Successful small kitchen design is space efficient and includes all the features that make a full-scale kitchen convenient: a seamless workflow, techy appliances, ample storage and layered lighting.
What you need for successful smallkitchen design in a nutshell:
1.Space-efficient small kitchen floorplan
2.A bright or light wall colour
3.General, task and accent lighting
4.Frugal use of appliances
5.Multifunctional storage solutions
Fantastic Frank& Adventures in Cooking
Even the teeniest kitchen can become the hub of your dreamhome, all you need is a few small kitchen design tricks and tips. Making themost of a limited space involves prioritising, using space wisely and planningto avoid both physical and visual clutter.
Now that you have the basic framework of a small kitchen design needs let’s get into the details. BTW, you can chat with one of our expert kitchen designers to find the kitchen that suits your home.
STEP 1: Get the Layout Right
First thing first, decideon a small kitchen design layout. The aim is to work with the space you have,not fight against it. You might make structural changes, like removing a wall, tomake more room. However, it’s best to try and work within the existing structureas the walls house a network of wires and pipes that can cost time and money.
Often, light canmake a compact space feel open and welcoming. So, instead of breaking down an entirewall, you can:
- Create a gap for an entryway or smallkitchen design pass through between load-bearing beams in an existing wall toprovide openness. This kind of change can quickly transform a dark, pokeylittle kitchen into a spacious kitchen that opens to the living room area andcan increase the value of your home.
- Add natural light into your small kitchendesign by replacing the back door with a glass door, or by installing a skylight.
But if this is notan option, or your budget won’t allow for it, there are other small kitchen layouttips you can try to create a successful design. All you need to know is how toarrange and organize the small kitchen, and where to put the fridge.
What is the Best Small Kitchen Layout?
Even a very small and narrow kitchen design can wow guests and be easy to use. But some kitchen layouts are far better suited to small spaces than others are. Here are the best small kitchen floor plans to incorporate in your home and a video that explains the different layouts.
Singlewall kitchens– This kitchen layout aligns appliances,storage and workspace along a single wall, and uses very little of thesurrounding areas. A small single wall kitchen uses space efficiently, and thedesign is well-suited to a room with three doorways but isn’t ideal for heavycooking.
L-shapedkitchens– If your small kitchen area is the corner ofa larger room, an L-shape (also known as a 10×10 layout) or a U-shape designwill give you a complete work triangle between the refrigerator, stove and sink.Here appliances and cabinets flow along two joining walls. One-wall small kitchendesign with a jutting peninsula counter is ideal for a space-saving breakfastbar.
Galleykitchens– If your kitchen is very narrow, small galley-styledesign with counters and appliances on opposing walls works best. These typesof kitchens offer fantastic efficiency in terms of the storage and workspacethey provide. Pinterest is an excellent source of small galley kitchen ideas,so simply have a look for more inspiration.
Islandkitchens– A single wall kitchen with an island createsa galley-type design that is appropriate for open-plan apartments, as theyallow a second work surface (and potentially a small kitchen breakfast bar)without enclosing the area.
Pro tip: It’s easy to overlook something as simple as an open cupboard preventing access to the fridge or dishwasher with a small L-shaped kitchen. Think about how certain areas can be used for different functions and see what areas can double up.
How to Design a Very Small Kitchen Layout?
When it comes todesigning your small kitchen on your own, the floorplan is the most crucial step.So, try a few small kitchen design templates first before you knock down walls.
- Startby measuring the area of your small kitchen.
- Allow awalkway of at least 1m between the kitchen counters and 1,5m between kitchensurfaces and other living zones. More isle width might be necessary if you wantto incorporate your dining area ideas into the small kitchen.
- Ensurefree traffic movement by placing the most used items, like a fridge, in aneasily accessible area and out of the way of preparation and cooking stations.
- If yourspace allows, use the golden work triangle (between the fridge, stove and sink)to create an efficient kitchen area.
STEP 2: Pick the Best Colour for Your Small Kitchen
Old Brand New& Justina Blakeney
Popular small kitchen design ideas are characterised bybeing bright and light-filled. So, how do they do it? The key to recreating anairy atmosphere is colour. After using one of the many lively colour ideas onyour small kitchen cabinets or walls, you can add LEDs to accent certainfeatures.
But whatcolour is best for a small kitchen? The answer is simple: whites, brightpastels and lively greens or yellow.
A bold colour in the kitchen can brightenthe area and turn it into a feature room. Plus, you can use reflective surfacesto bounce even more light and colour into the space.
It’s not all about the colour, thepaint finish matters too. Choose apaint that is heat, water and stain resistant with an eggshell finish. Thisfinish has a slight shimmer that will reflect light, and make a room seemairier and roomier than it is.
Check out the editorial director of House & Home’s kitchenreveal
STEP 3: Make the Most of Your Light
Keller Interiors & Justina Blakeney
Without enough light, even the best kitchen colour will goto waste. Make sure to incorporate the three kitchen light essentials: accent,task and general lighting.
- Use recessedceiling lights for general lighting.These round LED lights are compact, and you need only two to three for kitchendesign in a tiny space.
- Under-cabinet lights are best for tasklighting. Shine a light on your work area and make the room feelprofessionally designed with power-efficient LED light strips.
- A pendantlight as accent lighting creates a focal above an island or in a galleykitchen.
Keller Interiors & Magic Dream Life
Don’t forgetnatural light! You can install a skylight in a, particularly dark kitchen. Gobeyond lighting by removing clutter fromyour window and using glossysurfaces to bounce the light around the room.
Textured wallpaperand carpets absorb the light, so stick to shiny tiling and glossy kitchencabinets. Addingmirrored surfaces in the right places can also help to create the illusion ofspace and project light further into the room.
Pro Tip: Use accent lighting to highlight features on shelves that will also makethe ceiling seem higher. Again, complementing glossy surfaces with accent lightwill enhance the impact.
STEP 4: Choose Your Kitchen Accessories Wisely
Appliances take up space. When it comes to adding functionality intothe kitchen, you need to pick the essentials first. Check out our handy kitchenappliance guide to helpyou choose the best for your space.
So, what are the best small kitchen appliances, and which should you choose?
Nicole Franzen& House Beautiful
Approach organisingthe small kitchen appliances systematically. Pick your non-negotiable devicesfirst, then move on to items that your tiny kitchen design might not need, likea corner sink and washing machine. Follow the tips below to save space in yourkitchen:
- Keep the non-negotiables: fridge, cooker anda sink
- Evaluate your specific kitchen-needs and berealistic about what your kitchen can accommodate
- Leave the items that you don’t regularly use,like bulky blenders
- Consider a half-sized dishwasher, or nodishwasher if you don’t cook anything substantial or host dinner parties regularly
- Choose a slim fridge instead of a full-sizedone
- Pick a single or 1.5 sink bowl that canaccommodate drain or chopping boards.
In summary, shoparound and look for more compact models to make more space. Even if you alreadyhave a cooker, if you’re spending money on refitting an entire kitchen, a bitextra to replace your existing model with something more compact may be worththe expense.
See how designer, ScottMcGillivray fit a full-size cooking range into a small single wall kitchen
STEP 5: Space Saving Kitchen Design
Using smart storage ideas in your small kitchen is one wayhow you can maximise the space without a significant renovation.
First, get rid of clutter
Clutter is the enemy in small kitchens. Worktops withrandom bits and pieces on them make the area feel crowded and claustrophobic. So,incorporate plenty of storage space instead. Only essential, regularly-useditems should be out on your work surfaces – the rest of it needs to find ahome.
Second, go up
If you’re lucky enough to have a high ceiling, make themost of your wall space by using high kitchen cabinets that extend to theroof. Also, add extra shelves wherever possible; if your washing machine issmaller than your worktop height, fit a shelf in just above it – the same goesfor the cooker, fridge etc.
Third, amp up the angles
Use the odd angles in a smaller kitchen. For instance,can you angle a sink into a corner, or can you install angled corner pantries?Deep corners may well be wasted space otherwise.
Fourth, revise the breakfast bar
If you’re adding a breakfast bar or nook into your tinykitchen design, could shallow shelves or drawers sit comfortably underneath thecountertop? Solutions, like under bar shelving, provide a great deal ofstorage space without affecting the space in the room.
Fifth, add free-standing units
Don’t forget you can complement your kitchen cabinets withsome free-standing drawer units, but we have one great tip for you: useunits which stand on longer legs because if you can see the floorunderneath, it will make the floor space – and therefore the room – feelbigger.
How to Make a Small Kitchen Look Bigger and Better
When it comes to moving into a home or apartment with anexisting tiny kitchen, chances are it’s outdated or doesn’t efficiently use thespace provided. How you decorate your small kitchen has an impact on the perceivedsize. Luckily, our small kitchen design updating tips and ideas will help youachieve your happy-home goal, even when you’re on a budget.
- Use layered Light – accent, task and ambient.
- Add a light-reflecting tile backsplashto your small kitchen.
- Remove clutter from the countertops and thoseblocking light in front of the window.
- Paint the walls in a bright and light-reflectivecolour.
- Implement clever storage ideas.
- Add a large mirror on the opposite end of thekitchen.
Check out the tour of blogger, AutumnHachey’s DIY kitchen renovation
Remodelling a Small Kitchen
Small kitchen beforeand after by ArchitecturalDigest
The surest way to improve your crampedkitchen is with a renovation. You can remodel a small kitchen and find a way tomake it bigger with the help of a contractor. If you work with aprofessional kitchen designer and tell them what type of kitchen you’dprefer, they will be able to create a new design specifically for your space.
What does a Small Kitchen Remodel Cost?
Apartment Therapy
One question sure to come up is how much does a smallkitchen remodel cost. What the final price is, depends on whether you need asmall kitchen extension or a full-scale renovation.
First, set up a budget before you delve into small kitchendesign ideas. Can you afford a quick update or a full-scale renovation? Repaintingand installing new countertops will be cost-effective, while changing thelayout will demand a bigger cut. Have a look at small kitchen remodel before andafter images for inspiration and get quotesfrom trusted kitchen designers to calculate your expenses.
Your kitchen might be little but it doesn’t have to be limited. Contact our team today for expert advice, assistance, and design to get the dream kitchen you deserve.
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