Small Kitchen Ideas and Designs

Many homes in the UK have small kitchens or galley kitchens, but how do you make the most out of that space without spending lots of money building an extension? Be inspired with these small kitchen ideas, to help transform yours into something you can be proud of.

Making the most of your kitchen is particularly important when it is small. A kitchen isn’t a kitchen without the essentials like a fridge, stove and sink so at the very least, your small kitchen needs to have those. Purchase and install integrated appliances or slimline/compact versions to conserve space. When every little bit of extra space makes a difference, this one tip can really help. When it comes to choosing your sink, instead of going for a double sink, why not just have the one butler sink which is not only more practical in a small kitchen, but also very stylish.

Although many kitchens these days opt for an island, depending on the size of the room, this might not be practical. In a smaller kitchen, space is restricted so it’s more important to make sure the essential kitchen features are included in the design first.

Less working space also means less storage space. Rather than having more cupboard storage (which may not be possible) opting for open shelving may be one way to store pots and pans and other kitchen utensils. Shelving, unlike cupboards or cabinets, doesn’t take up floor space so is a great space saving way to store kitchen items. Open shelving is also a great way to display kitchen equipment while giving the illusion of more space. Avoid cluttering the shelves as it will have the reverse effect.

When it comes to styling and decorating your kitchen, your choice of colour can help to open up the space and give it a bigger feel. White always works to create a light, spacious contemporary feel whether in a large or small room. In small spaces, white is the best colour to use to make it feel bigger. It opens the space up and helps to make the room feel brighter. Other bright and energetic colours include yellow and orange, often used in kitchens.

Light is always a great way to make a room feel bigger. Whether it is natural light, or light from another source, using it effectively will make your kitchen seem larger. Adding lights under wall cupboards or at the base of floor units and using spot lighting is a great way to light up your kitchen. Let the sunshine in by keeping your window treatments to a minimum or not having them at all. If possible, adding a skylight and using glass doors will also help to bring more light into the kitchen to create the illusion of more space.

Other ways to make your small kitchen seem bigger is to use mirrored and reflective surfaces. The more light you can get into the room, especially natural light, the more spacious a room feels. Glass tiles, high gloss surfaces and mirrors can help to do this.

Use these small kitchen ideas and tips to inspire you and help you transform your kitchen, design something stylish and create more space.

Whether you want inspiration for planning a small kitchen renovation or are building a designer kitchen from scratch, Houzz has 78,062 images from the best designers, decorators, and architects in the country, including Cream & Black Interior Design and Lisette Voute Designs. Look through kitchen photos in different colours and styles and when you find a small kitchen design that inspires you, save it to an Ideabook or contact the Pro who made it happen to see what kind of design ideas they have for your home. Explore the beautiful small kitchen ideas photo gallery and find out exactly why Houzz is the best experience for home renovation and design.

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