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Galley kitchen layouts


12 kitchen layouts that maximize space |

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(Image credit: Future)

If you are after galley kitchen ideas and inspiration, then you've come to the right place. 

So much has changed in the way in which we design and use our kitchens over the last decade or so, but there is something reassuring in how the galley kitchen has adapted to the new-found sense of space in more contemporary kitchen ideas , and has thrived. 

Galley kitchen ideas – turn this narrow layout into a dream space

Named after a ship’s kitchen, galley kitchens were originally associated with simplicity and tight spaces – there’s not much room for superfluous detail on the average ship. But the reason that galley kitchen layouts work is that they are ergonomically sound – it's easy to place everything so it is to hand.

1. Use galley kitchen layouts in an open plan kitchen

(Image credit: Future / Darren Cheung)

Open plan kitchens and spacious islands are partly to blame for wall units falling out of fashion – when you’ve got oodles of space to play with, it’s easy to see why you would want to keep the look open and save reaching overhead.  

But wall units will always have a valid place in small kitchens and narrow rooms, where you can make the most of the height and still have usable worksurface. 

Popular options include lift up doors and tall, sleek, flat-fronted doors in a striking material. But if you are really not a fan, consider open shelving or perhaps cubby holes if you need to make use of more height.

If you really want to make a statement in a galley kitchen, paint your units in an entirely different color to the rest of the room to make them sing out. 

2. Create a modern interpretation of the galley kitchen

(Image credit: Future / Davide Lovatti)

In recent years, a third galley kitchen scenario has evolved, incorporating the galley layout into more modern kitchen ideas .

'Modern galley kitchens can be part of a much larger space, featuring a wall-hugging galley run with a long island running parallel, separating a living or dining area beyond,' explains Paul O’Brien, director of Kitchens International.  

Although following the double galley footprint, it feels different as it is a lighter, more open and more sociable space. 

3. Declutter with the right storage 

(Image credit: Future / Davide Lovatti)

Good kitchen storage ideas are perhaps the most important element to consider when planning a galley kitchen. 

Choose a scheme that includes plenty of storage, and if wall units aren’t possible in all areas, go for an abundance of floor units with drawers. 

Also, natural light is key in helping to create space, so if possible include a window and door in your galley kitchen. A neutral color scheme in all areas will help to give the feeling of space.

Simple kitchen color schemes don't have to mean all-white designs though. Here, a tonal palette of subtle blues, grays and taupes blend beautifully to create a stylish gray kitchen .

4. Keep it open and bright

(Image credit: Future / Paul Raeside)

Galley kitchens have a tendency to look small and cluttered, but there is one way to negate this issue.  

Give small kitchen layouts the illusion of space by going for shelves rather than wall units. 

Keep them the same color as the rest of the cabinetry below for a seamless look, and have fun displaying colorful glass bottles, storage containers and too-pretty-to-hide-away teapots.

5. Trick the eye with light, color and minimal cabinetry

(Image credit: Future / Polly Eltes)

A galley kitchen layout is particularly suited to more compact spaces, as it ensures you have the worksurfaces and appliances you need while still providing essential storage for small kitchens .

The trick is to make the space work for you – make it look bigger by using light colors and reflective surfaces.

'Try not to have tall units on both sides in double galley kitchens, as it will become overbearing,' advises Tim Higham of Higham Furniture. 'If possible, try to avoid wall cabinets on one side, opting for open shelving where feasible. This will help to make the space feel larger. '

6. Work a narrow room

(Image credit: Future / Jonathan Gooch)

To make the most of a tall, narrow kitchen, use a mixture of wall cabinets, open shelving, base cabinets and drawers to vary your design and keep the outlook as open as possible.

Make sure you have enough room to move around the kitchen easily without bumping into other people; check there is enough space between opposite runs of units to open drawers, cupboards and appliances, and if it’s a bit of a squeeze consider reduced depth cabinets.   

And last, but certainly not least, it’s essential to get the lighting right, especially in a narrow room. This really has to be planned at the start of the project. 

Overhead natural light is always a bonus – if you are planning a kitchen extension, think about where you can position skylights.

(Image credit: Future / Alistair Nicholls)

A single run is kitchen design as its most essential. 

If you only have a single run –  one row – of cabinets, worktop space may be limited, so it makes sense to create different zones for food preparation, serving and cleaning up, often divided by the key points of hob, sink and refrigerator.

Whatever the size of your room, try to keep the mix of colors and/or textures to two or possibly three – that includes the walls, floor and ceilings as well as the cabinets.

It is cheaper to change the walls five years on than it will be to buy and install new cabinets – so if you’re not sure, neutral kitchen cabinet colors may be the best option. 

8.  Work a galley layout into a large kitchen

(Image credit: Future / Davide Lovatti)

The galley layout can work just wonderfully in a large kitchen. 

The presence of two runs of units provides an architectural frame to a dining table or kitchen island in the centre, while in open plan areas an island or run of units provides the cut-off between living and cooking zones.

Introduce a small dining area into galley kitchens by opting for a compact dining table, which can be pushed against an unused wall. 

9. Light up small galley kitchens

(Image credit: Future / Davide Lovatti)

Kitchen lighting ideas can make or break both the aesthetics and function of a galley kitchen.  

'Keep galley kitchens as uncomplicated as possible – a simple layout and cleverly placed lighting will completely reinvent the space,' says Naomi Dean, furniture and showroom designer at Harvey Jones. 

'Opt for worktop spot-lights, that will not only brighten your workspace but will illuminate the rest of the area. This will instantly brighten your kitchen and add the effect of more space.'

10. Opt for handleless cabinetry

(Image credit: Future / James Merrell)

To make the most of available space without overwhelming a compact open plan room, consider a kitchen with handleless doors. Technological advances in push-open and close doors means that it has become possible to dispense with handles in both wall and base cabinets. 

Stone or wood floors are also a practical solution for galley kitchens that will help to create a layered, texturized effect. 

11. Keep cabinets at eye-level

(Image credit: Alexandria Hall)

Keeping walls cabinet-free at eye-level can make a galley kitchen appear wider. It’s also more comfortable to use kitchen countertops without cabinets looming above, so you won’t waste an inch of prep space. Position any tall storage required, e.g. fridge-freezers or larders, at the entrance to the room and you’ll naturally look past them. 

‘We deliberately avoided upper cabinetry to avoid closing in the airiness of the room. It also gives the original ceiling cornicing and architraves more breathing space,’ explains designer Jack Trench. ‘The base units are deeper than standard to maximize storage and counter space.’

12. Freshen up your color scheme

(Image credit: Paul Craig)

‘Using pale colors in a long, narrow kitchen is a great way to open up the room and helps to reflect and diffuse the available natural light,’ says Mark Mills, managing director of Mereway. 

Blues with yellow or grey undertones are ideal; red undertones will take you towards purple, which is more moody than upbeat. Think sky blue, duck egg and soft teal. Polished countertops and kitchen backsplashes ideas, again in pale tones, also boast light-reflecting powers. Make the flooring your darkest choice and go for a warm white on walls and ceiling. This graduation from dark to light is an established way to square-up elongated rooms.

What can I do with a galley kitchen?

Perhaps you're thinking, what can I do with a gallery kitchen? Well, galley kitchen ideas are designed to be both compact and ultra-efficient, maximizing every inch of space for both storage and preparation. Named after the space-efficient ship's kitchen, this popular linear layout is designed to work with ergonomic ease.

Professional kitchens also follow a similar linear plan, with lines of ranges or hobs divided into specific stations for the preparation of different types of dishes.

Where there is room for a parallel run of units – a double galley – you can introduce the classic work triangle, arranging the key task zones of fridge, cooker and sink in this pattern to cut down on the footwork between them.

This is not only successful in narrow rooms that have enough width to take two rows of units, its exactly the format that is so popular in open plan spaces, with a long island providing the second leg, often creating a sociable casual seating area and a natural boundary for the kitchen space at the same time.

How do you maximize a galley kitchen?

To maximize galley kitchens you simply need smart ideas. A good kitchen designer will be able to come up with solutions for the trickiest of spaces but if you feel you want to explore the room’s potential further, and are perhaps considering structural work, it is worth consulting an interior designer or architect. 

In double galley kitchens, storage ‘walls’ or ‘banks’ are a great solution for both open plan and closed schemes, by giving over the whole wall to a combination of storage and appliances. 

Storage can be organised in pull-out larders or increasingly popular pantry ideas – both have narrow shelving which makes products easily visible.  

A mix of both drawers and cupboards can serve you well in any kitchen, and can be designed in such a way that any handles and all the cabinetry lines align.  

Drawers are great for pots, pans, chinaware and ingredients, as you can pack a lot into the space and still access it easily. Fitting drawers under the hob also puts the maximum range of utensils, dishes and ingredients such as herbs to hand. 

Cupboards excel at hiding larger pieces of kit, including food mixers and perhaps even a trusty countertop microwave. 

Jennifer is the Digital Editor at Homes & Gardens. Having worked in the interiors industry for a number of years, spanning many publications, she now hones her digital prowess on the 'best interiors website' in the world. Multi-skilled, Jennifer has worked in PR and marketing, and the occasional dabble in the social media, commercial and e-commerce space. Over the years, she has written about every area of the home, from compiling design houses from some of the best interior designers in the world to sourcing celebrity homes, reviewing appliances and even the odd news story or two.

11 Galley Kitchen Layout Ideas & Design Tips

Design by deVOL Kitchens

A long and narrow kitchen configuration with a central walkway that has cabinetry, countertops, and appliances built along one or both walls, the galley kitchen is often found in older city apartments and historic homes. While it might feel dated and cramped to people used to open plan kitchens, the galley kitchen is a space-saving classic that appeals to those who enjoy having a self-contained room for meal prep, with the added benefit of keeping kitchen mess out of sight from the main living space.

Check out these tips for designing a comfortable and efficient layout for a galley-style kitchen, or for optimizing the one that you already have.

Fourteen compact galley kitchens - Decor Design

In our latest lookbook, we've rounded up 14 galley designs from architects and designers who create compact and efficient kitchens.

The galley kitchen consists of two parallel rows of blocks separated by a walkway. It is named after the cooking area on ships, which are traditionally narrow, cramped spaces called galleys.

Galley layouts are often found in space-constrained environments as they offer a higher proportion of storage and preparation surfaces compared to circulation space, or when the kitchen area is long and narrow.

They are also efficient as the chef can quickly and easily switch between tasks.

This is one of the most popular kitchen layouts. The basic layout of the galley can be extended by adding an island between two rows of units.

This is the latest review in our Dezeen Lookbooks series, providing visual inspiration for the home. Previous kitchen-related articles include compact kitchens, bar counters, terrazzo kitchens, and island kitchens.

Sasha, France by SABO Project

The kitchen in this Parisian apartment is a hybrid of two popular layouts: part galley and part single wall.

The counter runs the full length of the kitchen-dining room and has a galley at one end where a wall-mounted oven and refrigerator are placed at full height. The entire kitchen is furnished with birch plywood furniture.

Learn more about Sasha ›

House in red concrete, Norway, Sanden + Hodnekvam Arkitekter

Rough concrete flooring paired with pine paneling and cabinetry in this classic galley kitchen in Norway.

Galley kitchens typically place the sink in front of a window and the hob on the windowless side, but here the arrangement has been reversed, with spectacular mountain views that distract anyone working with the stove.

Walls clad in pine paneling or cement clad to match the floor.

Find out more about the red concrete house ›

Apartment 308 S Brazil by Bloco Arquitetos

This apartment in Brasilia was built in the 1960s by architect Lucio Costa and landscape architect Burle Marx. It has been renovated with an open floor plan that reveals its concrete structure.

The kitchen is organized at the front of the house and combines white cabinetry with granite worktops. A row of cabinets facing the dining area serves as a breakfast bar.

Find out more about 308 S Apartment ›

Apartment in the Barbican, UK by John Pawson

A minimalist overhaul of this two-room apartment on the brutalist Barbican estate in London has led designer John Pawson to replace the original maze-like plan with a geometric, disrupted plan.

This includes a galley kitchen leading to a hallway leading to a small dining area.

Full-length cabinets without handles hide appliances and belongings along one wall. The other has a small countertop with a sink and hob, and one side has more full-sized drawers.

Find out more about the Barbican apartment ›

Yurikago House, Spain, Masaqui

The fitted kitchen on the ground floor of the multi-level Yurikago House features gray mottled terrazzo countertops and terracotta floor tiles.

End wall provides shelves on either side of a full size unit that houses a refrigerator/freezer.

Learn more about Yurikago House ›

Kasa House, Japan by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

This quirky cruciform home by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates in Kariya, Japan features an equally quirky cuisine.

The galley occupies one arm of the cross and consists of a stainless steel worktop with a large built-in sink on one side and wooden cabinets on the other.

The wall behind the sink is open to provide a service hatch for a small dining area outside.

Learn more about Kasa House ›

La Carmina, Spain, Studio RÄS

The unusual compact layout of this remodeled apartment in Barcelona by Studio RÄS is a square structure built into a living space that includes a bathroom and storage room.

The gap between the cube and the inner wall was used to accommodate a compact galley kitchen, which is separated from the dining area by a bathroom.

The asymmetrical kitchen has one polished granite counter that is split in height to allow a small window to open inward. The apron is lined with mosaic tiles, as is the floor.

Another table has a pine surface and an apron.

Find out more about La Carmina ›

Valencia Townhouse, Spain, DG Arquitecto Valencia

The narrow aisle in this Valencian townhouse is not wide enough even for a full galley kitchen. Instead, one series of units is smaller than usual and serves as a bar counter.

Marble tops, mosaic floor tiles.

Find out more about the townhouse in Valencia ›

Apartment 27A, Hong Kong Design Eight Five Two

Smart storage solutions, hidden cabinetry and bespoke furniture fill this kitchen in Hong Kong's Kowloon Bay area.

Muted green covers the under-worktop cabinets, while white wall cabinets and above-ground spaces provide more storage space.

Find out more about Flat 27A ›

Flat 17.6 sq. M., Taiwan, courtesy of A Little Design.

This former piano studio in Taipei covers only 17. 6 square meters and is 3.4 meters high.

The kitchen is located next to the hall, between two load-bearing walls. It's very handy in its tiny body, with compartments that reach to the ceiling on both sides, open shelving, and even a washing machine. On one side, a stand protrudes below, on which a small electric stove can be placed.

Find out more about the 17.6 sq. M ›

Shakespeare Tower Apartment, UK by Takero Shimazaki Architects

Also located on London's Barbican Estate, this apartment combines brutality with elegant Japanese details.

The interior is mostly wood, with wood paneling and grating used as screens to partially hide the kitchen.

The concrete ceiling was left exposed and contrasted with the wooden furniture, while stainless steel was used for all work surfaces. The floors are decorated with black glazed subway tiles.

Learn more about the apartment in the Shakespeare Tower ›

Galla House, Spain, by Kavaa.

This kitchen, designed by the architectural studio Cavaa, uses elements of color from other parts of the house.

The studio has equipped the kitchen behind a half-wall glass partition that stretches up to the ceiling and visually connects the kitchen with the living area.

The furniture was finished in light gray, which connects the storage solutions with the bluish-gray terrazzo floor that zones the space.

Learn more about Galla House ›

RF Apartment, Brazil by SuperLimão

Located in the modernist Saint Honoré building in São Paulo, designed by Brazilian architect Artacho Jurado, this kitchen takes on an industrial feel and combines it with vibrant colors .

Large blue glazed tiles cover the floor, reflecting light across the space. Terracotta paint was applied to the ceiling and strip lighting, and electrical wiring around the concrete walls was painted a pale blue.

Learn more about RF Apartment ›

Portico House, Brazil by Bloco Arquitetos

The open-plan kitchen at this Bloco Arquitetos home in Brasilia features a mixed palette of wood, terracotta and concrete.

A key design element is the poured concrete countertop, which separates the kitchen from the living and dining area and turns the support column into a decorative element.

The counter serves as a breakfast bar and offers limited storage space in low cabinets.

The other side of the kitchen is more traditional, with a wooden front along one wall and a counter and backsplash in mottled gray cladding.

Learn more about Portico House ›

This is the latest in our series of lookbooks inspired by carefully selected visual inspiration from the Dezeen Image Archive. For more inspiration, check out previous lookbooks showing quiet bedrooms, wallpapered interiors and colorful kitchens.

Galley kitchen ideal for small spaces

A small narrow space - what is it, a punishment, or a great field for the flight of design ideas? The kitchen-galley will be the best option in the cramped circumstances of a small area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room.

What is a galley kitchen

If the room is narrow and small, then experts advise to equip the kitchen in two rows running parallel to each other, with a passage between them. Such a design of a place for cooking is customary on sea vessels, where conditions do not allow you to “swing”, and you have to save every centimeter of space. This is where the name "kitchen-galley" comes from. There are two types of such premises:

- Passage, when there is a door or a doorway to another room at the end of the room. This method of arranging space allows you to create a kitchen anywhere if there is not enough space for it in the apartment - in the hall, corridor, other narrow and long rooms.

- Impassable when the end of the kitchen is a wall or window. If you have enough space, you can create a U-shaped kitchen, saving and taking into account every scrap of free space.

Both galley kitchen methods are widely used by designers because they have their own distinct advantages.

Advantages and disadvantages of galley kitchens

Many apartments, especially old ones, do not require space in the kitchen. Design of galley kitchens allows to solve the following tasks:

- to make available all the necessary kitchen devices and appliances - stove, sink, refrigerator, without cluttering up the space;

- to help equip the kitchen in any chosen place, if the necessary communications are available;

- arrange in any style;

- make two rows running parallel to each other, of different lengths, so that there is room for the dining area;

- do not litter the room, make it as spacious and free as possible.

The disadvantages of galley kitchens include the following disadvantages:

- The layout must take into account safety requirements. The width of the passage should be about 1.2 m, so that households can freely pass by the person preparing food without the risk of getting burned by hot food or drinks. Too large a distance between rows, more than 1.8 m, is considered not ergonomic, since it will take a lot of time to move from one cabinet to another. Aisle between rows less than 90 cm is prohibited if more than one person lives in the apartment.

- Suitable only for small kitchens, large spaces will look out of place.

- The upper layout, when all the shelves and cabinets are moved to the ceiling, can visually clutter up the room, make it low.

- Cabinets and shelves are made narrow to save space. To fit a refrigerator, dishwasher and washing machine into such a galley kitchen, you will have to look for narrow models that will not stand out from the general range. The stove in such kitchens is also small, usually having only two burners instead of four.

If you take a thoughtful approach to space planning, you can independently create and implement a project of a room where everything will stand in its place, household members will not interfere with each other, and the kitchen will be beautiful, functional and ergonomic.

Placement of the working triangle

The main point in planning any kitchen is the placement of three main items in it - a sink, a stove and a refrigerator. They should create a "working triangle" in which you can freely turn around and reach for the right thing. For walk-through galley kitchens, the solution of this issue is especially important so that a child passing by the stove does not get burned by the food being prepared. The ideal would be to place the stove, sink and main work area in one row, and the refrigerator in another, opposite them. Such a layout will maximally protect households from the likelihood of injury when in contact with the hot surface of pots or pans.

Length of rows in galley kitchen

When every centimeter counts, you can make one row in the kitchen shorter than the other to accommodate a small dining table or bar counter in the freed up space. This layout is a great way to separate the working and dining areas, with minimal free space. A short row should contain minimally traumatic items - a refrigerator, a microwave oven, cabinets and drawers with rarely used utensils.

Using a window sill or end wall

A galley kitchen is often a narrow space with a window at the end. Designers recommend in no case to litter and clutter it up - in a small cramped room there should be as much light and air as possible so that it looks sunny and bright. The window sill area can be used as an additional work or dining surface, and then the galley kitchen will become U-shaped.

If the room does not have sources of natural light, and the end surface is a blank wall, then it must be decorated. The look of a person who comes to the galley kitchen rests on the wall, and it needs to be decorated with taste. You can hang a clock, a picture, a narrow shelf with decorative beautiful dishes on it, put an unusual waste bin or a stepladder. Sometimes the end surface serves as a continuation of the main workspace; cabinets and shelves with kitchen utensils are placed on it. With this method of arranging free space, you need to make sure that the room does not look like cluttered, cluttered furniture.

Cupboards and shelves in the galley kitchen

In a small area, cabinets and shelves are best made not hinged, but retractable, especially those located on the lower tier - it will be much easier to get to kitchen utensils and utensils. On the top tier, designers suggest placing open shelving in order to minimize the chance of hitting your head on the door to a person who enters the kitchen. It is best to equip drawers with a push-to-open system, without handles.

Learn more