Small kitchens can be particularly difficult to design as they need to stay practical while also seeming clutter-free. But, that isn’t to say that there aren’t ways to make your smaller space feel larger while creating an aesthetically pleasing and functional kitchen space. Continue reading for some expertly-led small kitchen ideas that’ll be sure to transform your culinary experience.
The Layout
The most important part of designing any kitchen space is ensuring you have a layout to suit you and your home. You’ll need to consider where you place each appliance, and whether their placement will work while you undergo day-to-day tasks, such as cooking. When it comes to smaller kitchens, a Galley style is always a great choice. It streamlines the room and utilises the two prominentwalls in the room, so you get an ample amount of storage space and a long, wide walkway in the middle.
Saving Space
When exploring kitchen design ideas for small kitchens, saving space should be your number one priority. Below we have outlined our top tips on how to get the most out of your space without it becoming too cluttered.
Compact and multifunctional appliances
When you’re short on space in your kitchen, there are plenty of appliances out there that minimise how much room they take up by being compact and multifunctional. For example, slimline appliances will deliver the same functionality that you would get with standard sizes, just on a smaller scale. You can also opt for multifunctional appliances that save you from buying two separate products, essentially halving the space they would take up in the kitchen. This can take the form of a multifunction oven that comes with a grill, a boiling hot water tap that negates the need for a kettle, or a combined extractor induction hob that will free up space on the wall, perfect for extra storage.
Smart Storage
Storage is key in any small kitchen, so it’s always worth looking into space-saving storage solutions that will make life much easier. One way we recommend is utilising as much wall space as possible. For instance, in between the usual cupboards you’d expect to see in a kitchen, you can hang hooks for mugs and utensils, install floating shelves in narrow spaces, or even try out a mini pegboard for modular and flexible storage.
When it comes to the cupboards themselves, you’ll need to find internal solutions to make the most of the space they provide. Corners can be difficult as your items can easily get lost in the back and become hard access, so why not try clever pull-out drawers that bring your pots and pans to you? You can also invest in bespoke storage that caters to your exact needs.
Check out The Style Sisters’ handy kitchen organisation guide for more storage tips.
Foldaway Furniture
If you like eating your meals in the kitchen, a space-saving dining table and chairs would be a great option for you. Whether you go for a stowaway set, or a collapsable table option that you can set up when you need it, there’s always a way to keep your main kitchen space clear and open.
Small Kitchen Design Ideas
Now that you know how to save space in your small kitchen, it’s time to think about the aesthetics of the space.
Kitchen Colour Palette
While you may have all the practical aspects of your kitchen sorted, design can play a huge role in opening a room up and creating the illusion of even more space. Painting your walls and cupboards with a brighter colour will reflect more light, making your kitchen feel open and airy.
You can even paint your cupboards the same colour as the wall to further open up the space, and create a seamless look. It’s also important to consider the floor shade; brighter tiles will make your kitchen appear larger, and opting for bigger styles will avoid the space looking too busy.
The Illusion of Grandeur
Speaking of colours that reflect light, a mirror can be your best friend in using reflection to create the illusion of a larger room. You can even place a mirror behind shelving to really make the most of this illusion. This is a tactic that small retail spaces often employ to make their shop look bigger, so why not try it out in your kitchen? If a mirror doesn’t fit in with your kitchen design, opt for reflective surfaces like glossy white cupboards or bright, shiny worktops.
Another great way to create a more open feel in your kitchen is by installing a mix of closed and open storage. A wall of cupboard doors can make the room feel more enclosed, so breaking this up with open shelving can prevent this.
Minimise Clutter
When designing a smaller kitchen, you’ll want to minimise clutter as much as you can. This can be done by buying 2-in-1 gadgets and appliances (as previously mentioned), as well as going for handleless cupboards, and tucking items that you would usually keep on your worktop behind closed doors.
Inject Your Personality
By incorporating all of the above small kitchen ideas into your home, it doesn’t mean your culinary space can’t have a bit of personality thrown in. You may want to create a light and airy space but it still needs that soul and character. The best way to do this without using vital space is by decorating your walls.
You can either add a pop of colour with a bright, complementary shade of paint that contrasts beautifully with your cupboards and worktop, or go all-out with a patterned wallpaper. If you do go for the latter option, choose a large repetitive pattern that won’t look too busy and cluttered. Another great way to add character to your walls is by introducing wall panelling. This wooden feature can be painted to match your kitchen or left natural for a textured Scandi look. You can even get wallpaper that looks like panelling for a quick and easy middleground. Plus, these eye-catching features offer another benefit – they can draw the eye away from any clutter in your kitchen and distract from its small size.
We hope you have all the ideas for small kitchens you need to create a culinary space to be proud of. Explore our entire kitchen selection for bespoke and ready-made kitchens designed to complement small spaces.
