Small Kitchen with Open Cabinets Ideas and Designs

Photo of a small industrial u-shaped open plan kitchen in San Francisco with open cabinets, wood worktops, brown worktops, a submerged sink, coloured appliances, grey floors, a vaulted ceiling and a breakfast bar.

Interior AM2

INT2architecture

INT2 architecture
Inspiration for a small industrial single-wall open plan kitchen in Moscow with open cabinets, stainless steel cabinets, stainless steel worktops, stainless steel appliances, painted wood flooring, no island, white floors, a built-in sink, grey worktops and black splashback.

My Houzz: Eclectic, Earthy Charm in a 1951 Family Home in Kansas

Jessica Cain

Photo: Jessica Cain © 2017 Houzz
This is an example of a small eclectic single-wall enclosed kitchen in Kansas City with open cabinets, white splashback, metro tiled splashback, stainless steel appliances and an island.

Sweet and Salty Pantry

Rylex Custom Cabinetry and Closets

Adjustable shelves are a perfect fit for a kitchen pantry. With stored items ranging from small flat cans to small appliances, you can accommodate various heights and sizes with fully adjustable shelves. That applies to the depth of shelves, as well. Deep shelves are necessary for platters or larger appliances, but shallow shelves keep everything front and center so that each item is easily accessible. Kara Lashuay

Wee Ski Chalet

BARRETT STUDIO architects

Embedded in a Colorado ski resort and accessible only via snowmobile during the winter season, this 1,000 square foot cabin rejects anything ostentatious and oversized, instead opting for a cozy and sustainable retreat from the elements. This zero-energy grid-independent home relies greatly on passive solar siting and thermal mass to maintain a welcoming temperature even on the coldest days. The Wee Ski Chalet was recognized as the Sustainability winner in the 2008 AIA Colorado Design Awards, and was featured in Colorado Homes & Lifestyles magazine’s Sustainability Issue. Michael Shopenn Photography

Greenwich Village

Pamela Dailey Design

This 400 s.f. studio apartment in NYC’s Greenwich Village serves as a pied-a-terre for clients whose primary residence is on the West Coast. Although the clients do not reside here full-time, this tiny space accommodates all the creature comforts of home. Bleached hardwood floors, crisp white walls, and high ceilings are the backdrop to a custom blackened steel and glass partition, layered with raw silk sheer draperies, to create a private sleeping area, replete with custom built-in closets. Simple headboard and crisp linens are balanced with a lightly-metallic glazed duvet and a vintage textile pillow. The living space boasts a custom Belgian linen sectional sofa that pulls out into a full-size bed for the couple’s young children who sometimes accompany them. Efficient and inexpensive dining furniture sits comfortably in the main living space and lends clean, Scandinavian functionality for sharing meals. The sculptural handrafted metal ceiling mobile offsets the architecture’s clean lines, defining the space while accentuating the tall ceilings. The kitchenette combines custom cool grey lacquered cabinets with brass fittings, white beveled subway tile, and a warm brushed brass backsplash; an antique Boucherouite runner and textural woven stools that pull up to the kitchen’s coffee counter puntuate the clean palette with warmth and the human scale. The under-counter freezer and refrigerator, along with the 18” dishwasher, are all panelled to match the cabinets, and open shelving to the ceiling maximizes the feeling of the space’s volume. The entry closet doubles as home for a combination washer/dryer unit. The custom bathroom vanity, with open brass legs sitting against floor-to-ceiling marble subway tile, boasts a honed gray marble countertop, with an undermount sink offset to maximize precious counter space and highlight a pendant light. A tall narrow cabinet combines closed and open storage, and a recessed mirrored medicine cabinet conceals additional necessaries. The stand-up shower is kept minimal, with simple white beveled subway tile and frameless glass doors, and is large enough to host a teak and stainless bench for comfort; black sink and bath fittings ground the otherwise light palette. What had been a generic studio apartment became a rich landscape for living.

Blacksmith Shop Air BnB Rental

Design Platform

www.davidlauerphotography.com
Design ideas for a small industrial l-shaped kitchen in Denver with wood worktops, stainless steel appliances, concrete flooring, no island, a built-in sink, open cabinets and white splashback.

Ceiling Fans

We Got Lites

Rustic Iron Ceiling Fan with Chestnut Washed Blades Rustic iron motor finish Rustic iron finished blades 52" Blade span Includes 6" downrod Fan height, blade to ceiling 11" Overall height, ceiling to bottom of light kit 17.5" Integrated downlight features frosted glass Supplied with (2) 35 watt G9 light bulbs for light kit 15 degree blade pitch designed for optimal air Includes wall/hand remote control system with downlight feature Premium power 172 X 14 mm torque-induction motor for whisper quiet operation Triple capacitor, 3 speed reversible motor Precision balanced motor and blades for wobble-free operation Vintage Industrial Collection

Modd Cott

Mell Lawrence Architects

Inspiration for a small contemporary single-wall open plan kitchen in Austin with a submerged sink, open cabinets, blue cabinets, stainless steel worktops, stainless steel appliances, concrete flooring and no island.

L-Shaped Galley Kitchen Update

Neil Kelly Company

This unique kitchen space is an L-shaped galley with lots of windows looking out to Lake Washington. The new design features classic white lower cabinets and floating walnut shelves above. White quartz countertop, brass hardware and fixtures, light blue textured wallpaper, and three different forms of lighting-- can lights, sconces, and LED strips under the floating shelf to illuminate what's on the shelf or countertop below it.

1 Bay Ceiling + Wall Mounted Collector's Shelving Unit

Amuneal Manufacturing Corp.

Amuneal made the Rolling Kitchen Ladder and matching Collector’s bar shelving unit for the Great Room style kitchen in this Aspen, Colorado home. The wall + ceiling mounted bar shelving unit creates tall vertical space for bottle and stemware storage. Each glass shelf includes a brass bottle rail stop. The Ladder features quiet glide rolling hardware with rails in patinated aluminum for light weight and ease of use, and curved handle grips wrapped in black hand stitched leather as well as peened textured treads with warm brass tread noses.

Farmhouse Kitchen

Design ideas for a small rural l-shaped enclosed kitchen in Austin with open cabinets, white cabinets, wood worktops, concrete flooring, beige floors and brown worktops.

Earth-Bermed House

Allan Shope Architect

Photo: Durston Saylor
This is an example of a small contemporary single-wall open plan kitchen in New York with an island, open cabinets, light wood cabinets, glass worktops, metal splashback, stainless steel appliances and concrete flooring.

Kitchen - Oakton, VA

Berriz Design Build Group

Photo of a small traditional u-shaped kitchen pantry in DC Metro with open cabinets, white cabinets, ceramic flooring and no island.

Pantry

A Closet Case

This is an example of a small traditional kitchen pantry in Charleston with open cabinets, white cabinets, medium hardwood flooring and brown floors.

Big Timber Art Studio/Barn Remodel

North Fork Builders of Montana, Inc.

LongViews Studio
Small modern single-wall kitchen in Other with a double-bowl sink, open cabinets, distressed cabinets, zinc worktops, white splashback, wood splashback, concrete flooring, no island and grey floors.

Coach House

reDesign home | chicago

Inspiration for a small classic single-wall kitchen pantry in Chicago with a submerged sink, open cabinets, medium wood cabinets, wood worktops, grey splashback, marble splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood flooring, brown floors and brown worktops.

Italia

BK Hudson Custom Builders

Small country l-shaped enclosed kitchen in Austin with open cabinets, white cabinets, wood worktops, concrete flooring, beige floors and brown worktops.

Cabot Cove Summer Cottage

Tracey Rapisardi Design

This is an example of a small romantic single-wall open plan kitchen in Tampa with open cabinets, white cabinets, wood worktops, no island, white appliances, white splashback, wood splashback, white floors and brown worktops.

Greenwich Village

Pamela Dailey Design

Small Kitchen with Open Cabinets Ideas and Designs

Want to discover beautiful Small kitchen ideas to inspire your new kitchen design? You’ve come to the right place. You can discover millions of Small kitchen designs and ideas; from kitchen islands and storage units, to all sorts of kitchen lighting ideas, such as pendant lighting or under cabinet lighting. Whether you want inspiration for all-in-one fitted kitchen designs, some small kitchen ideas or maybe just some tips for improving your kitchen decor, there are tons of photos to inspire you for your next kitchen project on Houzz.

What kind of kitchen design should I go for?

With so many kitchen ideas and photos to look at you might be a bit overwhelmed when it comes to picking your own kitchen design. If you are updating your kitchen you know what a big and important decision it is to get the design right – the kitchen can be the hub and heart of the home, and it’s unlikely that you would invest in renovating your kitchen again in a few years. But fear not, focusing first on the important elements like layout, cabinet style, worktops and appliances will help you to bring together your dream kitchen design. Additional elements like kitchen lighting, cupboard storage and decor can come after in the kitchen planning process. A kitchen designer or fitter can help you to decide the layout of your kitchen in terms of where to place your kitchen units, appliances and island (if you’re having one), but if you prefer to handle this yourself you can focus on where you want your key elements of your kitchen to be – the oven, hob, sink and fridge. Of course you might be constricted by space, but try to envisage the easiest and most efficient layout based on how you usually like to cook and prepare your food. If you’re fed up of always having to carry dirty pans and pots across the room to the sink, place the sink closer to your oven and hob. Once you have the core elements sorted, consider extra layout considerations, such as where your bins will be stored, where the cutlery draw should be and where small kitchen appliances can be installed.

Should I include a kitchen island?

Kitchen island ideas are abundant these days; it seems most kitchen designs include a kitchen island, if not multiple islands. However, if the layout doesn’t work, especially if you have a small kitchen, then there’s no necessity to add in a kitchen island. You can add a breakfast bar or counter to your existing kitchen units, or stick with a good old-fashioned dining table if you don’t need the extra work surfaces. That said, if you do have the room, take a look at some kitchen island ideas to see if the designs inspire you for your kitchen. There are a huge variety of island designs to cater to different needs – you can have sinks, ovens, hobs, wine storage and all sorts of drawers and organisers built-in, you can have separate bars and counters that extend from your island, or you could go for a kitchen island on wheels to make your kitchen layout more versatile.

How do I choose my kitchen units and cabinets?

When picking out kitchen units and cupboard styles for a fitted kitchen, you’ll first want to consider the more practical questions – how many units do you need? How many cupboards and drawers do you need? Do you need extra kitchen storage built into your units? It’s always best to overestimate how much kitchen storage you’ll need as we all tend to have a habit of filling up whatever current space we have to the maximum. Next you can consider kitchen cabinet style and colour. Shaker style cabinets and raised and recessed panel cabinets offer a more traditional kitchen cabinet look, while flat panel cabinet doors tend to lend more to the modern and contemporary style. However, going for raised or recessed panel work in a striking colour such as dark blue, green or black can still work with contemporary kitchen ideas. White kitchens can give a sleek and clean feel, but remember you may have to do a bit more cleaning of those cupboard doors if you want everything to stay shiny and fresh. Of course, grey kitchens are the neutral colour choice du jour and can be paired with pale and rich shades alike if you want your fitted kitchen cupboards to contrast with your worktop, splashback, floor, or all of the above. Exposed shelving and storage is also popular for eclectic, Scandi and industrial-inspired looks, so you could opt for glass-fronted cabinets or no wall-mounted cabinets at all. Remember that this will require more restraint in what you can store and more effort in keeping it looking presentable compared to what is stored away hastily behind cupboard doors. The kitchen cupboard handles are also another element to decide upon – do you want traditional round knobs, modern metal bars, country kitchen cup handles or maybe to go ultra sleek with a completely handleless kitchen?

What kitchen storage ideas should I consider?

If you want to keep your kitchen well-stocked and well-equipped but don’t want it spilling over with clutter, then you’ll need to rely on good kitchen storage. Apart from the usual fitted kitchen cupboards and drawer space, there are many other ways of keeping your kitchen tidy. Whilst a large kitchen pantry is the dream of most homeowners, it can’t always be a reality. However, there are now lots of pull out compartments and drawers with trays and shelving that can act as mini kitchen pantries, and you can install handy cupboard organisers that fit onto the inside of the door to make the most of your cupboard space. You can also look at corner drawers and cupboards that open up to reveal lots of extra storage. Rails or small shelves along your kitchen walls or splashback can help with hanging utensils or pans, or storing small items like herbs and spices in an usually empty space. Buy extra kitchen storage products for your home on Houzz

Are there small kitchen ideas for small spaces?

If you’re working with a galley kitchen, a one-wall kitchen in an open plan space or just a pretty small kitchen, there are some small kitchen ideas that can help you get the most out of your cooking and dining area. If you find that you don’t utilise the back of your cupboards (maybe they become the graveyard for out-of-date tin cans), you could decide to go with shallower kitchen units to free up some extra floor space in front of your cabinets. As mentioned, open shelving or glass-fronted cabinets are a popular trend and they should make the space feel more open and less boxed-in. However, if you have the capacity for it, cupboards and kitchen units that maximise the floor-to-ceiling space you have will mean you can use all of that for valuable kitchen storage. Wall or ceiling racks could be a useful solution for hanging pans and pots if you’ve run out of cupboards in which to store them. Kitchen ideas and accessories such as baskets, trolleys and storage jars are both aesthetically pleasing and practical as they give you extra storage space. Kitchen appliances like a fridge or dishwasher can be tucked away in built-in units in fitted kitchens so they blend into your layout and don’t make the space look crowded. Discover all the small kitchen ideas you could need by taking a look at photos of compact kitchens.

What sort of kitchen lighting should I go for?

In the kitchen you need to have practical lighting – no one wants to chop, cut and cook in a dingy room. Kitchen ceiling lights are probably the best way to go, but should you opt for recessed spotlights or traditional hanging ceiling lights? While spotlight LED kitchen lighting will give you excellent light, they may not fit with a design that’s not contemporary. Traditional chandelier lights could work for other kitchen styles, and of course, kitchen pendant lighting comes in all sorts of styles, colours and designs. While the popular choice is to go with one or two pendant lights over your kitchen island, you could also opt for a single pendant light over your dining space, or a few spaced out across your kitchen. Of course, if you want good lighting for your worktops, under-cabinet lighting is the way forward. Speak to your kitchen supplier about having this pre-installed, or there are a number of easy-install options you can fit yourself or with the help of a lighting expert or electrician. In the market for your kitchen lighting today? Once you’ve found some inspiring kitchen lighting ideas here, take a look at our kitchen lighting products to find the new lights for your kitchen project.

Check out these popular kitchen pages below:

United Kingdom

Tailor my experience with cookies

Houzz uses cookies and similar technologies to personalise my experience, serve me relevant content, and improve Houzz products and services. By clicking ‘Accept’ I agree to this, as further described in the Houzz Cookie Policy. I can reject non-essential cookies by clicking ‘Manage Preferences’.