Small space low cost kitchen design
70 Best Small Kitchen Design Ideas
Stacy Zarin Goldberg, Ema Peter
Turn your kitchen into your happy place, no matter its size — it's the heart of the home, after all. From cooking healthy family dinners, sitting around the island with friends to organizing — then reorganizing — your limited cabinet space, you inevitability spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Just because your kitchen is small, doesn't mean it has to feel small. To help you make the most of your limited space, we've rounded up the best small kitchen ideas — whether your design style is modern, traditional or country.
Even if you're redesigning on a budget, you deserve a kitchen that feels functional and stylish. Make use of every crevice, clear clutter from counters and decorate blank walls. As you explore this photo gallery of small kitchen decorating ideas, you'll find fast and affordable solutions like hanging mirrors to create the illusion of more space, layering bold hues to brighten an interior and adding shelves to take advantage of vertical space.
We've included kitchen storage tips that'll keep your counters clean and orderly — like where to store liquor or the best way to organize a kitchen pantry. If you're considering a full renovation, we've sprinkled in DIY projects like finding a fresh paint color for the kitchen, setting up a separate bar or swapping in chic backsplash tiles. Whether you live in an apartment, condo or your house is lacking kitchen space, you're sure to find an interior to love.
Stacy Zarin Goldberg
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Add Sleek Open Shelving
Suspend open shelving from the ceiling or hang a rack high on the wall to add height and create the illusion of more space. At the same time, the added storage will minimize clutter on the counter.
Barbara Egan/Reportage
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Go Bold on Top, Neutral on Bottom
Here's a playful way to make your smaller space feel more vertical: go for bright upper cabinets. What's more? This modern kitchen has double-stacked cabinets for a ton of storage space.
Keep it neutral on the bottom to create contrast.
Cherished Bliss
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Create a Portable Stove
Instead of installing a full stove, blogger Ashley Rene went for something much more versatile: a double burner on a rolling cart and a vent hood with a charcoal filter. When the homeowner isn't cooking, they can easily put the burner away and have infinite more space.
Get the tutorial at Cherished Bliss »
Ema Peter
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Put the Microwave Down Below
Save on counter space by designating a home for your microwave, whether that be built in below your kitchen counter or hidden away in a pantry.
Lauren Pressey
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Add Corner Shelves
If you don't have the space for wall-to-wall open shelving, go for small corner shelves. Designer Kate Lester created instant storage by hanging three reclaimed barn wood shelves.
Design: Reena Sotropa In House Design Group; Photo: Phil Crozier
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Use a Bar Cabinet
Don't waste cabinet space on booze.
Here, interior designer Reena Sotropa uses a geometric bar cabinet to create separation in a small space.
Lindsay Salazar
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Go Big With Art
Just because you're working with a small space, doesn't mean you can't display your art collection. Use a mix of small and large prints to create a gallery wall that adds dimension to your kitchen.
Monica Wang
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Maximize Kitchen Corners
Learn to work with the space you have by capitalizing on every corner and nook. If your actual kitchen is small, there may be a small crevice or awkward nook that can be reworked into additional kitchen space.
Inspired by Charm
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Build a Butler's Pantry
Here, blogger Michael Wurm Jr. turns what was once a full bathroom into a butler’s pantry and a small powder room — but this concept also works if you have a closet or small alcove you're not maximizing.
See the full remodel at Inspired by Charm »
Mike Garten
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Choose Floor-to-Ceiling Whites
We all know that light, bright spaces feel more spacious than dark, dreary areas.
Stick with white cabinets, walls and trim for your small kitchen, then layer in wood accents and black cabinet hardware to keep things trendy.
Taylor Architectural Photography
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Embrace an Open Layout
The work of John McClain Design, this small kitchen is also a dining room and living room — and, yet it feels super spacious and sophisticated. Two small bistro tables near the sofa provide additional dining space.
Aliyev Alexei Sergeevich
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Disguise Your Dishwasher
For those of us with limited cabinet space, a dishwasher can take up half the kitchen. If you want to achieve a clean and streamlined aesthetic, install your dishwasher to fit seamlessly beneath your kitchen counters.
The Handmade Home
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Add a Runner
Elongate a narrow space with a long patterned runner, while also adding style and softness to your interior.
See more at The Handmade Home »
Stacy Zarin Goldberg
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Create Consistency
For a striking statement, bring the same paint color, wallpaper or wood paneling from the wall to the ceiling.
Stick with lighter hues and smaller prints, so you don't overwhelm the space.
Design by Velinda Hellen; Photo by Sara Tramp
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Go for Light Appliances
While stainless steel appliances are most popular, this sleek Smeg fridge proves that white appliances can look just as chic. Lighten up your space by pairing it with crisp white tiles, blonde wood floors and baby blue cabinets.
See more at Style by Emily Henderson »
Annie Schlechter for Country Living
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Install a Pegboard Wall
Paint a pegboard in a cheery hue to create a functional focal point. Once attached, load it up with some of your kitchen must-haves — measuring cups, wooden spoons, cast iron skillets and more.
Design by Studio Merlin; Photo by Richard Chivers
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Add a Built-In Seat
In an effort to merge the kitchen with the living room, Studio Merlin Founder Josh Piddock added a built-in kitchen seat into these rich blue cabinets from Reform.
Design by Jess Bunge; Photo by Sara Tramp
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Create the Illusion of More Space
Mirrors reflect light and trick the eye into perceiving a space is larger than it actually is — plus, they look great while doing it.
See more at Style by Emily Henderson »
Courtesy of HGTV
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Hang Rattan Pendants
The natural tones in rattan pendants add warmth, but the open and airy construction welcome breeziness into any small space.
Christopher Dibble
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Go for Multi-Colored Cabinets
Let the primaries — red, yellow and blue — breathe life into your space. Paint cabinet doors at random, but leave a few au naturel for maximum contrast.
Boxwood Avenue
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Keep Spices Organized
Alec Hemer
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Add Pops of Color
The brighter the space, the bigger it'll feel. You can go with shades of white and gray, then layer in two tones of a bold hue to add intrigue.
Max Burkhalter
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Incorporate Bottle Storage
Build custom cubbies to keep wine and liquor bottles off the kitchen counters. Store wine glasses, bottle stoppers and other accessories in a nearby cabinet, so you can pour with ease.
Amy Bartlam
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Create More Counterspace
If you're working with limited counter space, consider building another area that serves as an extension of the kitchen — even if it's a few steps away. You can use a sideboard and open shelving, like Kate Lester Interiors does here.
Mike Van Tassell
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Warm up the Whites
White on white can open up even the smallest of spaces, but go with a reflective backsplash, like pearl iridescent subway tile, to bounce light around.
RELATED: Stunning Kitchens With White Cabinets
Jessica Alexander for Pure Salt Interiors
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Get Smart With Floating Shelves
Don't let windows get in your way.
Stretch floating shelves across the entire wall, making sure to leave enough room between them to allow the natural light to come through.
Joe Schmelzer
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DIY a Kitchen Island
While you're cooking, a small kitchen island is as helpful as a big island (which is not an option for most tiny kitchens). You can even find a rolling one if you're not looking for a permanent solution.
Miki Duisterhof
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Try Backless Stools
When living in a small home or apartment, you need all the counter space you can get — even if that means creating your own with a dining room table that serves two purposes. Plus, backless stools can live under the table to conserve space when they're not being used.
Alison Gootee
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DIY Pantry
Gridley+Graves
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Use Small Nooks for Dining
Even a narrow nook can comfortably seat the whole family if you choose built-in benches instead of chairs.
10 Small Kitchen Ideas on a Budget
by PODSPosted on
In a small kitchen, every square inch of space can make a difference.
Looking for small kitchen hacks? It’s easy to make updates and implement kitchen ideas on a budget because you don’t need a ton of materials. From small kitchen storage ideas to creating a more spacious feel, here are 10 ways to elevate your cooking space and maximize your square footage.
1. Consider Light and Airy Colors
Paint is one of the easiest ways to transform a space, which makes it one of our favorite budget kitchen ideas. If you’re planning to paint the cabinets or walls, keep this in mind: Light colors can make a space feel less cramped. When you have lighter colors in a room, it allows both natural and artificial light the opportunity to bounce throughout the space. When you have darker colors, they absorb the light and can make a space feel smaller and more intimate.
While colors can play a huge part in defining the space of your kitchen, the amount of natural light is also important. If your space is north-facing or doesn’t have a lot of natural light, consider off-whites and warm grays — stark white paint in a low-light kitchen can end up looking dingy.
Here are a few of the most popular light and airy paint colors for kitchens:
- Benjamin Moore Simply White
- Behr Snow Fall
- Benjamin Moore White Dove
- Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee
- Sherwin Williams Creamy
- Behr French Gray
- Sherwin Williams Amazing Gray
2. Maximize the Space Above Your Cabinets
Vertical space is key when it comes to small kitchen storage ideas. Add storage by utilizing the room above your kitchen cabinets. Buy a set of stylish bins, like these decorative baskets and bins from Target or these creatively designed utility baskets from World Market. Then, you can store all kinds of items you don’t use regularly — plus they double as beautiful decor above your cabinets. Try DIY-ing your own basket labels to keep track of everything.
3. Hang Pots and Pans from a Ceiling Rack
Another way to create vertical storage? Hanging a rack on the ceiling. You can hang pots and pans instead of them taking up valuable cabinet space.
These options from Wayfair are affordable and designed to hang from the ceiling. If you don’t have the clearance for a ceiling rack, then consider a wall-mounted rack, like these from Home Depot. Whatever type of solution you choose, just make sure it’s rated to hold heavy pots and pans, if that’s what you need.
4. Bring in Color with a Small Rug
Upgrade your standard kitchen mat with a vibrant flat weave rug in a small size, like a 2′ x 3′ or small runner. It’s an easy way to introduce a bit of color and warmth to a small kitchen. You can find fun, unique designs for affordable prices. Look for a rug woven from durable materials that are easy to clean, like recycled polyester or washable cotton. Make sure to get a non-slip rug pad for underneath to ensure it stays in place, which is especially important for high-traffic areas like the kitchen.
(Credit: @ahomediary via Instagram)5. Display Your Favorite Functional Items
When storage space is at a minimum, often the only spot for things is on your countertop or wall.
Try streamlining your kitchen tools to the items you actually use, then use hooks to hang them from the wall or keep them on display (but still easy to grab when you need it!). Here’s a few quick budget kitchen ideas: stack up your cutting boards or hang them from hooks, use a magnetic strip on the wall to display your best knives, or hang pots and pans on the wall in front of the stove.
6. Add Storage to the Inside of Your Doors
For another way to maximize small kitchen space, consider adding storage to the inside of your cabinet doors. A great spot to start would be the cabinets below your sink. Instead of cluttering your sink area with dish soap and sponges, stow everything away in a basket attached to the inside of your cabinet. There are affordable over-the-door options, or you can try one of these DIY cabinet door storage ideas.
(Credit: @moonstickers via Instagram)7. Switch Up Your Backsplash
There are more options for easy kitchen updates than ever before — thanks to the popularity of home DIY projects.
For an instant impact in your small kitchen, update your backsplash to something with a bold color or fun pattern. Home Depot has an entire section of peel-and-stick backsplash, which take little time to install. With many options under $15 per square foot, it won’t take much to update a small space.
8. Utilize the Space Under Your Upper Cabinets
Free up your counter space with another storage solution: racks installed to the underside of your upper cabinetry. It’s the perfect spot for a paper towel holder. You can also find special racks made for hanging wine glasses or wine bottles. If you don’t want to attach anything to the underside of your cabinet, you could install a small shelf or storage rack to the wall below. It’s an ideal spot for storing dishes, cooking utensils, or mugs.
9. Build Your Own Shelving
While storage is always crucial in a small kitchen, open shelving can make it feel bigger and less closed in — plus it doesn’t cost much if you do it yourself.
All you need is some wood, shelf brackets, and nails or wall anchors. Make sure there’s around 15 to 20 inches of space from your countertop to the bottom of your lowest shelf. See how the blogger behind Lemon Thistle created kitchen shelves for less than $20 each.
10. Add a Statement Light
Since many small kitchens only have one light, it’s the perfect opportunity to go for something bold. Make a statement with a unique flush-mount light or colorful pendant like these budget IKEA options. Consider an oversized light for a statement in a small space — one large light can expand the room, while multiple small lights can make it feel more cluttered. Always measure your space first, so you can ensure the size of your light fixture or shade doesn’t affect functionality. Unless it’s above an island, a light fixture should hang at least 7 feet from the floor to ensure there’s enough clearance for walking underneath.
Whether you’re constantly cooking or a pro with the microwave, working with a small kitchen can be hard.
Cosmetic updates and ingenious storage solutions are easy wins. Planning a remodel to enlarge your kitchen? Consider using a PODS portable container to store items during your project.
Latest Posts
Design of a small kitchen - 75 photos of interiors, ideas for renovation
Small-sized kitchens are a common problem in Soviet apartments. However, it applies to all types of budget housing, even in European countries and the United States. But in itself, the presence of an individual zone for cooking and eating is already a lot, and in order to be pleasant in such a kitchen, you just need to properly decorate the interior. Read the article on how to do this!
Common mistakes in the design of a small kitchen
There is an opinion that on an area of 5-6 sq.m. absolutely nothing fits and the convenience of such a kitchen leaves much to be desired.
This leads to a number of errors.
The first reason for crowding is oversized furniture and appliances that take up a lot of space and do not fit well into the architecture of the room.
A sense of clutter is also created by the sheer amount of color and texture when crockery or food boxes are stored on open shelves. The color dissonance between the walls, the ceiling and the headset also breaks the harmony of the space.
The water and gas pipes left in plain sight do not add comfort, and due to the lack of an exhaust hood and normal ventilation, not only the health of the hostess suffers, but also the cleanliness of the surfaces in the cooking area.
Choosing the right layout
The comfort of the kitchen area to a large extent depends on the location of the headset and the so-called "working triangle" - refrigerator, stove and sink. The triangular geometry was invented specifically for small spaces, to simplify the cooking process, to make it more ergonomic.
The main points of activity should fall on the corners of the figure, between which the hostess will be able to move freely. The layout itself is determined by the length of the walls, the location of doors, windows and communications. In cramped indoor spaces, it is best to use designs that resemble the shape of the letters P and L. For open studios, a linear, circular or island version may well be suitable. And if you got a corridor-type kitchen (for example, a checkpoint), then it is best to apply a parallel layout.
Small square kitchen layout
For kitchens where all the walls are the same length, the U-shaped design is ideal. In this case, one of the corners of the working triangle will be right. It is desirable to leave a place by the window for washing, and place the stove and refrigerator symmetrically, closer to the center of the blank walls. This will provide quick access to the three main items.
L-shaped layout can be chosen if you want to leave a free corner for the dining area.
In this case, the sink is installed in the corner, and the rest - on opposite sides of it.
Layout of a narrow (rectangular) small kitchen
If the kitchen is narrow, then linear or parallel placement is the best choice for it. In the first version, the headset, along with work surfaces, is placed along one long wall, in the second, it is better to place a sink and stove on one side, and a refrigerator and food cabinets on the opposite side.
Layout of a small kitchen of irregular shape
The open plan kitchen, characteristic of studio apartments, allows for any convenient layout system. For example, if the cooking area is separated from the living room by a countertop with a built-in hob and sink, you get an island type; if this partition has the shape of a semicircle - oval.
Interesting design options can be made if the architecture of the room contains niches, bay windows or ledges. To do this, you need furniture made according to an individual sketch.
Interior style
Adhering to the geometry and color scheme of one of the styles below, the interior of the kitchen can be made as beautiful and functional as possible.
Small Provence style kitchen
Provence style is characterized by pastel shades, elegant floral ornaments and vintage enameled furniture. In general, this design leaves an impression of tenderness and lightness.
Small modern style kitchen
Innovative materials, multi-tasking technology, mirrored surfaces and clear lines are sure to add the missing volume to a small kitchen, and make the cooking process not only fast, but also enjoyable. This is a universal solution for people who live in the rhythm of the 21st century.
Small loft style kitchen
The features of the loft are unfinished brick walls, open communications, rough furniture and a lot of space. A kitchen decorated in this style will appeal to freedom-loving creative individuals.
Small country style kitchen
Rustic style reminiscent of summer holidays, vacations and cottages. It has a lot of natural materials - solid wood furniture, stone-like tiles, plank floors are used. The oven can be stylized in the spirit of a real wood-burning stove, and the hood should be closed with an imitation of a chimney.
Small high-tech kitchen
The high-tech design of the kitchen includes mostly smooth surfaces, a lot of chrome elements, mirror inserts and tinted glass. Of the colors, glossy white and gray predominate, blotches of black or blue are also possible.
Scandinavian style small kitchen
Fashion for northern European design appeared with Ikea stores. Scandinavian style is great for small spaces - all thanks to light winter colors combined with natural textures of granite and bleached wood.
Classic small kitchen
Symmetrical lines, soft glow and warm hues with golden accents make this classic-style kitchen an example of true harmony.
Such an environment would be quite appropriate in a small space, visually enlarge and decorate it.
Small minimalist kitchen
The motto of minimalism - the more inconspicuous, the better. Smooth surfaces of kitchen furniture and appliances seem to merge with the rest of the finish. No bright details, decor or open shelves - only perfect cleanliness and correct lines.
Color solutions for a small kitchen
Each shade carries certain information that is subconsciously perceived by a person. So, for example, white and pastel colors are reminiscent of clear sunny days; saturated - attract attention; dark - as if hiding the outlines of objects in the darkness. Having carefully studied the spectrum, the experts deduced certain rules that should be followed when decorating small rooms. The main ones are to use mostly a light palette and use no more than 3 colors at the same time.
White kitchen
An all-white kitchen will always look clean and tidy.
To make it feel like home, you can add wooden textures, and gray additions will help make the cleaning process easier.
Gray kitchen
The neutral hue of stones and steel is the perfect solution for a discreet design in a small kitchen. It is easy to pick up any modern technology to it. If desired, the gray color is successfully diluted with more saturated inclusions from the rainbow palette.
Beige kitchen
Many people love the shade of cappuccino for its practicality. It is quite soft, as well as a warm color, on which spots are almost invisible. White and brown elements look good in a beige environment.
Yellow kitchen
A small kitchen in yellow tones has every chance of becoming the most favorite place in the house. Moderately bright, this color creates a good mood and warms even on cloudy days. Yellow goes well with white, light gray, green, and most pastel colors.
Green kitchen
Cheerful shades of spring foliage will create a cozy and peaceful atmosphere in the kitchen.
The green color is ideally complemented by brown and gray, and especially by the pattern of natural wood.
Finishing a small kitchen
The role of finishing in the interior of the kitchen is difficult to overestimate. The quality of the materials determines how durable the repair will be, and their appearance directly affects the aesthetics and comfort of the room.
Floor
Given the intensity of use, the floor covering in the cooking area should be as durable as possible, resistant to moisture, easy to clean and, preferably, not slippery. These criteria are best met by linoleum, porcelain stoneware, ceramic tiles, as well as a self-leveling floor based on polymer resins.
In order not to “break” an already cramped space into even smaller areas, the coating should be made monophonic, and the elements should be chosen large and glossy.
Walls
For wall decoration in a small kitchen, you can use moisture-resistant painting (latex and acrylic water-dispersion paints with the addition of anti-mold agents), fiberglass, washable vinyl wallpaper, plastic panels.
The area above the sink, hob and worktop should preferably be protected with a ceramic coating (tile, smooth artificial stone) or tempered tinted glass.
Ceiling
The best option for decorating the ceiling in a small kitchen is a light stretch film or simple painting. Fiberglass will help to level the surface, as well as avoid microcracks on the plaster.
The use of drywall (even the most moisture-resistant) and suspended plastic panels is undesirable - this will reduce the height of the room.
Textile
Curtains in the kitchen should be used sparingly, because they not only get dirty quickly, absorb odors, but are also considered a fire hazard. If the window faces south, a short translucent curtain (tulle) or a narrow strip of dense material hung like a visor will help protect against bright rays.
Venetian blinds and bamboo rolls are quite versatile options for small kitchens. Another convenient solution is folding Roman blinds.
Instead of difficult-to-care natural fabrics, it is better to give preference to synthetic textiles (polyester, nylon, lavsan) with water-repellent and fire-resistant impregnation.
Small kitchen furniture
When choosing furniture for your small kitchen, you should pay attention not only to the aesthetics of the design, but also to the build quality, ergonomics, and the type of materials used. All this will subsequently affect not only the functionality, but also the health of the inhabitants of the house. The dimensions must be adjusted according to the standards of the room, and the work surfaces must be raised to a level suitable for the height of the hostess.
Kitchen set
As the most bulky and visible element, the set has a huge impact on the interior as a whole. In a small kitchen, it must be neat, with closed shelves, without noticeable reliefs and cracks. Monochromatic facades without handles will give the impression that this is not furniture at all, but just a wall, and thus facilitate the design of the room.
Behind the doors it is desirable to hide the hood, pipes or overall equipment.
A simple design of a kitchen set can be modified with an interesting backsplash, for example, by placing a narrow photo wallpaper with a panoramic view behind the glass or by making a colorful mosaic of pixel tiles. Being in a recess, this area will not be conspicuous, but will give the workspace its own zest.
Dining area
Great luck if the kitchen has enough space for a full-fledged dining area. Alas, small-sized rooms can not always boast of such an addition. In this case, you will have to look for an alternative!
A good solution to save space in a small kitchen can be a narrow bar counter with high stools, folding and folding designs. The window sill can also play the role of a dining table if it is raised with metal brackets to the desired height.
It is also possible to equip a corner for family meals on an insulated loggia or in a bay window recess.
Storage systems
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.
Place pots, bowls and cutlery close to the sink; frying pans, baking sheets and forms should be hidden near the oven, and it is advisable to store bulk products in dry upper cabinets.
For the most beautiful items, one or two sections can be distinguished, closed with transparent partitions - things left on open shelves will quickly fall into dust, condensate and drops of fat will settle on them.
Refrigerator Placement Ideas
So that the refrigerator does not take up much space in your small kitchen, you should choose a tall, narrow model with a flat door. Its snow-white surface will ideally fit into the same furniture wall, and chrome-plated or polished steel color will perfectly complement the high-tech interior, echoing other large appliances.
The compact built-in camera is also ideal for small spaces. It can be placed under the countertop, or raised to a convenient height and hidden behind the facade of the kitchen set.
Proper lighting in the kitchen
Even in a small cooking area, it is preferable to use many light sources.
Mortise point diodes are best suited for this purpose - they consume little electricity, last a long time and withstand high humidity. Due to the low power and fire safety, LED-luminaires can be mounted in a headset (the main thing is to securely isolate the wiring).
Hanging chandeliers in a small kitchen can get in the way, but if you still decide to use them, for example, over the dining area, it is better to stay on the simplest ceiling lamps, which will then be easy to wipe off the dust. In the center of the room, it is desirable to hang a ceiling lamp with a smooth surface.
Integration with other premises
Expanding a small kitchen with adjoining spaces is a great way to use every centimeter of free space efficiently. By completely or partially removing the internal partition, a cramped room can easily be turned into a beautiful and modern studio.
Combination of a small kitchen with a living room
If the wall between the kitchen and the living room is not load-bearing, it should be removed.
Thus, you will get a very convenient cooking area. At the same time, it is important to install a powerful hood so that the smell and steam from the stove do not spread throughout the house.
A high bar counter will help visually zone the room, which can be used as a table and worktop at the same time.
Combination of a small kitchen with a balcony or loggia
A small kitchen with access to the loggia is a real success, because it is at least 2 sq.m. reserve space. It remains only to throw out old things from there, disassemble the low partition, remove the glass, and insulate the side facing the street - and you will get additional free space even for a dining area, even for cabinets or a refrigerator.
Small kitchen design - photo
Our photo selection will help you to be inspired by new ideas for transforming your small kitchen. Here are the most interesting design options, innovative solutions and useful finds. Happy viewing!
Video: Small kitchen - interior ideas
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 small kitchen design ideas0200
- 3. No more than two colors
- 4. No accessories
- 5. Maximum unloading of the countertop
- 6.
Modern interior of a small kitchen - 7. Custom furniture and built-in appliances
7 Small Kitchen Design Ideas
Here and below 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:
Lots of space is wasted. 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.
Looking at the photos on the Internet, always imagine them in actual use: with all appliances, dishes, 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 are laying a niche for a built-in microwave and put an ordinary 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 space
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, consider 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.
