Home » Misc » Kitchen themes for apartments

Kitchen themes for apartments


14 Unique Apartment Kitchen Ideas

By

Ashley Knierim

Ashley Knierim

Ashley Knierim is a home decor expert and product reviewer of home products for The Spruce. Her design education began at a young age. She has over 10 years of writing and editing experience, formerly holding editorial positions at Time and AOL.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 09/30/20

Emily Henderson

Renting an apartment has a lot of perks, especially if you want to avoid paying for the expensive maintenance and upkeep of homeownership. But if you also want to get that security deposit back, putting your personal stamp on your home will require a little extra creativity and open-mindedness. Whether your apartment kitchen could use a mini-facelift or you simply want to add a dose of personality, there are plenty of upgrades that won't cause your landlord's blood pressure to skyrocket.  

Whether you want to add a few accent pieces or "install" a new backsplash (trust us, you can), we've rounded up our favorite ideas for transforming your rental apartment kitchen. 

Decorating an Apartment on a Budget

smart ways to update a studio |

If you are looking for apartment kitchen ideas, then you’ll be more than aware of the tricky task of making a small kitchen look much bigger than it actually is, while also trying to make every corner stylish as well as functional. 

Though it can be challenging to find the right kitchen ideas for apartments, there are several benefits to compact living. For a start, when designing a small kitchen for an apartment, you'll soon realize that it’s easy to keep everything to hand. Plus, there is a wealth of clever small kitchen storage ideas available to get the very best out of every inch. 

Here we explore the very best apartment kitchen ideas, with expert advice from a selection of our favorite kitchen designers.

Apartment kitchen ideas – 10 ways to enhance a studio or rental space

One of the main advantages of a apartment kitchen is the convenient accessibility of everything that’s needed. Easy maintenance is another reward. All you have to do now is to find the perfect kitchen layout ideas, color palette, cabinetry and kitchen storage ideas to suit your space. These apartment kitchen ideas will help inspire you to achieve the space of your dreams, no matter its size.

1. Team different materials together for a modern look

(Image credit: Ward & Co/Taran Wilkhu)

Stop your apartment kitchen from looking dull or dated by mixing materials for added interest. Since the past year has forced us to adapt our kitchens to fit several different roles – versatility has taken on an entirely new meaning. However, versatility doesn’t need to be boring. In fact, according to home designer at Neptune, George Miller, versatility in an apartment kitchen is vital. And, mixed material kitchens allow you to shake up your scheme as you desire.

'For a recent apartment in Covent Garden, we complemented the stone-topped cabinetry with satin gold taps, distinctly warm tones and added padded faux-leather bar stools for a contemporary yet practical look,' says Rosie Ward, creative director at Ward & Co .

2. Zone the kitchen area with a bold red

(Image credit: Farrow & Ball )

If you are looking for kitchen color ideas that will never date, a red kitchen is certainly one to consider. 

'Apartment kitchens usually act as multi-functioning areas, so color zoning can be a simple solution to creating different spaces within one room,' says Patrick O'Donnell, brand ambassador at Farrow & Ball . 'It can be as easy as painting a contrasting color on furniture or a bookcase or larder cupboard, or an accent wall in the kitchen area with a bold pop of color such as the warm Terre D'egypte.'

When it comes to using color in the kitchen, Ruth Mottershead, creative director, Little Greene agrees: 'As well as the walls, consider your kitchen cabinets and storage: highlighting these essential elements within an apartment kitchen is a fantastic way to deliver design impact. Are there architectural features or areas of interest to draw attention to? Color is a fantastic way to highlight a favorite feature. If you don’t want to use a bold color all over, highlight the back of your shelving in a contrasting color or opt for a dynamic two-tone color scheme by adding one color to the lower cabinets and contrasting colors for walls and upper cabinets.’

3. Use the same floor in an open plan space

(Image credit: Carpetright)

'Space is usually at a premium in apartments, so making sure each room or zone feel spacious is important,’ says David Snazel, hard flooring buyer at Carpetright . 'Where you have an open plan kitchen, one of the best ways of achieving this is to use a single type of flooring to unify the spaces. Using a durable material such as wood, laminate or luxury vinyl means that if your space includes a kitchen, the flooring can withstand the bumps and spills of everyday life.'

4. Let in the light with glass doors and a pale floor 

(Image credit: Cosy Coco )

'A ground floor apartment kitchen may be lacking in natural light, to combat this use glass doors where possible and choose neutral colored cabinets and a pale stone floor,' says Lucy Searle, global editor in chief, Homes & Gardens. 'Introduce textures like wood, metal and a tactile rug to soften the edges visually.

5. Use warm colors for a cozy feel 

(Image credit: Annie Sloan )

Purple room ideas are having something of an interior design moment. With Pantone having recently announced ‘Very Peri’, a bold blue-violet shade, as its color of the year 2022, we’re seeing the color feature more in apartment kitchens.

'Purples in general are warm, comforting colors, and they have the receding values of blue, making a space feel larger, as well as the warming properties of red, making a space feel cozy,' says Annie Sloan, color expert at Annie Sloan.  

6. Create a grand affair with marble, gold and velvet 

(Image credit: Sofa.com)

Luxury kitchen ideas should not be reserved for large kitchens. In fact, apartment kitchens are the perfect place to invest in expensive materials that exude opulence. 

'If you're lucky enough to have an apartment kitchen in a period property you'll possibly have high ceilings, architectural detailing and original wood floorboards,' says Melanie Griffiths, editor, Period Living. 'To carry on the 'grandness' of such a space invest in luxury elements like a marble kitchen countertop, plush velvet bar stools and hints of gold.'

7. Add decorative details to your kitchen cabinets

(Image credit: Kitesgrove)

'Whilst we always prioritize creating nuanced and refined interiors, practicality and comfort are central to everything we do,' says Clara Ewart, head of design at Kitesgrove .  

'When designing a kitchen space, this means maximizing aesthetic but practical storage solutions. The addition of brass accents to the drawers in this apartment kitchen add character and depth to the space, whilst high level kitchen cabinet ideas create much needed storage. Introducing a central island creates a social area within the kitchen space, therefore making the space multifunctional.'

8. Keep it contemporary with steel-framed windows and doors

(Image credit: Garden Trading )

'There's absolutely no reason why you can't have the kitchen of your dreams in an apartment,' says Jennifer Ebert, digital editor, Homes & Gardens. 'This modern kitchen idea is a great example – the steel-framed windows and pantry doors give it a smart edge and we love the blush pink cabinets and kitchen island. The result is a light and airy space that you'll want to spend time in.'

9. Invest in as much kitchen storage space as possible 

(Image credit: Eggersmann Design )

'In this apartment, a large window in the entrance hall opens up another view to the kitchen,' Gary Singer, founder and creative director, Eggersmann Design .  'We combined the exposed brickwork with hand-applied dark concrete with vintage oak and hot-rolled steel surfaces to create a hard-working and tactile kitchen space with an elegant industrial presence.'

'If the space permits it then I will always recommend an island or peninsula. It creates a much more social and functional kitchen while also providing lots of additional storage.'

10. Choose white to create the illusion of more space

(Image credit: Martin Moore )

The best white kitchen ideas simply never date – but don't think they're a boring option. There’s nothing cleaner or crisper than a pure white kitchen; it’s a look that lasts, no matter what the latest kitchen trend may be.

'The brief for this beautiful one bedroom apartment in west London was to create an elegant kitchen that would blend well with the rest of the living space,' says Richard Moore, design director at Martin Moore . 'However, with only one room to accommodate the owners’ cooking, dining and living needs, careful planning was essential when approaching the design. '

'The central kitchen island forms the heart of the kitchen, providing not only ample storage and prepping space but also a small, informal breakfast bar idea that offers another casual, social zone within the room. The dominance of the beautiful, large French windows left just one wall for fitted cabinets; in order to use this area as effectively as possible, and taking full advantage of the property’s high ceilings.'

'The color scheme of the kitchen was kept deliberately warm and neutral, interacting with the abundance of natural light within the room, in order to create the illusion of a brighter, larger kitchen space.'

How can I improve my apartment kitchen?

If you want to improve an apartment kitchen, then getting the right designer on board is key and, crucially, the kitchen needs to be designed to suit the space, rather than picking a range or style and trying to adapt your apartment kitchen ideas to fit. 

Dual purpose pieces and good internal storage will make the most of cupboard space. You should also make every attempt to keep work surface clear of clutter. 

Look for compact appliances, choosing premium models that give the optimum internal space while still fitting a standard or compact footprint. It's also worth taking shape into account – U-shaped kitchens for example, can work really well in a small space, or if your apartment kitchen is on the narrow side, then consider a galley kitchen layout that will maximize every inch.

Paint your kitchen is a cost-effective way to improve an existing apartment kitchen. 

'Don’t be afraid to use color – even really bright kitchen color ideas are worth experimenting with. It’s a great way to give your kitchen a boost if you haven’t got a great deal of space in your studio or rental home,' advises Adrian Stoneham of Stoneham Kitchens .

6 cool micro-kitchens in typical apartments — INMYROOM

Small-sized apartment

Ideas that you want to repeat

Khrushchev and more modern “panels” have a common problem — very small kitchens. How you can correct or beat this shortcoming and design a cool interior - we will tell you on the example of Russian projects.

Apartment with small white kitchen

Studio

32 sq. m

Kitchen

6.9 Sq. M

Stove

gas

In this apartment, the wall between the kitchen and the room was dismantled: the problem of zoning was solved with the help of a partition with glass windows. As a result, all the necessary appliances and storage places in the cupboard fit in the kitchen - a washing machine was also hidden here.

In the decoration, they relied on affordable materials: laminate flooring and inexpensive ceramic tiles were laid on the floor. To play with the loft style, the designer suggested laying out the walls with decorative bricks and painting the rest of the surfaces.

view full project

Design: Maria Dadiani

New kitchen in an old, "killed" apartment

Dvushka

43. 2 sq. m

Kitchen

6.2 sq. m

Stove

gas

Evgenia Matveenko solved the problem of lack of space by assembling a kitchen set from a small number of cabinets - they contain only the most necessary things.

The designer used washable paint and limestone tiles for the walls. Porcelain tiles were laid on the floor - a practical and budget solution.

view full project

Design: Evgenia Matveenko

Bright kitchen in stalinka

Dvushka

50 sq. m. m

Kitchen

6 sq. m

Stove

gas

Due to the placement of the dining group in the living room on 6 square meters of the kitchen, a washing and dishwasher, a full-size stove and a refrigerator stand up perfectly. Stylish headset, by the way, bought in IKEA.

see full project

Design: Ksenia Yusupova

Functional kitchen in Khrushchev

Studio

30 sq. m

Kitchen

5.8 sq. m

Stove

gas

Thanks to the dismantling of a non-bearing partition, architect Maxim Tikhonov was able to organize an ergonomic kitchen-dining room in a typical odnushka: a kitchen set with cabinets to the ceiling, a countertop instead of a window sill and a compact dining area appeared here.

see full project

Design: Maxim Tikhonov

Kitchen in the Khrushchev five-story building

Dvushka

44 sq. m

Kitchen

5.4 sq. m

Stove

gas

The wall between the living room and the kitchen in this apartment was dismantled, a sliding partition was installed in the resulting opening. If necessary, part of the wooden kitchen worktop can be raised to the living room area: on this worktop you can cook and organize dinner for 5 people.

see full project

Design: Obshaya Ploshchad bureau

Scandinavian kitchen with bright splashback

Dvushka

47. 5 sq. m. m

Kitchen

5.3 sq. m

Stove

electric

The visual continuation of this kitchen is the balcony — they are united by the same floor covering. Thanks to this, the boundaries of a small kitchen are “blurred”, and it seems more spacious.

see full project

Design: Galina Arabskaya

Cover design by Marina Merenkov.

Direct kitchen vs corner, problems of a small apartment - "Leningrad Kitchens"

December 08, 2021

The content of the article

A small kitchen is not a problem, but an opportunity for creativity. Yes, using every centimeter of space can be difficult! Sometimes the help of a designer is required, but if you choose the right set and lighting, then a small kitchen can be equal in comfort to a spacious one!

Sets for a small kitchen

For small kitchens, two types of sets are used - corner (L-shaped) and straight (linear). Let's talk about their features?

Corner sets suitable for square or almost square rooms. Linear in this sense are more universal. They can also be installed in narrow and long rooms. The main thing is that the length of one of the walls should be more than 3 meters.

Do you need it?

One of the main problems of small apartments is the lack of free space. Therefore, furniture should solve the problem of storage as efficiently as possible.

“A lot of dishes and appliances are usually hidden behind the doors of an L-shaped set. This way of planning involves more modules and the use of a corner, which gives additional storage space. ”

(с) Designer of the Leningrad Kitchens factory

Who is it for? Families of 3 or more people, housewives who love to cook.

“The straight headset is not so roomy, it only has room for the essentials. Sliding and rotating shelves and other kitchen accessories can solve the problem of storage and make furniture more ergonomic.”

(c) Designer of the Leningrad Kitchens factory

Who suits? Young couples, families who dine and dine out, housewives who don't have time to cook.

The main thing is freedom!

When space is limited, it is important to create a feeling of spaciousness. Each household member should be able to move freely around the apartment without bumping into obstacles and obstacles. From this point of view, a linear kitchen is the preferred option. It takes up less space and the distance between the headset and other furniture is usually greater.

L-shaped sets are more massive, so there will be less space for a dining area in the kitchen.

Kitchen in a studio apartment

If the apartment has a special niche for the kitchen, it is easier to zone the space. Another thing is when there are no recesses in the wall - you have to think through the layout more carefully.

You can't forbid living beautifully - kitchen set design

There are several recommendations and design restrictions that apply to furniture for small apartments, regardless of the layout.

Learn more