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Designing a small kitchen layout


20 ideas to maximize that small space |

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(Image credit: Barbara Sallick/William Abranowicz/Emily J Followill/Beth Webb Interiors/Ward & Co./Taran Wilkhu)

The best small kitchen layouts are crucial to getting the most out of a room with less space than you’d like. Planning a small kitchen layout can be tricky, as finding the best layout can make or break a compact kitchen. 

Our kitchen ideas guide to small kitchen layout ideas covers all the bases to help you reach the full potential of your kitchen.

While you might think options can be limited for small kitchen ideas, these smaller spaces often turn out to be far more ergonomically efficient. 

No traipsing miles to gather ingredients, or circumnavigating a monolithic island unit to reach the sink. When space is tight, everything is meticulously placed for convenience and is exactly where you need it.

Best small kitchen layouts

When thinking about how to plan a small kitchen layout, it's best to make a list of your ‘must-haves’, particularly in terms of appliances, as they can swallow up a lot of storage space. 

Take time to think about how you cook, who else needs access to the kitchen, even if it’s just the fridge, and where the dining table is in relation to the dishwasher.

Do seek advice from a professional kitchen designer. They are trained in spatial design and the latest space-saving innovations, and can often suggest ways to get more in to kitchen layouts without overcrowding.

1. Maximize natural light to make a galley feel bigger

(Image credit: Emily J Followill/Beth Webb Interiors)

While it’s a highly sensible layout choice for a long, thin space, double galley kitchens have a reputation for feeling dark and pokey. To help make them feel bigger, be sure to maximize the room’s potential for natural light. 

If it’s architecturally possible, maximizing window space at one end of the galley will do wonders for the sense of space in the room. In this small but breathtaking space by designer Beth Webb , the kitchen of a South Carolina hunting lodge is made to feel light and breezy through the use of floor-to-ceiling windows, helped by the positioning of another window on the perpendicular wall. 

2. Open shelving and glass cabinets help create depth

(Image credit: Ward & Co./Taran Wilkhu)

While closed cabinetry is perfect for keeping kitchens feeling neat and tidy, too much of it on the top half of the elevations is likely to make a small kitchen feel smaller – you’re effectively extending the solid wall outwards into the room. 

To combat this, keep solid cabinetry to the lower half of the kitchen, and break up the higher levels with open kitchen shelving ideas and glass-fronted cupboards. In this apartment kitchen by London designers Ward & Co. , open cabinetry is used exclusively above the worktops, allowing for a greater sense of depth in those areas.  

3. Make the most of space with a double galley

(Image credit: Future/Jonathan Gooch)

The only layout more spatially efficient than a single galley, is a double galley.  

'Double galley kitchens are practical because they efficiently utilise both sides of a narrow space, offering more storage for small kitchens,’ explains Pluck ’s co-founder George Glasier.

George also explains how this small kitchen layout can make a small kitchen look bigger: ‘As the cabinetry doesn’t meet at the room’s corners, they eliminate the awkward-to-reach corner cupboard debate. Visually they provide symmetry and therefore balance to the space, which can help make a small kitchen appear bigger.'

4. Try a moveable option

(Image credit: Luke White)

When space is tight, an island unit can become more of an obstacle than asset.

In this 3.6m wide kitchen, interior designer Robert Rhodes felt a permanent island, even a narrow one, would have made the space on either side feel small and compromised. Instead, a freestanding vintage table provides extra prep space when needed and can be moved out of the way when entertaining.

‘Going for a freestanding piece can prove much more flexible and also offers a more relaxed, laidback look than fitted units,’ says Robert.

5. Undulate worktops and cabinetry to make the most of space 

(Image credit: Barbara Sallick/William Abranowicz)

If you’re keen to eek out every bit of floor space you can, remember that worktops and cabinetry do not have to be at the same depth the whole way around the kitchen. 

In this kitchen owned and designed by Waterworks Co-Founder Barbara Sallick, the worktop to the left hand side includes a small inlet opposite the island, between deeper areas that facilitate corner cupboards and a tall glass cabinet. This makes the most of walking space where those few inches of storage space aren’t necessary. 

6. Get creative with awkward nooks

(Image credit: Adam Macchia)

If you’ve inherited a kitchen where architectural features are an obstacle to making the most of the space, it’s time to get creative. 

In this apartment kitchen owned by furniture expert Christine Retlev, a window with a low bottom edge makes it difficult to extend the worktop all the way to the end wall. Instead, Retlev installed a lower countertop, and turned the awkward nook into a seating area, perfect for enjoying a cup of coffee alongside views of Manhattan.  

7. Add an island

(Image credit: Mark Bolton)

Kitchen islands can have so many uses, whether it's for storage, extra worktop surface or for sitting.

By incorporating breakfast bar ideas into the design of your kitchen, you're making the space go further with the addition of a handy spot to eat and drink. And it takes up less room than a clunky kitchen table.

(Image credit: Luke Edward Hall)

A single galley layout, with the entire kitchen on one elevation, is inspired by the confines of a ship’s galley, where every inch counts.

This striking cobalt kitchen belonging to artist and interior designer Luke Edward Hall is in an open-plan room that also accommodates dining and relaxing. Fortunately, the ceiling is high, so Luke could maximize his small kitchen storage options with wall cabinets, without overpowering the room.

‘You can see the kitchen from the sofa,’ says Luke. ‘Although I like to have fresh produce and ceramics on display, it is nice for us to be able to put things away.’

9. Consider U-shape solutions

(Image credit: Future/Paul Raeside)

If you have to cram a lot of units into a very small space, a U-shape layout is often the best bet. The downside of two corners is compensated by extra cupboard space on the end wall.

‘The key to compact U-shaped kitchens is using every inch to your advantage. Use Le Mans units inside corner cupboards. They’ll bring the contents out to you,’ says Hayley Robson, creative director, Day True .

‘Take the kitchen cabinets as close to the ceiling as possible. Not only does this look extremely elegant but it also maximises storage more than you would think.’

10. Choose to hide it away

(Image credit: Photography/Anna Stathaki.)

Combining kitchen, living and dining in one room is a common scenario in small apartments.

For this luxury space in Knightsbridge, interior designer Kia Stanford has conceived a hidden kitchen that conceals the more practical side of cooking when the owners are relaxing. ‘The trick is to select materials and finishes more typically associated with living room furniture,’ says Kia.

Here, tall pocket doors shut away the small appliances and boiling water tap. Don’t be fooled by first appearances, this hidden kitchen is fully equipped for cooking up a storm.

11. Add a narrow island

(Image credit: Future Plc and Serena Fokschaner)

The width of floor space around an island is arguably more important than the width of the island itself. Aim for at least 90-100cm clear walkway around an island’s full perimeter.

‘It is essential not to make an island’s dimensions too big, as it may restrict movement around the kitchen,’ explains Ben Burbidge, managing director, Burbidge & Son.

An island unit should be at least one cabinet deep (60cm) to provide useful storage underneath, a little wider will be useful for spreading out when prepping on the surface.

12. Use clear walls

(Image credit: Plain English)

Leaving walls free from cabinetry can make a huge impact to the sense of space in a small kitchen. This only works if you have sufficient storage space elsewhere, such as a walk-in pantry.

Open shelving is less burdensome than solid wall cabinets, but even they create a degree of visual ‘noise’, so if it’s simplicity you are seeking, better to go without.

Here, Plain English has packed storage into both sides of the peninsula, leaving the walls blissfully empty, bar a simple cooker hood.

13. Try a breakfast bar

(Image credit: Rachael Smith)

Perfect for casual meals, a quick coffee or chatting to friends while you cook – all without losing prep space – breakfast bars are hugely practical.

‘Don’t assume it isn’t possible to squeeze a breakfast bar into a small kitchen. What a table-style design lacks in storage, it more than makes up for in creating a feeling of lightness and space,’ says Fabiana Scavolini, CEO of Scavolini .

‘This style of breakfast bar is less obtrusive than a standard peninsula with base units and it opens up the space by showing more of the floor.’

Don't forget to think about lighting ideas for small kitchens , too, so your breakfast bar can stand out in all its glory.

14. Hide everything behind sliding doors

(Image credit: Life Kitchens)

For small apartments, open-plan living and teeny-weeny floor plans, consider the option to conceal a one-wall, narrow kitchen from view with sliding doors. A single bank of floor-to-ceiling units (kitted out with storage, cooking, sink, the lot) can magically disappear when not in use thanks to fully retractable doors. The result is an uninterrupted wall finish, which, depending on your door choice, will add an extra dash of color and texture to a small space.

‘The most prevalent demand on modern properties is space,’ explains Graeme Smith, head of retail and commercial design at Life Kitchens . ‘Ever shrinking footprints mean that rooms are now multifunctional; combining living, dining and cooking into one space is fast becoming the norm. Life’s Hidden Kitchen provides everything needed with areas for preparation, cooking and storage. Essentials such as a fridge-freezer, oven and dishwasher are all included in this slim profile kitchen and with sliding, bifold doors, you can seamlessly hide it all away, leaving behind a statement, paneled wall feature.’

15. Add reflective surfaces

(Image credit: Tile Club)

Glossy door fronts, transparent glass shelving and metallic appliances will all take advantage of natural daylight and help make a small kitchen layout feel roomier by bouncing any available light around the space.

‘One of my best tips for a small kitchen is to utilize mirrors within your space – they can make a small space seem much larger than it actually is,’ says Zara O’Hare, internal interior design consultant at Land of Rugs . ‘Any natural light flowing through the space can be bounced back through different areas, making it seem lighter and more airy. I would place mirrors opposite areas where natural light comes through into the space, so windows and doors are your main opportunity. ’

These bevelled, antique mirror glass subway tiles will help open up a small kitchen layout.

16. Install hidden light sources

(Image credit: Schmidt UK)

As well as mirror finishes and glossy surfaces, clever kitchen lighting ideas can be key to the success of small kitchen layout ideas. Slick, unobtrusive strip lighting hidden under a wall cabinet or embedded into a plinth will not intrude into valuable inches and create the illusion of more room in a compact kitchen. It will also help bounce natural daylight around your space.

‘Strategic placing of lights, reflective surfaces and a light color scheme will make your kitchen seem bigger than it is,’ says Giovanni Scippo, director at 3D Lines . ‘You should be using what we call task lights, which are placed above where you do most of the work – the sink and counter. Another small but effective trick is to line your shelves and cabinets with strip lights – they’re easily concealed and very functional. ’

‘In a small kitchen, wall cabinets are usually necessary to give sufficient storage space, but unfortunately can make the room seem darker,’ adds Alice Pasteau, retail support manager, Schmidt UK . ‘Made-to-measure LED profiles can be built into your units, giving diffuse, neutral lighting over your countertop.’

17. Keep counters clutter-free in a small kitchen layout

(Image credit: Higham)

Clever small kitchen layout ideas should ensure countertop paraphernalia can be kept to a minimum. Small appliances, and sugar, tea and coffee canisters can all eat up valuable surface area for food preparation and make a kitchen feel messy and cramped. One way is to add extra shelving or wall cabinets for stashing away all of those items that are generally on show. Another popular idea is a dedicated breakfast cupboard, which sits on top of the counter, with space to hide away cereal, bread, coffee, preserves, bowls, mugs and small plates, plus kettles, toasters and juicers (with power points inside so they don’t have to be moved when used.

‘When designing a kitchen, it is important to understand how a client lives and uses the space,’ says Tim Higham owner of bespoke kitchen brand Higham Furniture . ‘At first, our recommendation for this fairly traditional kitchen in an Edwardian period property was to have wall cabinets either side of the chimney, freeing up the counter space next to the range.

‘However, when the client said that any empty worktop in their home would get cluttered, we agreed that the dressers would work best as they allowed for appliances and other items to be hidden out of sight.’

The proportions of the room led to a narrow small kitchen island, which is highly functional though, and includes a sink, dishwasher and bins plus sink and overhang for stools.

18. Create unexpected storage in a small layout

(Image credit: Beam/Ahmad AbouZanat, Project AZ)

Think outside the box when it comes to layout in a limited footprint. Small kitchen layouts should include great storage solutions plus implement top tactics for organizing a small kitchen. Try built-in benches, unused plinths that can be transformed into slim, toe-kick drawers and skinny larder cabinets with adjustable racking systems that utilize a narrow, redundant gap.

Using a modern mix of petroleum blue, walnut and brass, this small kitchen started life enclosed on all sides by walls, separating it from the rest of the house. Now, it is open plan to the living room, with a kitchen island that features a removable dining table and clever storage columns with a chic bar area.

‘By opening up the kitchen, I was able to capture unused space in the hallway and create additional storage through the insertion of the kitchen island,’ explains interior designer Ahmad AbouZanat of Project AZ . ‘The bar area is an entirely new area of storage they didn’t have before.’

19. Use flooring to alter proportions

(Image credit: Havwoods)

Create the illusion of more space with your choice of kitchen flooring. Hardwood floor planks can draw the eye down the room to make it seem longer or across it so it feels wider depending on which way they are laid. This clever design trick is particularly useful when a small kitchen leads into a living area; laying the same floor throughout will create a seamless, unbroken mood and add a sense of depth.

‘With space coming at a premium for some rooms, interiors are required to work harder and in turn become more flexible,‘ says Greg Elliot, head of technical at Havwoods . ‘The floor then becomes one of the largest fixtures and so designers are putting extra focus on how it impacts the space. Vertically placed planks or wide, long planks work particularly well in galley kitchens as they will increase the sense of space in the room.’

20. Be clever with color

(Image credit: Farrow & Ball)

Sticking to a pale small kitchen paint colors is a foolproof way to make the most of the light in a small kitchen. Of course, if you want drama and bold color, an all-over paint shade can instead be applied to striking effect. Try painting cabinets, walls and ceiling in the same top-to-toe color to blur the lines of a small kitchen layout and create the illusion of a bigger area.

If that’s a step too far for your design tastebuds, introduce contrasting colors in a simple way: use darker colors such as navy or forest green on the floor cabinets and paint wall cabinets and walls in a pale shade to blend in with the ceiling.

What is the best layout for a small kitchen?

The best kitchen layouts are usually dictated by the immovable architectural elements, like windows, doors, chimney breasts and structural beams.

Try to avoid layouts that involve corners, such as L and U-shapes, but if a corner is inevitable, do make use of internal storage mechanisms like Le Mans and carousel systems.

Drawers are considered superior to cupboards in terms of full access to all contents. Also think about how cabinets and appliances open. A dishwasher door that clashes with a fridge door opposite will endlessly annoy.

How do you declutter a small kitchen?

One way to declutter a small kitchen is through the use of cabinetry. A plain slab door with push-touch or recessed handles will look sleeker than a framed door with protruding hardware.

Likewise, a breakfast cupboard with bi-folding or tambour doors can be used to hide away countertop appliances, including the coffee machine and toaster. A boiling water tap takes the kettle out of the equation and can be combined with your regular hot and cold supply in one neat unit.

Larders always sound like a luxury exclusive to large kitchens, but they utilise the room’s height, so offer impressive volumes of storage. Hang a small set of steps on the inside of the larder door for easy access to the top shelves.

What appliances are best for small kitchens?

Multifunctional appliances are best for small kitchens, like a combi-microwave or combi-steam oven, which are essentially two cooking methods in one.

You can also get single ovens that can be split to cook at different temperatures; like a double oven but in a smaller footprint. Built-in, compact appliances are 45cm-high, instead of 60cm, and can be stacked neatly. Induction hobs with built-in extraction can also save space overhead but do check how much cupboard space you’ll lose below for the motor unit.

Slimline dishwashers are 45cm-wide, which can make all the difference if you’re counting every cm. Under-mounted drawer-style refrigeration comes with impressive capacities.

Do think very carefully about the appliances you need, or you could end up with nowhere to store crockery. Could a wine fridge fit in the dining room for example?

Linda graduated from university with a First in Journalism, Film and Broadcasting. Her career began on a trade title for the kitchen and bathroom industry, and she has worked for Homes & Gardens, and sister-brands Livingetc, Country Homes & Interiors and Ideal Home, since 2006, covering interiors topics, though kitchens and bathrooms are her specialism. 

With contributions from

52 Small Kitchen Ideas That Prove That Less Is More

Introduction

By

Kristin Hohenadel

Kristin Hohenadel

Kristin Hohenadel is an interior design expert who has covered architecture, interiors, and decor trends for publications including the New York Times, Interior Design, Lonny, and the American and international editions of Elle Decor. She resides in Paris, France, and has traveled to over 30 countries, giving her a global perspective on home design.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 10/18/22

The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto

When it comes to kitchens, bigger isn't always better. The most experienced chefs know that you don't need a ton of space or non-essential equipment to produce a stunning meal. A small kitchen where everything required to prep and cook is within arms' reach can make everyday cooking more efficient and stress free. Easier to clean and maintain, a smaller kitchen encourages you to focus on the essential and eliminate clutter, and can feel especially cozy and inviting with thoughtful design and decor.

Check out these stylish, compact, space-saving kitchens in a range of styles that have everything you need to cook for yourself or a crowd.

DIY-Friendly and Lower Cost Small Kitchen Remodels

70 photo examples, ideas and options

Small kitchens, unfortunately, are not only a legacy of the recent past. They are also found in modern apartments. When buying such an apartment, the owners face the question of which layout to choose in order to make such a kitchen cozy and functional.

Minimalism and practicality are an integral part of the interior design of a small kitchen.

Contents

Which layout to choose

The main task of planning a small kitchen is to use every centimeter of usable space. How to arrange furniture so that the kitchen is primarily comfortable for the hostess? There are several standard planning solutions: linear arrangement of furniture, corner U-shaped, G-shaped. Let's look at the most preferred options.

A set in a small kitchen must be neat, with closed shelves, without noticeable reliefs.

Corner

This is the preferred option for small kitchens. Furniture is located along two adjacent walls in two perpendicular lines. This method of placement allows even a modest area to be effectively used.

Built-in drawers, pull-out shelves, hooks and magnets on the doors, spinning corner carousels - all this will allow you to conveniently place all your kitchen utensils.

The advantages of this solution are obvious:

Calm shades with a neutral character will fit well into the design of a small kitchen.

The only disadvantage of this solution is that it is not suitable for narrow elongated kitchens. Even if the shape of the room tends to be more like a rectangle, it will be difficult to implement such an arrangement.

Most often in small kitchens, a strict L-shaped arrangement of furniture and large household appliances is performed. The sink is located in the corner of the headset, refrigerator and stove on the right and left. Sometimes a small kitchen can even accommodate a bar counter. In the smallest kitchen, it can completely replace the dining table.

The materials that will be used for finishing the kitchen must be of high quality and resistant to temperature extremes.

Straight plan

In many cases, a straight plan is the best solution for small kitchens. This is especially true for narrow elongated rooms. This is an option in which the elements of the kitchen set are placed along one wall.

The sink can be placed in any convenient area, where the communications are located, in the case when the layout is linear.

Of course, the linear arrangement of the sink, stove and refrigerator is not always convenient, as it violates the triangle principle - the main one in kitchen ergonomics. Therefore, in larger rooms, a linear kitchen set is usually combined with a peninsula or even an island.

The ideal kitchen is planned in such a way that after cooking and eating, all the utensils fit freely into the cupboards.

Linear or straight layout would thus be the preferred option:

In a modern kitchen, glossy or smooth surfaces are possible, and plain tiles can also be used for design.

What are the advantages of direct planning:

Of course, for a long kitchen, such a location will not be the most convenient - the hostess will have to run a lot along the workplaces.

Cabinets for a small kitchen are best chosen right up to the ceiling.

What layout is not suitable for a small kitchen

Unfortunately, in a small kitchen, all ideas for creating an island or even a peninsula will have to be abandoned - they simply will not fit into the room. U-shaped and even more intricate G-layouts will not work - you risk being left without a dining area.

However, this option is acceptable if the apartment has a separate dining room. Then you can leave a small built-in bar for morning coffee in the kitchen, and the table and chairs will be in the room.

A bar counter in a small kitchen can replace a bulky dining table.

Two-row linear layout is acceptable in a small kitchen, but with some nuances . Firstly, cabinets will need to be bought with a small depth. Such a layout is optimal if the width of the room is at least 2.2 m - then it will be possible to accommodate 2 rows of furniture 60 cm deep and leave a meter passage between the rows. One row of kitchen furniture will have to be made shorter to accommodate the dining area. In appearance, this option will look like a trailer.

Another idea for a room with a small quadrature is to combine adjacent spaces due to a similar visual design in a single scale.

What furniture to choose and how to arrange it correctly

When choosing furniture and household appliances for a small kitchen, it is better to use special 3D design programs so as not to make a mistake with the dimensions.

Furniture should be arranged so that it does not interfere with movement.

Kitchen set

Unfortunately, not every typical kitchen will fit into a small kitchen. Of course, the concept of small is different for everyone - for someone and 10 meters a small kitchen. However, most often in typical planning solutions for Khrushchev, Brezhnevka and even early stalins there are kitchens with an area of ​​​​6 squares, 5.7 and even 4 sq.m. In such a kitchen, it is better to make a custom-made set, narrowed, with functional corner cabinets and tall.

For a small-sized kitchen, the best option would be oval or round shapes, which by themselves do not provide for clear, even lines, which makes the room wider and more spacious.

Furniture arrangement should solve 2 main tasks: functionality and minimalism. There should be no excess furniture in a small kitchen, but it should solve all storage problems. If the ceiling height allows, you can even consider installing the top row of cabinets under the ceiling, where little-used equipment can be removed.

The fewer things in a small kitchen, the better, you need to organize storage so that everything that is usually placed on the countertop is hidden in drawers and cabinets.

When choosing furniture, order light glossy facades. They will reflect the lighting, and the kitchen will seem more spacious. Glass and mirror inserts will also look good. If small children are planned to appear in the apartment, order furniture with rounded corners - this will increase its safety. Tables that are beveled (narrowed) towards the front door look good in small kitchens.

A great idea to visually expand the space is to place the tallest object (eg a refrigerator) in the far corner.

Table and bar counter

The location of the dining area directly depends on the size of the kitchen. In a kitchen with an area of ​​​​6 squares and a little more, you can place a table and chairs near a free wall or near a window. When placing a dining area near the window, you can even put a narrow kitchen sofa with your back to the window.

If the family consists of two or three people, then the stove can be two burners and take up little space.

Standard sofas have a seat width of 60 cm. But for the kitchen, you can also find models with a depth of 40 cm. Of course, they will not be particularly comfortable for a long time at the table, but they will be enough for eating.

Kitchen corner is a great option for a large family.

In smaller kitchens, you will have to look for narrow tables or even use a narrow table that folds away from the wall. A good option is to remove the window sill from the window and order a combined window sill table that captures part of the wall. Such products are made of artificial stone, they are not particularly expensive, but they look quite impressive.

It is advisable to extend and expand the window sill and, depending on the height, turn it into a table, work surface or make it a bench.

A small family can be limited to a bar instead of a table. It will increase the functionality of the kitchen space, creating an original environment. A great idea would be to combine a bar counter and a window sill. For a two-level rack, the second part of which is mounted on a metal console, it would be wise to place traditional coasters for wine glasses and fruit shelves on top. And you can slide high bar stools under the counter.

Bright spotlights located along the perimeter of the ceiling, as well as above hanging cabinets and shelves will help to visually expand the room.

Where to put the refrigerator

The standard type of ordinary Khrushchev is a refrigerator in the corridor. Of course, this is not the most convenient accommodation option, since the hostess will have to run to it all the time, in addition, it clutters up the passage. The built-in refrigerator in the kitchen will help maintain the ergonomics of the room and will not clutter up the aisles.

Best of all, if household appliances are built-in and will create a single composition with a kitchen set.

However, you can place the refrigerator separately from the headset, if the configuration of the room allows. For example, it can be placed near the door, especially if it is located asymmetrically. If there is a niche in the kitchen, you can put a refrigerator there even with increased dimensions.

The simple design of a kitchen set can be diversified with the help of an interesting apron, for example, by placing photo wallpapers behind the glass.

A standard small refrigerator is usually placed at the beginning or end of a line of furniture. Narrow refrigerators fit well into any interior - now you can buy appliances with a depth of 54 cm.

If the kitchen is combined with a loggia, a great place to install a refrigerator is on the loggia. Of course, the rule of the kitchen triangle in this case will be violated, but space in the kitchen will be freed up. You can not put the refrigerator next to the stove, radiator and geyser.

Color

A small kitchen, by definition, should be bright. The brighter the kitchen, the more spacious the room feels. Light furniture facades, light walls, short curtains, additional lighting are the main recommendations.

Quite versatile options for a small kitchen are blinds and rolled bamboo products.

A dark floor will add depth to the room, and bright contrasts in the form of an apron or decorative elements will help the kitchen flourish. As for lighting, additional lighting can be done above the work area and near the dining table.

Light curtains for a small kitchen should not be dark.

How to make the kitchen more spacious: useful tips

The most radical way to make the kitchen more spacious is to combine it with an adjacent room or balcony. However, all this is costly and brings redevelopment problems with government agencies.

The cold tone of the floor from white and gray to dark does not focus attention and visually enlarges the space.

In the kitchen, you can create the illusion of space:

If you use white color not only in decoration, but choose furniture in white color, it will seem that the space has no boundaries at all.

The most common mistakes when planning a kitchen

And finally, I would like to point out the most common mistakes when planning small kitchens:

Accessories should be chosen in the same color scheme as the main palette of the interior of the small kitchen.

Small kitchen layout options real photo examples

7 ideas, 4 mistakes and 93 photos (real)

We will analyze all 7 rules and 4 mistakes on real photo examples of small kitchen design.

  • How to furnish a small kitchen
  • Small corner kitchens

    • 7 Design ideas for a small kitchen

    Hereinafter we start from the assumption that a small kitchen also means not unlimited budget . All advice will be to maximize the result/price ratio.

    1. Small kitchen up to the ceiling

    Upper cabinets in small kitchens should always be built up to the ceiling. Even if you don't get it, you will always find some rarely used items that you can stuff into the upper lockers and forget. Without a gap, the design of a small kitchen looks monolithic and the furniture is not perceived as boxes hung on the wall. There will be no question of masking the ventilation pipe from the hood. Rubbish, dust and grease will not accumulate.


    It is better to buy a stepladder for a penny and climb up a couple of times a season than to waste both appearance and storage space.

    You can always either lower the ceiling in the cabinet area, or increase the height of the upper cabinets, or both. Photo examples:







    By the way, handles on the upper cabinets are not needed: both with hinged opening and with lifting mechanisms, the facades are simply made 1 centimeter longer and open at the bottom. Upper cabinets should look solid.

    If you do, the handles must be the same and either all horizontal or all vertical.

    The photo below is an example of a good design for a small kitchen, where just following the tips from this first point would make this design already chic.

    If your area does not exceed 7 sq. m., see my material about the design of kitchens in Khrushchev. Also read a separate article specifically about the features of choosing a kitchen set for a small kitchen - furniture for a small kitchen is critical. Here we are considering options for 7-12 square meters. m.

    Naturally, there are exceptions to any rules, and I have an article with beautiful pictures of kitchens where the canons don't care. But here we are talking about small kitchens where there is no time for experiments.

    2. Built-in hood

    Everyone is used to the fact that built-in appliances are expensive. And this is true, but not for hoods. A built-in hood costs even less than a regular one: from $35 for a regular built-in hood and from $50 for a telescopic one. It makes sense to take it among the cheapest ones. they are no different from the expensive ones. The advantage of such a hood is the space around the pipe in the cabinet, which does not disappear as in the case of ordinary ones. We have all the tea/coffee/condiments stored there. Compare. Plain:

    Wasted a lot of space. And built-in:






    3. No more than two colors

    Maximum one primary and one accent. Moreover, the facades should be of a calm color. There is a mandatory set of items for cooking, and in a small area the concentration of these items is very high. And they also have their own colors.

    The best color combination in terms of price/performance ratio is still white with wood. In general, you need to be careful with bright colors in the design of a small kitchen - the risk of overdoing it is too high.

    A Scandinavian style kitchen is beautiful with dirty accent colors that are easy to match with natural finishes.



    Bright colors are acceptable, but you are at risk.




    4. No accessories

    If the only function that an object in the interior of a small kitchen has is a beautiful appearance, then this is an extra item. Stylish design is achieved by competent planning, selection of materials, furniture and equipment.

    A good indicator of an extra item is its constant movement to different places without being used. Remember the photos of real small kitchens that you liked. Was it the accessories? In any case, the small dimensions of the kitchen require a complete rejection of accessories.

    When looking at photos on the Internet, always imagine them in actual use: with all appliances, utensils, towels, etc.

    Then it will immediately become clear why it is impossible to overload with accessories and flowers.



    The same goes for fridge magnets, travel plate collections, etc. There is nothing wrong with this and for a family it can mean more than appearance, but from a design point of view, this is not the place in a small kitchen.



    5. Unload the table top as much as possible

    The smaller the area, the more difficult it is to clean. Because there is not enough space on the countertop and when cleaning you have to rearrange items from place to place. You've probably heard the wrong triangle rule about the fridge, sink, and stove. Actually the center of a small kitchen is a free horizontal plane. Because of all 3 points, we first put food and dishes on the table, and only then we perform manipulations.

    Therefore, the first task is to remove everything from the countertop. What is possible is stuffed into closed places, and for the rest we need roof rails . A must-have item in a small kitchen, but one that limits the design of the backsplash because it will always be perceptibly obscured. We hang special shelves on the rails and store things on them. Here is a perfect example of organization (but not design):


    We make an apron uniform without drawings and patterns (bright is possible).


    6. Modern interior of a small kitchen

    This is not a hard and fast rule, but classic styles are more expensive to implement and love large areas. In addition, there are many household appliances, and almost all of them have a modern design. To maintain the style of the interior and the technique, you will have to greatly narrow the range of choice and raise the budget. Plus, there is too much non-functional decor in the classics, which just eats up square meters.

    The only classic design styles that I would consider for a small kitchen are Provence and light neoclassic.



    7. Custom-made furniture and built-in appliances

    Unfortunately, this item can only be solved with money, but it is very important. The area of ​​your apartment also costs money, and in a small kitchen, every sq.m. on account. Therefore, it is logical to overpay for the manufacture of furniture exactly to your size and for the equipment built into it.

    A particular pain is the built-in microwave, which unreasonably costs 3+ times as much as a stand-alone one and starts at $200. There are no objective reasons for such a price, and it looks like a cartel of all manufacturers. But it really looks much better than freestanding and saves the most scarce horizontal areas in a small kitchen, so with tears in your eyes it is still worth forking out. Or take the risk of making the furniture exactly the size of the usual one. But keep in mind that for built-in ventilation through the front facade, and for ordinary ones through the back panel, it can overheat.

    Many people lay a niche for a built-in microwave and put a regular microwave in it, but with the ability to switch to a built-in at any time.

    4 Mistakes in the interior of a small kitchen

    Not following any rule from the 1st part is a mistake, but we will not repeat it. The following rules are relevant specifically for small kitchens, in others they may not be errors.

    1. Transparent boxes

    Same planning error. Before repair, imagine beautiful drawers with glass inserts and lighting, from where beautiful neatly arranged dishes will be viewed. Only after the repair, a small kitchen will bring you a little reality.

    In medium and larger kitchens, glass inserts are still acceptable, but in small ones there will be too much overload with details.





    2. No upper cabinets

    Without upper cabinets, practicality suffers in addition to appearance. Kitchens without hanging cabinets look cool only on a very large area, otherwise it looks like there is not enough money for the upper ones yet. Well, it does not pull on the design idea.


    Open shelves are also not an option here, believe me, Designwiki.ru will not advise garbage.

    Functionally, upper cabinets are a must: an extractor hood and a drain from it, a dish dryer (it is inconvenient to take it from below). And in general, taking from above is more convenient than constantly bending.

    If the kitchen has a corner and a short side, hang the cabinets on the long side.


    3. Floor joint

    The floor must be the same. Either laminate everywhere, or tiles everywhere, no joints and thresholds. I analyzed in detail in the material which floor to choose for the kitchen.

    4. Lots of design in a small area

    Don't be smart. The most harmful thought that can come during a repair is that it turns out too simple and needs to be complicated. No need. There are extra sq.m. - there is a design, but in kitchens up to 10 meters it is necessary to do as simply as possible .

    Upper cabinets should preferably be uniform and monolithic. Compare and keep it simple:





    How to furnish a small kitchen

    furniture is the main thing in the design of a small kitchen.

    If you have a kitchen with a balcony, you can add it. This can be done simply by removing the window block. In place of the former window sill, we install a countertop and get a table or bar counter. The balcony will need to be insulated.



    If you need more working area, but the size of the room does not allow and there is no balcony, then you can make a tabletop window sill. At the bottom of the boxes will not be added, because. there will be a battery, but more space on the table.

    If you decide to move the sink to the window, take into account the nuance with the trash can. Usually it stands under the sink, but if the sink is near the window, then the battery will also be there, which means that the garbage will quickly deteriorate and smell. Find another place for the bucket.











    Be smart with your layout. There is no need to complicate the design in a small kitchen, but the most insane layout options should be considered. Sometimes very interesting options for arranging furniture can turn out.




    The idea: custom kitchen sellers offer free plan creation - use it, no need to order.

    A two-burner cooktop is enough for almost everyone.


    Small corner kitchens

    If the shape of the room is closer to a square, then our option is corner kitchens. Otherwise, there will be too much free unused floor, and in a small area we cannot allow this.




    In general, corner furniture is the standard. There are very good reasons to refuse it. The layout of the corner kitchen should always start with the refrigerator. it is the only one that occupies all 3 levels (lower cabinets, apron area, upper cabinets).

    The junction of the countertop and the non-built-in refrigerator cannot be fixed and moisture will get into the end of the countertop. It must be laminated as open.

    With the corner version, we will have 1 corner for the L-shaped or 2 for the U-shaped. Using the corner lower cabinets is extremely inconvenient. You can put up with and store rarely used things there. And you can use special fittings for corner cabinets, but it costs simply unrealistic money.




    Washing can be done on the corner. From the point of view of design, it does not look very stylish, but the practicality is maximum - an uncomfortable corner will be occupied by communications and filters, access to which is rarely needed.

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