absence of upper cabinets did not affect the convenience of the kitchen in any way: the dish dryer, refrigerator, appliances and household compartment were placed in the built-in cabinet on the right.
Design: In My Box
Refrigerator and dining room wall painted with slate paint
Slate paint gives the ultimate matt, deep black finish. The surfaces she painted made the kitchen in this St.
Petersburg apartment more expressive and tactile, and the variety of textures richer.
Design: VizDiz
Dining table built into the kitchen set
Another idea for a small kitchen is to plan the set and dining table in a single design, as in the interior of a odnushka for a student.
Here, a compact cutting surface ends with a dining counter at the junction with the living area. If you want to cook, the chairs can be moved aside, and the dining table becomes an additional work surface.
Design: Yulia Chernova
Tiled wall in the dining area + sofa
This solution in the project of a Moscow apartment is a tribute to Soviet traditions, when tiles were laid out on all the walls of the kitchen. There really is something nostalgic about it.
Design: Vlada Zagainova
"Dissolved" Apron
Finishing the apron in the kitchen of this bright apartment is a free-spirited alternative to the conservative white "boar" and the Scandinavian version - square tiles. The hexagonal tile, laid with a stretch effect, merges into a plain wall painted in a light shade of gray, and seems to dissolve into it.
If you can imagine a visually lighter version of the backsplash finish than this one, it will surely be something like the solution from the next project.
Design: Anna Mojaro
Kitchen without an apron (washable paint instead)
“Customers decided not to install it when they saw the kitchen as a set, although we considered several suitable options,” says Anastasia Muravyova, interior designer this apartment.
- The owners explained this by saying that they like the feeling of lightness and do not want extra details. The wall is painted with washable paint, for several months of operation of the kitchen there were no problems due to the lack of an apron.
Design: Anastasia Muravyova
36 simple ideas for decorating a small kitchen — INMYROOM
Tips
small-sized rarely can boast of impressive size.
At the same time, the functions of the dining room, and sometimes even the living room, also fall on it. What current design techniques can be taken into account when decorating the "heart of the house"? We share the best finds of Russian specialists.
1. Colorful tiles on the floor
Porcelain stoneware is one of the most common and most practical floor coverings in the cooking area. The trend is colorful surfaces reminiscent of carpets, as well as patchwork finishes. Such solutions are perfect for small spaces, adding texture and diverting attention from the size of the kitchen.
Designer: Marina Sargsyan
Design: Nadya Zotova
Design: Irina Chistyakova
2. Slate surface
A chalk wall or board is a playful décor element that adds personality to a kitchen. In addition, it is very convenient to write down recipes and leave cute messages to family members.
Design: DA-Design
Design: Marina Sargsyan
Design: GEOMETRIUM
Design: Vera Tarlovskaya
3.
Accent kitchen apron Bright, colorful, unusual apron can become the main accent of the kitchen area. Such an element looks especially impressive in combination with a neutral monochrome headset.
Design: Co:Interior
Design: Marina Sargsyan
Design: Ekaterina Chistova
Design: Maria Makhmudova
Design: Solo Design Studio
warming and joining will be a great way to gain some more space. On the additional area, you can organize storage or a dining area.
Design: Dilyara Saifutdinova
Design: Dilyara Sayfutdinova
5. Bar counter instead of a dining group
It would be logical for owners of tiny kitchens to abandon a full-fledged dining group in favor of a bar counter. This is a practical way to organize the dining area while saving space.
Design: ARTTUNDRA
Design: DA-Design
Design: Marina Sargsyan
Design: Zhilina Brothers
Design: Nadia Zotova
Design: Volkov Design Studio 3
004 Design: Viktoria Smirnova
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