15 Small Kitchens From Around the Globe
Small in size but big on style – these Houzzers have worked their small kitchens into inviting spaces to share with family and friends
I love having a small kitchen. Some people might cringe at having only three square metres to work with, but it gives me freedom. A smaller kitchen creates a more intimate environment for serving and cooking with friends and family. It helps me to pare down. Best of all, I can give my entire kitchen a good scrubbing in 10 minutes or less.
We asked you to show us your compact kitchen and share what you love most about the space. The ideas came from New Zealand, Australia, Venezuela, Croatia, Singapore, Latvia and elsewhere. Here are some of our favourites, all under 10 square metres.
We asked you to show us your compact kitchen and share what you love most about the space. The ideas came from New Zealand, Australia, Venezuela, Croatia, Singapore, Latvia and elsewhere. Here are some of our favourites, all under 10 square metres.
Houzzer: feeny
Location: Shaker Heights, Ohio, US
Kitchen square metres: 8.9 (approx. 96 square feet)
This classic Ohio kitchen fits right in with the rest of the 1929 home’s style. Houzz user feeny took cabinets up to the ceiling for extra storage. A cosy cooking nook with soapstone countertops and an ivory subway tile backsplash nod to the kitchen’s original era.
Location: Shaker Heights, Ohio, US
Kitchen square metres: 8.9 (approx. 96 square feet)
This classic Ohio kitchen fits right in with the rest of the 1929 home’s style. Houzz user feeny took cabinets up to the ceiling for extra storage. A cosy cooking nook with soapstone countertops and an ivory subway tile backsplash nod to the kitchen’s original era.
Houzzer: lvmp_01
Location: Santiago, Chile
Kitchen square metres: 2.3 (approx. 25 square feet)
This Houzzer had to squish all the storage possible into this Chilean kitchen. The extra upper storage cupboard helps store appliances and dishes. A string of LED lights underneath the cupboard illuminates the island/dinner table at night.
Beginners Guide to Creating Layers of Light
Location: Santiago, Chile
Kitchen square metres: 2.3 (approx. 25 square feet)
This Houzzer had to squish all the storage possible into this Chilean kitchen. The extra upper storage cupboard helps store appliances and dishes. A string of LED lights underneath the cupboard illuminates the island/dinner table at night.
Beginners Guide to Creating Layers of Light
Houzzer: erinoconnor
Location: Lake Michigan, US
Kitchen square metres: 6.5 (approx. 70 square feet)
Houzzer erinoconnor used smaller white appliances, a farmhouse sink and cottage-inspired details to give this adorable 53-square-metre beach cottage an equally adorable kitchen.
Location: Lake Michigan, US
Kitchen square metres: 6.5 (approx. 70 square feet)
Houzzer erinoconnor used smaller white appliances, a farmhouse sink and cottage-inspired details to give this adorable 53-square-metre beach cottage an equally adorable kitchen.
Houzzer: sanja
Location: Zagreb, Croatia
Kitchen square metres: 8.4 (approx. 90 square feet)
This Croatian Houzzer fell in love with stunning subway tiles she saw on Houzz, even though they’re unusual in Croatian kitchens. The tiles were hard to find, but she hunted down enough for her kitchen upgrade.
10 Ways to Create a Focal Point in Your Kitchen
Location: Zagreb, Croatia
Kitchen square metres: 8.4 (approx. 90 square feet)
This Croatian Houzzer fell in love with stunning subway tiles she saw on Houzz, even though they’re unusual in Croatian kitchens. The tiles were hard to find, but she hunted down enough for her kitchen upgrade.
10 Ways to Create a Focal Point in Your Kitchen
Houzzer: morgand62
Location: Austin, Texas, US
Kitchen square metres: 6.7 (approx. 72 square feet)
A hand-painted Mexican tile backsplash gives this Austin kitchen a dose of the city’s quirky style. Moving plumbing around wasn’t an option, so the homeowners stuck with the original layout and purchased an extra-narrow commercial refrigerator. A pull-out island and buffet server next to the fridge makes serving dinner easy and creates instant access to the home’s water heater.
Location: Austin, Texas, US
Kitchen square metres: 6.7 (approx. 72 square feet)
A hand-painted Mexican tile backsplash gives this Austin kitchen a dose of the city’s quirky style. Moving plumbing around wasn’t an option, so the homeowners stuck with the original layout and purchased an extra-narrow commercial refrigerator. A pull-out island and buffet server next to the fridge makes serving dinner easy and creates instant access to the home’s water heater.
Houzzer: aiga
Location: Riga, Latvia
Kitchen square metres: 6.5 (approx. 70 square feet)
A streamlined layout and built-in appliances helped save space in this Latvian design. The homeowners spent most of their budget on cherrywood cupboard facades, saving money on a plastic-based countertop and glass backsplash.
Location: Riga, Latvia
Kitchen square metres: 6.5 (approx. 70 square feet)
A streamlined layout and built-in appliances helped save space in this Latvian design. The homeowners spent most of their budget on cherrywood cupboard facades, saving money on a plastic-based countertop and glass backsplash.
Houzzer: marthakash
Location: Brooklyn, New York, US
Kitchen square metres: 5.6 (approx. 60 square feet)
This Brooklyn kitchen has no drawers, a single enclosed cupboard and one electrical socket, but you’d never know thanks to its cute and clever storage solutions. The owner added open shelving, IKEA hanging racks and a butcher’s block table built by her grandfather to get the flexible workspace she needed.
Location: Brooklyn, New York, US
Kitchen square metres: 5.6 (approx. 60 square feet)
This Brooklyn kitchen has no drawers, a single enclosed cupboard and one electrical socket, but you’d never know thanks to its cute and clever storage solutions. The owner added open shelving, IKEA hanging racks and a butcher’s block table built by her grandfather to get the flexible workspace she needed.
Houzzer: Mina Herrera Design
Location: Venezuela
Kitchen square metres: 1.8 (approx. 19 square feet)
A curved countertop helped designer Mina Herrera make the best use of her tiny Venezuela kitchen. She moved the refrigerator and microwave to turn the kitchen into a dedicated cooking area that’s easier to move around in and organise.
Location: Venezuela
Kitchen square metres: 1.8 (approx. 19 square feet)
A curved countertop helped designer Mina Herrera make the best use of her tiny Venezuela kitchen. She moved the refrigerator and microwave to turn the kitchen into a dedicated cooking area that’s easier to move around in and organise.
Houzzer: butlera10
Location: Alexandria, Virginia, US
Kitchen square metres: 7.4 (approx. 80 square feet)
Originally, this Houzzer could touch both walls of her 1940s galley kitchen at the same time. Eventually she tore down a wall to an adjacent dining nook to add space and a new eat-in nook.
9 Types of Eat-In Kitchens to Inspire Your Own
Location: Alexandria, Virginia, US
Kitchen square metres: 7.4 (approx. 80 square feet)
Originally, this Houzzer could touch both walls of her 1940s galley kitchen at the same time. Eventually she tore down a wall to an adjacent dining nook to add space and a new eat-in nook.
9 Types of Eat-In Kitchens to Inspire Your Own
Houzzer: emagobbo
Location: Palau, Sardinia
Kitchen square metres: 3.9 (approx. 42 square feet)
This sunny Sardinian kitchen opens to the living room in this holiday house. A bright blue backsplash adds cheerful coastal style. A mini-refrigerator, microwave, oven, sink and dishwasher fit snugly into the space.
Location: Palau, Sardinia
Kitchen square metres: 3.9 (approx. 42 square feet)
This sunny Sardinian kitchen opens to the living room in this holiday house. A bright blue backsplash adds cheerful coastal style. A mini-refrigerator, microwave, oven, sink and dishwasher fit snugly into the space.
Houzzer: Zipwork Designs
Location: Invercargill, New Zealand
Kitchen square metres: 5.9 (approx. 64 square feet)
Bright yellow tiles and cupboard doors add interest to this 1900s New Zealand kitchen. Like many early 20th century homes in the area, this house has a narrow kitchen with a larger attached dining/living area. This Houzzer installed white refrigerators and cabinetry across from the large window to help reflect light around the space.
Location: Invercargill, New Zealand
Kitchen square metres: 5.9 (approx. 64 square feet)
Bright yellow tiles and cupboard doors add interest to this 1900s New Zealand kitchen. Like many early 20th century homes in the area, this house has a narrow kitchen with a larger attached dining/living area. This Houzzer installed white refrigerators and cabinetry across from the large window to help reflect light around the space.
Houzzer: Jenni Johns
Location: Toledo, Ohio, US
Kitchen square metres: 8.2 (approx. 88 square feet)
A coat of yellow paint and blue accents add plenty of cheer to this cute one-cook kitchen.
Location: Toledo, Ohio, US
Kitchen square metres: 8.2 (approx. 88 square feet)
A coat of yellow paint and blue accents add plenty of cheer to this cute one-cook kitchen.
Houzzer: Vibrant Design
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Kitchen square metres: 5.2 (approx. 56 square feet)
Floating shelves in front of the window of this Australian kitchen hide an unsightly view but let sunlight filter through. A strip of industrial vinyl on the floor delineates the kitchen from the adjacent living room.
10 Tips When Designing Open Shelving for Your Kitchen
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Kitchen square metres: 5.2 (approx. 56 square feet)
Floating shelves in front of the window of this Australian kitchen hide an unsightly view but let sunlight filter through. A strip of industrial vinyl on the floor delineates the kitchen from the adjacent living room.
10 Tips When Designing Open Shelving for Your Kitchen
Houzzer: Makaly
Location: Lima, Peru
Kitchen square metres: 5.9 (approx. 64 square feet)
Although she’s not a designer or architect, this Peruvian Houzzer designed her kitchen on her own. Starting with a completely empty space, she executed her vision and discovered her own style in the process.
TELL US
We’d love to see how you have made your compact kitchen work. Upload a photo in our Comments section.
MORE
Browse more small kitchens
Location: Lima, Peru
Kitchen square metres: 5.9 (approx. 64 square feet)
Although she’s not a designer or architect, this Peruvian Houzzer designed her kitchen on her own. Starting with a completely empty space, she executed her vision and discovered her own style in the process.
TELL US
We’d love to see how you have made your compact kitchen work. Upload a photo in our Comments section.
MORE
Browse more small kitchens
Location: Singapore
Kitchen square metres: 7.7 (approx. 83 square feet)
Cindy Tham’s kitchen was a blank slate when she bought it, but she didn’t want to spend a whole lot on a remodel. She trimmed costs by using an existing tiled wall as a backsplash and choosing laminate cabinetry. A drying rack above the sink saves countertop space.