15 Brilliant Small Kitchen Ideas & Tips

Small kitchen designs have a lot of character but often lack storage space. Many homeowners are dealing with small kitchens and finding ways to make them can be challenging. Fortunately, numerous small kitchen design ideas maximise storage and efficiency. If you are looking for ways to make the most of your small space, you’ve come to the right place. We have covered kitchen ideas for you. Check out our blog post to learn more.

What Will Make a Small Kitchen Stand Out?

A small kitchen layout can be a great asset in your interior design. It allows the cook to be close to the action and can often offer a more intimate dining experience. However, a small kitchen can also feel cramped and cluttered. To make a small kitchen stand out, it is essential to carefully consider the layout and storage space.

For example, installing open shelving can help to create the illusion of more space.

Similarly, choosing light-coloured cabinets and countertops will help to reflect light and make the room feel brighter. Finally, adding a few personal touches, such as colourful backsplash tiles or an interesting piece of art, can give the space its unique character. Turning even the smallest kitchen design ideas into a showstopper is possible with a bit of thought.

How to Design a Small Kitchen?

For a good reason, the kitchen is frequently regarded as the home’s heart. It is where we cook, eat, laugh, and celebrate. However, if your kitchen is small, it might feel more like a burden than a cheerful meeting area. But, even the smallest kitchens can be attractive and efficient with some design know-how. Here are some ideas for designing a tiny kitchen:

First, make sure that the kitchen layout is efficient. The ideal design is a galley kitchen, with two walls of cabinets and counters. This layout makes it easy to reach everything you need without walking across the room. Try an L-shaped kitchen instead if your kitchen is too small for a traditional galley layout.

Second, choose light-coloured cabinetry and countertops. Dark colours tend to make rooms feel smaller and more. Choose white kitchen cabinets to create a bright and airy look.

Third, go for floor-to-ceiling storage, floating shelves or open shelves in your small kitchen to make the most out of the space.

15 Ideas For Small Kitchen

We have gathered 15 small kitchen design ideas and tips to help you make the most of your space. Whether you are starting from scratch or just looking to refresh your existing space, read on to get your small kitchen in tip-top shape.

1. Add a prep area
2. Remove upper cabinets
3. Get custom hardware
4. Opt for invisible hardware
5. Get super-organised inside your cabinets
6. Streamline dish duty
7. Splurge on fun glassware
8. Add a kitchen island
9. Use light colours to visually expand your small kitchen
10. Double down on white
11. Maximise floor space with a dining nook
12. Pair utilitarian appliances with refined cabinetry
13. Think vertically
14. Build a storage bench
15. Get rid of all clutter

1. Add a Prep Area

If you’re working with a small kitchen, adding a prep area is one way to make the most of your space. This can be as simple as adding a countertop or kitchen island that can be used for chopping and prepping food. However, if you have the space, you may want to consider creating a dedicated prep area. It can include a sink, countertop, and storage for all of your prepping supplies.

If you don’t have enough room to add a kitchen island, consider bringing in a slim rolling kitchen cart or bar cart to hold your kitchen supplies or serve as extra counter space. Even a tiny console table can store equipment and ingredients while you cook. By creating a dedicated prep area, you can keep your work area clean and organised, making it easier to cook meals efficiently.

2. Remove Upper Cabinets

In a small kitchen, every inch counts. While upper cabinets provide valuable storage space, they can also make a room feel cramped and crowded. Removing the upper cabinets may be the best way to open up the area if your kitchen is on the small side. This will allow you to experiment with different design elements, like floating or open shelves. Open shelves are incredibly usable and make it much easier to access dishes and glasses. It also helps to create the illusion of a larger space.

3. Get Custom Hardware

Consider custom hardware if your small kitchen lacks the counter and cabinet space you need. You can increase your storage capacity by installing new shelves, drawers, and cupboards without sacrificing style. There are plenty of affordable options available for custom hardware. Try to use hardware as statement pieces. It’s the jewellery you put on to complete the kitchen look. Whether you’re looking for a new place to store pots and pans or want to create a more organised space for dishware, custom hardware is helpful.

4. Opt for Invisible Hardware

One of the best ways to make a small kitchen look bigger is to opt for invisible hardware. You can choose cabinets with sleek, recessed handles or no handles. Drawers can also be outfitted with touch-latch hardware, which allows them to open with a simple push. Modern kitchens generally see less hardware and more integrated pulls or touch-to-open cabinetry. It makes working much more efficient. It also gives the kitchen a streamlined look and eliminates the need for knobs and pulls, which can clutter up a small space.

5. Get Super-Organised Inside Your Cabinets

It’s crucial to maintain your cabinets organised if your kitchen is small. Consider using clear storage containers to help you see what’s inside without opening each container. Purchase risers, lid organisers for your various pots and pans and spice-sorting systems that will help you organise and maximise your kitchen storage. You can also use vertical space by installing shelves or hooks to store items that can take up valuable counter space. Installing hooks for pots and pans can help you to free up even more space inside your cabinets.

6. Streamline Dish Duty

A small kitchen can feel crowded and messy. That is why it is essential to keep it organised. Having a system in place can make a big difference when it comes to doing the dishes. One way to streamline dish duty is to keep a dedicated dish rack near the sink. This way, dirty dishes can be placed directly in the rack without having to hunt for a place to put them. If your small kitchen lacks space for a dishwasher, making the kitchen sink an efficient and tidy space is critical. Consider installing a small dish rack that drains directly into the sink.

7. Splurge on Fun Glassware

If you enjoy cooking, you understand the importance of having an efficient and elegant kitchen. Jazz up your kitchen without wasting too much space is splurging on fun glassware. Look for colourful tumblers or patterned wine glasses. You can also choose something different, like etched champagne flutes or hand-blown martini glasses. Colourful drinkware adds visual interest without being too heavy. Display artistic stemware on an open shelf, or use a pitcher as a countertop vase.

8. Add a Kitchen Island

Incorporate a slim kitchen island for prep space and conversation in your small kitchen. You can use a mobile cart, built-in units and repurposed solutions to make cooking more enjoyable. Consider a rolling island that can be moved out of the way when dinner is ready. Put some wheels on the kitchen island so you can use it whenever needed. You can also push a moving island into the dining room or living room and use it as a dining table or bar. Alternatively, select an island with slim legs that can accommodate a few stools.

9. Use Light Colours to Visually Expand Your Small Kitchen

The lighter the kitchen, the more spacious it can appear. Bring the outdoors in and let nature dictate the palette of your kitchen. To make a small kitchen feel more open, use a light colour palette on the countertops, backsplashes, walls, and millwork. Cutting boards, pots and pans, and linens can all be used to brighten up a room if they are in light colours. Light colours can visually expand your small kitchen. Use a base of warm white, then add depth with natural wood tones or earthy neutrals. Use olive green as an accent to maintain the room’s natural feel.

10. Double Down on White

White paint helps to spread and reflect light, making a room appear larger. The colour white expands small kitchens and opens up new design possibilities. White walls, ceilings, and backsplashes reflect light and recede the perimeter of a small kitchen, making the space appear larger. Display white dish sets on exposed shelving to create a white wall. Select a clean white paint colour for the walls and cabinets, then layer it with blue-coloured bar stools and displays of cheery yellow dishware.

11. Maximise Floor Space With a Dining Nook

Adding a dining nook can create a designated space for enjoying meals without sacrificing valuable countertop or storage space in the kitchen. The key is to choose furniture that is both compact and multifunctional. A small breakfast table with built-in shelves or drawers is a great option, as it can be used for dining and food prep. You can opt for a folding table that can be stored away when not in use. If you have a small dining nook, a round table will open up more floor space and seat more people than a square one.

12. Pair Utilitarian Appliances With Refined Cabinetry

You can use simple tricks to make your small kitchen feel more spacious. One of the best ways to do this is by pairing utilitarian appliances with refined cabinetry. For example, display a coffee maker on an open shelf instead of hiding it in a cabinet. Choose a slimline refrigerator that blends seamlessly into your cabinetry. By selecting appliances that suit your cabinets, you can create a compact kitchen that seems both useful and elegant.

13. Think Vertically

Think about using your vertical space for storage. You can install pot racks, knife mounts, and open shelving above your stove to liberate a significant amount of space in the kitchen. You can also maximise the vertical space in kitchen cabinets using wire shelves, under-the-shelf baskets, and pull out racks. Consider dividing a cabinet into narrow vertical slots for storing baking trays, cookie sheets, trays, and chopping boards.

14. Build a Storage Bench

It’s important to make the most of your space if you have a small kitchen. One way to do this is to build a storage bench. Storage benches are great for storing things like pots and pans and providing extra seating. They can also be used as a coffee table or a place to put your shoes on when you come home from work. If you’re creating a dining nook, include seating with storage compartments to conceal bulk purchases, awkward serving pieces, and kitchen linens.

15. Get Rid of all Clutter

Countertops are prime real estate for clutter, which instantly shrinks a space. Every couple of months, make a point of getting rid of all your unused plastic containers and mismatched dinnerware. While you’re at it, clean out your produce storage. A handy covered fruit bowl will keep onions and garlic separate from odour-absorbing fruit and their papery skins from piling up on the counter. A hanging fruit basket for those extra bits and bobs will also add visual interest to your small kitchen.

Conclusion

Whether you’re renovating your kitchen or just looking for some small ideas to make the most of your space, these tips should help. From storage solutions to clever layout tricks, we’ve got you covered. Even if your kitchen is small, it may still be useful and elegant. So get inspired and start planning your perfect kitchen. These tips will help you make the most of your space. Thanks for following along!

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