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How to design a small kitchen


51 Small Kitchen Design Ideas That Make the Most of a Tiny Space

Small apartments and homes offer plenty of charm, but they tend to be lacking when it comes to kitchen space. Luckily, there are tons of small kitchen ideas that maximize storage and efficiency. By thinking creatively about how to make the most of your tiny kitchen floor plan and utilizing whatever countertop and wall real estate you have, you can make even the tiniest of kitchens a space you enjoy cooking—and hanging out—in. Ahead, we’ve gathered 51 small kitchen design tips to help you maximize your space, be it a petite galley kitchen or just a single wall in an open-plan apartment. Whether you’re renovating and starting from scratch or just looking to refresh your existing space, read on to get your small kitchen in tip-top shape. 

1. Add a prep area

Adjustable Kitchen Cart

$93 at Wayfair

Eclipse Bar Cart

$399 at West Elm

You may not have space to expand or add a full island, so think about bringing in a slim rolling kitchen cart or bar cart to hold your mise en place or serve as extra counter space. Even a narrow console can work as a spot to set tools and ingredients on while you cook.

2. Remove upper cabinets

Handmade Rustic Live Edge Floating Shelves

$58 at Etsy

“Open shelves are extremely functional and make it so much easier to access dishes and glasses,” says New York–based interior designer Jenny Wolf, adding that you should think about your kitchen architecturally, as it doesn’t always make sense to have upper cabinets—“especially if the ceilings are 10 feet high.”

3. Get custom hardware

Designer Catrina Stewart used red hardware to highlight the pantry in this London kitchen, as well as a tinted mirror and teal paint to fabricate an eye on the door that looks like it's winking when you open the doorFrench + Tye

“I try to use hardware as statement pieces. It’s the jewelry you put on to complete the look,” says architectural designer Karen Williams, who serves as the creative director for St. Charles New York. 

4.

 Or opt for invisible hardware

“When you lean up against the counter, you don’t want to feel a handle poking into your side. You also want a clean surface where you really see the materiality of the surface. We’ve worked a lot with Dada and have been generally seeing less hardware and more integrated pulls or touch-to-open cabinetry. It makes working much more efficient,” said designer Stephanie Goto.

5. Get super-organized inside your cabinets

Expandable Lid & Pan Organizer

$40 at Food52

$50 at Amazon

Shelf Risers - Set of 2

$54 at Open Spaces

For any small room (a kitchen or otherwise), getting organized is essential. When space comes at a premium, you can’t afford to waste any of it—even the hidden space inside your cabinets. Stock up on risers, lid organizers for your various pots and pans, spice-sorting systems, and anything else that will streamline and maximize your kitchen storage.

6. Streamline dish duty

If your small kitchen doesn’t have room for a dishwasher, making sure that the kitchen sink is both an efficient and tidy space is key. Consider adding in a compact dish rack, like this one from Simple Human, that drains directly into the sink and will never rust. 

simplehuman Compact Steel Frame Dish Rack

$100 at Amazon

7. Splurge on fun glassware

Striped Rim Glasses

$175 at Coming Soon

Photo courtesy of Coming Soon

Wave Pitcher

$215 at Coming Soon

There might not be room for much decor—so let your dishes do the talking. Unlike hefty serving pieces, colorful drinkware adds visual interest without bulk. Display arty stemware on an open shelf, or let a pitcher pull double duty as a countertop vase.

8. Add a kitchen island

3-Tier Solid Top Prep Table Kitchen Island Cart

$220 at Amazon

French Kitchen Island

$1,300 at Crate & Barrel

Even if your kitchen is on the narrow side, you can still bring in a slim kitchen island for prep space and conversation. Consider a rolling island, which can be pushed out of the way once dinner is ready. “Don’t think if you have a tiny kitchen that you can’t have an island. You can; you just need to put it on wheels so that when you’re working and you need an island, it’s there, and when the guests arrive, you can push it over to the side or move it into the dining room or living room and let it be the bar,” says interior designer Ellen Cheever. Alternatively, choose an island with slim legs that you could pull a few stools up to and let it double as bar or breakfast seating. 

9. Use light colors to visually expand your small kitchen

Cookware Set

$495 $395 at Caraway

The reBoard

$35 at Material

“The lighter the kitchen, the larger it can feel,” says Wolf. “Sometimes, if there is a good view out a window, I like to focus on bringing the outdoors in and using nature to dictate the palette.” Keeping an especially light palette on countertops, backsplashes, walls, and millwork also helps a small kitchen feel more open. If you’re not in the market for a full renovation, consider the cooking tools that you always have out: Cutting boards, pots and pans, and linens can all lift a space if you opt for pieces in light shades.

10. Double down on white

Dinnerware Set by Studio Ro-Smit

$100 at Goodee

Tabletop Set

$643 $569 at Made In

The lightest palette of all, of course, is all white. “White paint will help spread and reflect light around, which also makes a space seem bigger,” says interior decorator and blogger Emily Henderson. If you have exposed shelving, create a wall of white by displaying white dish sets.

11. Maximize floor space with a dining nook

Ansel Drum Dining Table

$699 $630 at Urban Outfitters

Hackney Marble Table

$482 at CB2

The shape of the room can have just as big of an impact as the square footage. “It’s important to pay attention to the structure of your kitchen,” says Henderson. “If you have a small dining nook, then go for a round table that opens up floor space and seats more people than a square one would.”

12. Pair utilitarian appliances with refined cabinetry

Anza Concrete Espresso Machine

$1,280 at Anza

“People who frequently cook want to maintain something visually appealing. For one client—a New York City lawyer who has eaten at virtually every major restaurant in downtown Manhattan—it wasn’t about being a show kitchen, but a foodie’s kitchen. It’s very utilitarian—he wanted a heavy-duty Wolf stove—yet we took care in the selection of the finishes. The white cabinets are glass, and the gray cabinets are lacquer—they really play with materiality. This way, it’s not too precious or too utilitarian,” said designer Goto. For those not in the market for a whole new range, consider a striking espresso machine, like this Brutalism-inspired one by Anza, instead.

13. Think vertically

Magnetic Wooden Knife Holder

$115 at Etsy

Just can’t get rid of that timeworn cookbook or prized flea market find? “Installing pot racks, knife mounts, and open shelving above your stove will free up tons of space,” says Henderson.

14. Build a storage bench

If you’re building out a dining nook, add seating with storage compartments to hide away bulk purchases, unwieldy serving pieces, or kitchen linens.  

60 Best Small Kitchen Design Ideas

Boxwood Avenue, Sara Tramp

Your kitchen should be your happy place. Face it, you're going to spend a lot of time cooking, cleaning and organizing in the kitchen, so it might as well be somewhere you enjoy spending time. Just because your kitchen is small, doesn't mean it has to feel small. We've rounded up 60 small kitchen ideas to help you maximize your space and make even super compact kitchens feel way bigger than they actually are.

As you explore this photo gallery of fresh kitchen ideas, you’ll find a ton of decorating hacks and remodeling tips that are brilliant if you're on a budget. A peek at what’s to come: using mirrors to create the illusion of more space, adding light and bright colors to enliven an interior and breakfast nook ideas that maximize the narrowest of spaces. We've also rounded up storage solutions and organization tips that'll keep your kitchen clean and orderly — like how to build a makeshift spice rack. And renters, don't worry: we've sprinkled in creative design ideas that don't have to be permanent.

Whether your personal design style is modern, minimalist or you have an affinity for a French country kitchen, we guarantee you'll find an interior to love. We challenge you to embrace clever ways to create more counter space, take advantage of underutilized drawers and make use of blank walls. You'll even learn how to incorporate the top kitchen design trends for 2022 (like backsplash tile ideas and sought-after paint options) into the corners, nooks and crevices of your home. Promise, the final result will be more than worth it.

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.

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, light 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 as larger than it actually is — plus, they look great while doing it.

See more at Style by Emily Henderson »

Monica Wang

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Maximize Kitchen Corners

Learn to work with the space you've got 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.

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.

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.

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 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 in the kitchen, consider building another space 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.

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.

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.

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.

Anastassios Mentis

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Go Green

Mike Garten

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Keep Most-Used Items on Shelves

While, yes, pretty dishware doubles as decor, it's way more practical to load floating shelves with items that you use on the daily, like cookware and mixing bowls.

Justin PagetGetty Images

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Go for Simple Window Treatments

Or, none at all. Avoid curtains or bulky blinds that will make a space feel smaller, instead opt for sheer curtains or sleek shades.

Jessica Bordner

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Craft a Wine Nook

Turn dead space into a smart storage solution to corral cutting boards, wine bottles and anything else you like to have on hand while you cook.

Peter Molick for Maureen Stevens

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Get Bold With Backsplash

Use tile to trick the eye: lay it vertically to create the illusion of height or horizontally to make the room seem wider. Color also comes into play, which is why designer Maureen Stevens opted for a geometric tile that played up the kitchen's white cabinets and walls.

Amy Bartlam

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Add Task Lighting

Illuminate a specific area — your prep station, perhaps? — with stylish sconces. Find ones in the same finish as the rest of the kitchen's hardware for consistency's sake.

Laurey Glenn for Ashley Gilbreath Design

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Style a Coffee Nook

Since coffee machines (and all the gadgets that come along with it) take up precious counter space, turn an underutilized area into the ultimate caffeination station. Hide machines and cords under a skirt, then keep all of your coffee and tea essentials on built-in shelves.

RELATED: Coffee Bar Ideas to Make Your Kitchen Fit for a Barista

Stoffer Photography for Jean Stoffer Design

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Stick With One Color

Amy Bartlam

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Go With a Striking Contrast

Mixing too many colors can overwhelm a small space. Keep the walls, cabinets and ceilings the same color, then incorporate contrasting accents, such as a colored hood range, pendant lights and decorative knobs.

Jeffrey Phillip of Sugar & Cloth

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Group Items by Color

Create a uniform look on any open-shelving system by organizing dishes or appliances by color. Not only does it look appealing, but it'll make it even easier to find what you're looking for the next time you're in the kitchen.

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.

7 Design Ideas for a Small Kitchen

Hereinafter we will assume that a small kitchen also means not an 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 performs 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 objects 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 clever 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, ordering is not required.

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.





Now you know everything about the design of a small kitchen. But you can, at least for the sake of the photo, see the material about the design of the kitchen up to 6 sq.m. or read about the design of a small bathroom =)

Save and share - it will come in handy!

Mistakes often made when arranging a small kitchen

The owners of small and cramped kitchens often make planning mistakes that prevent them from using the room as functionally as possible, while not littering it with unnecessary interior items. How to equip a small kitchen? You can understand this issue using the example of the most common mistakes.

There is not enough space in the kitchen to store the necessary utensils. To avoid this, you should learn how to effectively use the free vertical space. Small shelves and cabinets can be installed above the stove, refrigerator, or even directly under the ceiling.

The work surface is too small. This is done in order to save space, but in fact, such a solution only contributes to more clutter in the kitchen. You can continue the work surface using a folding tabletop or a bar counter.

Elimination of the hood to save space. Unfortunately, a lingering unpleasant smell will completely spoil the impression of even the most elegant kitchen.

Learn more