How to make the best out of a small kitchen space?
Small kitchens can be appealing yet daunting with minimal space. You may want to use your countertop for a variety of reasons like cooking and hanging around and it may be frustrating with the minimal space. However, you don’t have to frown, let us help you manage your small kitchen and get the most out of it efficiently.
We will offer different small kitchen design tips be it a petite gallery kitchen, a single wall, or an open kitchen. Whether you are renovating or starting a fresh or refreshing an existing space, we can help you get your kitchen in tip-top shape.
Read also – 80+ Beautiful Modern Kitchen Design Ideas
Space planning before Designing
With any type of kitchen, you will require proper planning of how you will use your space, and how to create more in case it’s at a minimalist. The triangular movement that is from the sink, fridge and oven is common in every kitchen and should be considered. You should also plan on the suitable way to use your kitchen floor space and solutions to create more space.
Choosing a Style
You do not need to compromise your kitchen dream layout because of the minimal space. You can always include an island kitchen or a slender breakfast table to avoid restricting movement in the kitchen. Chairs and stools can be stored under the kitchen island while the worktop on the island can be used for storage.
Gallery Style Kitchen
This long narrow kitchen style with base cabinets and wall cabinets can work best for your small kitchen. They are less expensive to build and remodel. They are also ergonomically better since most of the services are clustered around each other.
Kitchen services like water, electricity, and gas are located in the same area. These kitchens make use of the tight-step saving kitchen triangle design. However, it will limit too many cooks in your kitchen. Too many cooks spoil the broth remember? So, take it as an advantage.
Read also – 6 Best Kitchen Layout Ideas
Color Combination and Palette
Adequate lighting gives a smaller space an illusion of greatness and brightens the space. A white hue is therefore a suitable option for a minimalist space. Painting the cupboards and walls white will enhance more reflection and brightness in the room.
50 Best Small Kitchen Ideas:
1. Include a prep area
Your space may be minimal to expand or add an island kitchen but incorporating a slim rolling kitchen cart to hold your mise en place or serve as an additional counter space will work the magic. A narrow console can be a spot to set up equipment and ingredients.
Read also – How To Design A Kitchen?
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2. Go for invisible hardware
Have you ever held against a counter and felt like your hand is being poked? Well, thanks to your flair for neatness and tidiness, incorporating invisible hardware will ensure you get a clear surface where you can easily view the material.
There will also be no pesky objects that will hook your clothes as you pass by. Instead, you will have more integrated pulls or to-to-open cabinets that are efficient.
Read also – 20 Best Kitchen Wall Decor Ideas
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3. Declutter and organize your cabinets
Add risers, and lid organizers for your pots and pans. Creatively add storing pieces that will maximize your space.
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4. Creatively install a dish washer
To utilize the minimal space, use a dishwasher that directly drains into the sink and choose one that is non-rusty. Your interior designer can help you out with that.
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5. Include a kitchen island
Consider adding a rolling island that can be pushed when dinner is ready. You can entertain your guests by putting all they require on a wheel. You can as well add a few chairs around it and spruce up the evening on an island in either your dining room or living room. An island with slim legs is ideal.
Read also – 50 Best Kitchen Island Design Ideas
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6. Play with the colors
Lighter hue colors tend to make a room larger and add life. However, you can bring the outside to the inside and enjoy the natural palette. You can play along with lighter colors on the backsplash, countertops, walls and millwork. Equipment too creates the same effect. You can have your chopping board, pots, pans, plates and cups in lighter color shades.
Read also – 6 Best Kitchen Decor Ideas
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7. Color it white
White is the lightest color and it adds vibrance and reflects space. You can paint your walls white and set your shelves white and lined with white cups and plates. The table console can be painted white together with the dining chairs.
They will tend to reflect light and create an illusion of a bigger space. The white color is also crisp and refreshing. The stools lined next to the countertop can be painted white.
Read also – 7 Types of Kitchen Floor Plans with Dimensions
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8. Add double bank wall cabinets
An extra row of wall cabinets is a certain way to add more space to your minimal kitchen. You go ahead and paint them white and let them create an illusion of a larger space. You can further decorate it with a bright centerpiece to add chicness.
Read also – 10 Best Kitchen Remodeling Ideas
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9. Dual use for kitchen items
You can use your equipment as storage items. Mixing glass bowls can double as fresh egg holders while your mini wine bottle racks can be positioned in the slim spaces of your shelves and arranged creatively to bring synchrony. Water jugs can be added as sidelined for cooking sticks storage.
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10. Lighting
Let your creativity run wild. You can use LED strip lights to create a glow around your wall cabinets causing a floating effect. You can also add ceiling hooks to suspend your kitchen pendant lights right where you exactly need them. Let the crowning glory illuminate your minimalist space.
Read also – Best Kitchen Lighting Ideas and Trends
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11. Choose slim line seating style
High-back chairs occupy a lot of space. You can make the most of your space by adding slim line chairs that can be pushed to the wall or right under the table to offer space for your kitchen preparations.
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12. Utilize awkward shaped spaces
Install shelving below sloping eaves to add more space to your kitchen.
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13. Add a glass door
You can use a glass door to add a sense of added space. It will separate the living room from the kitchen adding more independence among the rooms and distraction as you work in the kitchen space.
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14. Plant a kitchen greenhouse window
So, you love plants and greeneries but you are out of space. Do not fret! Ikea homes have provided a brilliant and creative way to practice your hobby as you still make those delicious meals. Use your window as your mini kitchen garden.
How? It is simple, install a few rods across the glass for hanging extra indoor herb plantings. With the maximum light, they are bound to flourish and create a green environment for your space making it all organic. You can add hanging hook systems on the walls too.
Read also – 15 Easy and Healthy Houseplants To Grow Inside Your Home
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15. Monochrome patterns
You can incorporate monochrome tiles and a strip on your backsplash to complement it. Strong geometric lines work fabulously on a small kitchen floor plan. Your wood cabinets and matching cutting boards can complement the look making it stunning.
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16. Have in-built designs
Incorporate an in-built microwave, cooker, and fridge to create more space. It will also reduce the fuss and make the kitchen neat and polished. Your cabinet color can match with the equipment to create synchrony to your kitchen space. A matching rug can be added to complement it.
Read also – What is the Average Kitchen Size?
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17. Add colored Perspex panels
Colored Perspex panels act by creating a subtle visual room divider allowing light to illuminate through. It can be complemented by a unique art piece.
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18. Capitalize on cupboard space
Store your kitchen equipments in cupboards to create a polished and neat look.
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19. Use a striking contrast
Mixing many colors can overwhelm a small space. However, you can maintain the same color on your walls, cabinets and ceilings. You can then incorporate contrasting color accents for your hood range, pendant lights and decorative knobs and handles.
Read also – What is Kitchen Triangle?
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20. Hang cutting boards
You can store your cookbooks, vases, or pieces of art and your special cookware on your shelves. Then you can hang your chopping boards and oven mitts below it by suspending hooks under the shelf.
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21. Group items by color
Create a uniform look in open shelving by arranging similar colored dishes and appliances together to create a blending appeal. The advantage is it will make locating your items easier.
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22. Mount a metal rack
In addition to decorating your backslash, add a metallic rack that shines further illuminating a metallic effect to your backsplash. Then hang your cooking pots and other must-haves to accentuate your style.
Read also – 20 Best Kitchen Backsplash Ideas
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23. Infuse a pop of colors
Pop colors on your white spaces from your cookwares and stools to create more fun in your kitchen.
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24. Extend your tiles from the countertop to the ceiling
Let your eyes enjoy the vertical look of the tiles from the floor to the ceiling. Then cover the walls with an understated backsplash. Remember to include your plants for an organic appeal.
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25. Embrace storage bins and sliding doors
Install sliding cabinet doors and hide bulky kitchen appliances behind them. Storage bins can be stashed in empty spaces especially below the inbuilt sink to conceal items that are not used often.
Read also – 15 Best Kitchen Design Software
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26. Install a mirror
You may not have a big kitchen window but nailing a mirror on the wall will create an illusion of open space.
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27. Incorporate a tiered shelving
Do not let your unused wall spaces empty. Instead, use wall spaces by stacking layers of open shelving on top of each other.
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28. Use vertical space
29. Be a décor maximalist
The advantage of a small room is that you can go overboard with the décor as it doesn’t use much as compared to large spaces. Therefore, maximize on the décor with pale hues and white paint on the kitchen walls.
Read also – 8 Kitchen Island Renovation Ideas
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30. Install a pull-out pantry drawer
A slim pull-out pantry will keep your shopping items like oils and spices in an easy-to-reach place.
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31. Spruce up those cabinets
You do not have to be intimidated by large spaces have the best that life can offer. Instead, use high-end kitchen design details that utilize smaller spaces like a mini-fridge. Then use patterned tiles combined with gold-like accessories and make your minimalist kitchen a deluxe.
Read also – Best Small Kitchen Design Ideas
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32. Install a breakfast nook
If you are running on space for an eat-in kitchen, you can creatively fix a brightly colored wood countertop against a blank wall and add high-top chairs.
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33. Use a removable wall paper
Let your personality dominate the kitchen pace by adding your preferred removable wallpaper. Living in a rented apartment does not limit you to living your life in full. Add a designer touch while maintaining a refreshing appeal.
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34. Add a colorful rug
Add vibrance and warmth to your kitchen with a beautiful rug. If you are short on space, a long runner can be used.
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35. Pay attention to details
Smaller details like material use are key in designing small kitchens. Lighter wood finishes and paint colors work well to expand the perceived space of your kitchen. A smoky grey scheme paired with matte grey paint can be all that your kitchen space requires.
It can be paired with light-colored countertops and bar stools which will make your modern kitchen appear spacey and with better interior design.
Read also – 20 Common Kitchen Design Challenges
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36. Promote calmness with mint green
Small kitchens can feel chaotic but painting them mint green promotes relaxation and calmness mimicking the organic green effect and giving you that space feel.
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37. Install floor-to-ceiling cabinetry
To avoid cluttering your countertops use high vertical cupboards as your storage space in your compact kitchen. Store the less frequently used items on higher cupboards while the frequently used at the bottom shelves.
However, ensure they are well aerated to keep off mildew and smells. The cupboard will enhance your working space in the kitchen.
Read also – 8 Best Indian Kitchen Design Ideas for Indian Homes
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38. Ensure cabinets are smooth, streamlined and modern
These are the defining elements of your spaces. Replacing heavy handles and knobs with pulls, sleek handles, tiny knobs, and magnetic strips will transform your kitchen into a chic look and will create more space.
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39. Use more of open shelving
This not only adds space to store your items but gives an illusion of space and airs your kitchen avoiding molds growth. Count it as more of double duty.
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40. Include a dining corner and a bar
You are probably wondering how right? It’s simple, you can drag chairs or stools to the peninsula that divides your kitchen from the living room then add shelves above it and lay neatly your wine glasses and wine bottles.
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41. Switch up what to store in your cupboards
Your storage area does not have to be used the way it was originally intended. A rack in a cupboard to hand towels for example can be used to hold pans and cooking pots with their lids in position. Let them color your top kitchen backsplash and have an organized kitchen look.
Read also – Top 22 Kitchen Design Trends
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42. Install storage under benches
A breakfast nook bench takes up little space than chairs and can also be used to store seat cushions or less frequently used items like holiday table clothes.
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43. Use awkward nooks for dining
An awkward DIY narrow nook can be used in the kitchen to comfortably hold about six people. The built-in benches are more efficient and more comfortable than chairs. They are also space-saving.
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44. Make use of your ceilings
Hang pots and pans from the ceiling. All you need to do is keep a step stool or a bar stool handy.
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45. Implement an artwork
You can add a sculpture makeover to your kitchen to make it lively and artistic. You can also incorporate other small kitchen design ideas and artistic small kitchen layouts.
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46. Stash books above
Your cookery books do not need to be unkemptly stored, you can stash them up to the ceiling with the top most being the ones you have already mastered the art of cooking. You can always pull from the lowest easily rather than using a stool to get the ones at the top.
Read also – 21 Best Kitchen Counter Decor Ideas
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47. Retro style
A retro vibe with its checkboard tile work adds depth to your spaces making them chic and fabulous.
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48. Amber kitchen
Pops of orange infuse energy into a small kitchen design scheme. You can cover the ceilings and the walls in orange to reflect warmness and energy. Then let your stainless steel equipment do the decoration and reflection magic on your tile backsplash.
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49. Colorful corner
You can include vintage artwork to make it more appealing and complement the color scheme with your white kitchen or blue kitchen. your farmhouse kitchen can have more decorating ideas implemented in your cooking space and dining area by finding extra storage from your floating shelves to put the colorful vases.
Read also – 25 Space Saving Furniture Ideas for Your Small Homes
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50. Disappearing kitchen
Large door panels can be integrated into the walls and millwork to conceal the small space when necessary in a tiny kitchen. Having a kitchen remodel can create space for your kitchen table and you can add more kitchen storage ideas with an open plan for your marble countertops.
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51. Hang your mugs
Hanging your mugs is one of the design ideas that do a dual job in your kitchen by freeing up space and bringing a decorative accent. You can install a rack under your cabinets or set a mug tree on your counter. You can also mount the rack on the wall for a grand statement in your gallery kitchen.
Read also – 10 Small House Design Ideas
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Conclusion
A small kitchen will require you to think out of the box to glamourize your kitchen. Proper cabinetry and installation of hooks will go a long way in providing more space in your kitchen cabinets for your galley kitchen. Natural light for your open plan in your workspace can be reflected by your subway tiles. Wood floors also make a small kitchen warmer.
Adding artwork and plants will brighten and make your kitchen a visual interest to behold. Hanging your mugs and pots is a great way to display your beautiful pieces and style plus free up spaces on the open shelves. Maintaining a color palette is also essential to avoid over-coloring your kitchen. Keep it simple yet elegant with the color hues and make your kitchen feel glamorous.