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If you are designing a small kitchen from scratch, a galley kitchen shape should be our first recommendation. This is a great trick for creating the impression that your kitchen is bigger, and if you like dark, dramatic colors even better because these are the colors that work best. A mirrored backsplash is a fine idea for a small kitchen as the reflection will instantly give the illusion of a brighter and more spacious room. This small, but perfectly formed, Shaker-style kitchen is a great example of how having a small kitchen doesn't have to mean compromising on the features you love.
Solved! Is It Cheaper to Buy or Build a Kitchen Island?
Perfect for casual meals, a quick coffee or chatting to friends while you cook – all without losing prep space – breakfast bars are hugely practical. Here, Plain English has packed storage into both sides of the peninsula, leaving the walls blissfully empty, bar a simple cooker hood. In this apartment kitchen owned by furniture expert Christine Retlev, a window with a low bottom edge makes it difficult to extend the worktop all the way to the end wall.
Choose Bold Textiles
Factoring your vertical space into your design plans creates more options in the room. For example, over-the-door shelving is a creative way to get the most out of a pint-sized kitchen. Adding small pops of color to a kitchen can have a transformative effect—whether it’s an accent wall, ceiling, or window casing. When you strategically place colorful accents in a small kitchen, they capture attention and distract from size limitations, shifting the focus to its aesthetics. Color also has the power to influence our perception of space, as bright hues make surfaces look farther away.
Try a Farmhouse-Style Kitchen Island
In a smaller kitchen, you might not have room to add in island or a breakfast bar, but you can cleverly create a similar thing on a smaller scale with your kitchen countertop. When it comes to choosing appliances for a small or even tiny kitchen, opting for slimline versions is a great solution to tight spaces. Get inspired by these designs and tips for tiny, beautiful and truly functional spaces... There's no getting around a bulky fridge in a small kitchen, but there are ways you can make it feel like a more seamless part of the design. Here, Lund added paneling and cabinetry around it, which tied into the cabinets on the other side of the space.

With a neutral-leaning color palette, your kitchen can feel more open and serene. Consider adding an appliance garage within your cabinetry as designer Natalie Chong did in her former Toronto townhouse. To open up this kitchen, designer Kevin Isbell painted an oversize glossy checkered print on the floor. The light, bright colors coordinate perfectly with the cafe curtain fabric. Consider linens a small kitchen decor idea in addition to a hardworking kitchen accessory. Colorful towels and vintage aprons are practical and pretty when hung on hooks or displayed in plain view.
small kitchen ideas to maximize a bijou space
Searching for kitchen ideas and inspiration usually leads to large, spacious schemes. But when you’re working with a small kitchen, the same rules don’t apply. Less counter space, limited storage, and reduced traffic flow can quickly leave you feeling frustrated with your scheme, so practical yet stylish solutions are required. This striking cobalt kitchen belonging to artist and interior designer Luke Edward Hall is in an open-plan room that also accommodates dining and relaxing. Fortunately, the ceiling is high, so Luke could maximize his small kitchen storage options with wall cabinets, without overpowering the room.
If you don't have the budget for a kitchen extension, optimise the space you already have instead. Identify places where there’s wasted space, such as the gaps between shelves, at the back of cupboards, below the sink, unused corners and windowsills. Stack wherever you can and have a clear out of kitchenware that’s infrequently used or only has one purpose, so you have less to store. Investing in the best dishwasher is tempting, but your small kitchen design might not have space for one. Due to the nature of collapsible furniture the space isn't in any way compromised by the need for a table. It's a highly efficient way to make small kitchen ideas work to its full potential.
Carve Out a Dining Area
This style is easily one of today’s most popular small kitchen design ideas, and it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere soon. Despite what you might believe, ultra-modern small kitchen ideas aren’t your only option for design inspiration. It’s 100% possible to design a beautiful, vintage-inspired kitchen that doesn’t feel overly cluttered. When working with an ultra-compact space, maximizing your storage space is essential.
The French Design Secret: 5 Trompe-l'oeil Decor Ideas To Make Your Small Kitchen Feel Bigger - Realtor.com News
The French Design Secret: 5 Trompe-l'oeil Decor Ideas To Make Your Small Kitchen Feel Bigger.
Posted: Fri, 03 Nov 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
If you feel like your kitchen is overwhelmed by an abundance of cupboard doors, it might be time to rethink them entirely. Cupboard curtains are a stylish storage hack that works perfectly in traditional kitchens to keep clutter at bay, as well as add a homely touch. Bear in mind that the width of a galley kitchen should be 7 to 12ft (2.1 to 3.7m) with a minimum of 3ft (0.9m) between opposite countertops.
Additionally, this opening enables more natural light to come into a small kitchen to brighten it up. With the advent of open floor plans, indoor pass-through windows seem less prevalent. Still, these small openings between the kitchen and living or dining room remain practical and pleasing. Upgrade your kitchen art with framed paintings or prints, and upgrade dull kitchen lighting for stylish pendant lighting or a small chandelier for some added charm.

Use the cupboards for the less aesthetically pleasing stuff and invest in under shelf baskets and cupboard organizers to make even more of your space. Similary, a hutch placed in an adjoining dining room provides a designated place for pieces you use both everyday and for special ocassions. Make every centimetre count by carefully planning your layout and making sure you regularly clear out kitchen paraphernalia you're not using.