6 Real-Life Small Space Kitchens With Ingenious Ideas
Want a kitchen that slots into a modest spot but still looks stylish? Steal some ideas from these clever solutions
From a culinary marvel in a cupboard to an elegant cookspace in the corner of a living room, there’s a surprising number of ways to stylishly squeeze a kitchen into a small home. Would any of these designs work in your space?
Housed in a corridor cupboard in a 1930s apartment that wasn’t originally designed to have a kitchen…
…the cabinets sit behind bifold doors, which open to reveal a beautifully simple yet comprehensive set-up.
The kitchen includes a hob, a ventilated drawer for vegetables that also holds pans, another drawer, a fridge, a pull-out rack for washing-up equipment, and a pull-out chopping board hidden under the oak worktop (see first photo). There’s also a shelf for crockery.
The kitchen includes a hob, a ventilated drawer for vegetables that also holds pans, another drawer, a fridge, a pull-out rack for washing-up equipment, and a pull-out chopping board hidden under the oak worktop (see first photo). There’s also a shelf for crockery.
The oak drying rack on the right is a masterclass in simple, multi-functional design. The water drips off the crockery and flows directly across the marble worktop back into the sink (the area under the rack is slightly sunken so the water doesn’t spill over the front), and the plates can also be stored in it.
The neat extractor fan was made by the architect and is fitted with a powerful but silent motor.
The neat extractor fan was made by the architect and is fitted with a powerful but silent motor.
The cabinets also house a washing machine, laundry basket and shelving.
Being able to close doors on the functional areas keeps the small apartment feeling uncluttered and restful.
Tour the whole of this home
Being able to close doors on the functional areas keeps the small apartment feeling uncluttered and restful.
Tour the whole of this home
2. Choose small appliances and pull-out features
More open but no less thought-through, this kitchen in a 7.5 metres by 2.4 metres house has plenty of essentials packed into its tiny footprint.
On one side there’s a small oven, fridge, hob and sink, while opposite is a compact laundry. The units on this side are slimmer to allow space in the corridor.
More open but no less thought-through, this kitchen in a 7.5 metres by 2.4 metres house has plenty of essentials packed into its tiny footprint.
On one side there’s a small oven, fridge, hob and sink, while opposite is a compact laundry. The units on this side are slimmer to allow space in the corridor.
Instead of a backsplash, the run of units is backed by windows, which make the narrow space feel much more open, especially as there’s a large window on the other side of the kitchen, too.
The area behind the hob, meanwhile, has a mirrored backsplash, keeping this tight corner feeling roomy.
The area behind the hob, meanwhile, has a mirrored backsplash, keeping this tight corner feeling roomy.
The wooden shelving that lines the wall up to the ceiling provides the owners with extra storage and a spot to display their favourite accessories. Leaving the wood natural and including plenty of colourful items and houseplants makes this a focal point and gives the room texture and interest.
The bench seating and coffee table (just seen in the foreground) hold more storage to add to the drawers and cabinets in the kitchen.
The bench seating and coffee table (just seen in the foreground) hold more storage to add to the drawers and cabinets in the kitchen.
A surface pulls out from the unit on the opposite side to create a dining table or extra worktop space.
See more of this cleverly designed tiny house
See more of this cleverly designed tiny house
3. Create a piece of furniture
This elegant kitchen proves style doesn’t have to be sacrificed in a multi-purpose space.
This is a large room in a large apartment, but the idea of fitting all the kitchen kit into one stylish piece of furniture could be applied to a much smaller property.
This wall unit, which packs in plenty of storage and appliances, is elegant in a burnt-pine laminate that chimes with the rosewood sideboard in the living area.
This elegant kitchen proves style doesn’t have to be sacrificed in a multi-purpose space.
This is a large room in a large apartment, but the idea of fitting all the kitchen kit into one stylish piece of furniture could be applied to a much smaller property.
This wall unit, which packs in plenty of storage and appliances, is elegant in a burnt-pine laminate that chimes with the rosewood sideboard in the living area.
All the appliances bar the neat oven are hidden behind closed doors, and the tap and sink are in a stylish matt black, which doesn’t shout kitchen as much as chrome might. The units are stepped to avoid a blocky expanse.
Read more about how this kitchen was designed
Read more about how this kitchen was designed
Unobtrusive shelves provide extra storage and display space, with the bottom shelf continuing along the units to add a slim spot for mugs and storage jars without crowding the kitchen.
4. Plump for broken-plan
This little kitchen has been divided off from a living area thanks to stylish black-framed windows. The glazing covers two of the four walls to ensure the space feels bigger than its tiny footprint would suggest.
A black-framed mirror in the small living area echoes the windows for cohesion.
This little kitchen has been divided off from a living area thanks to stylish black-framed windows. The glazing covers two of the four walls to ensure the space feels bigger than its tiny footprint would suggest.
A black-framed mirror in the small living area echoes the windows for cohesion.
The units fill one wall from top to bottom, packing in plenty of storage as well as essential appliances. The cabinet doors are plain with unobtrusive handles for a streamlined look.
A stylish pendant light – black to chime with the window frames – and spots under the units banish any gloomy corners to fully open up the space.
A stylish pendant light – black to chime with the window frames – and spots under the units banish any gloomy corners to fully open up the space.
5. Hide in plain sight
This is also a corner kitchen in a living room, but the approach is different. Where the last kitchen stood out as its own space, this one blends in with the rest of the apartment. The matt white units are handleless for an unobtrusive finish.
As well as storage, the architect managed to squeeze in a standard oven, an integrated microwave, a full-size fridge-freezer and a slimline dishwasher. The washing machine has been neatly tucked away in a cabinet in the hallway.
You could try this idea with a pocket door fitted between the kitchen and living room to close off the space entirely if desired.
This is also a corner kitchen in a living room, but the approach is different. Where the last kitchen stood out as its own space, this one blends in with the rest of the apartment. The matt white units are handleless for an unobtrusive finish.
As well as storage, the architect managed to squeeze in a standard oven, an integrated microwave, a full-size fridge-freezer and a slimline dishwasher. The washing machine has been neatly tucked away in a cabinet in the hallway.
You could try this idea with a pocket door fitted between the kitchen and living room to close off the space entirely if desired.
A glazed internal window between the kitchen and hallway lets in plenty of daylight to keep the space feeling as open as possible.
The window also doubles as a backsplash behind the sink, which has been undermounted beneath the worktop so the preparation and serving area is streamlined.
Tour the whole of this minimalist home
The window also doubles as a backsplash behind the sink, which has been undermounted beneath the worktop so the preparation and serving area is streamlined.
Tour the whole of this minimalist home
6. Create an attractive focal point
It’s tempting to go all white in a tiny space, but the designer of this little kitchen has worked colour and drama into the scheme to draw the eye past the narrow cooking area through to the cosy dining spot.
The chandelier is the centrepiece, and it stands out prettily against the aqua wall, which adds colour without overwhelming the room. The space-smart, well-padded bench seating, also in a pale aqua, makes for a comfy dining experience.
The cabinets and worktop are an unobtrusive white, so they recede, but the marble surface adds to the luxury feel of the room. The glass doors on the wall cabinets, meanwhile, help the space to feel open.
TELL US
Do you have a small kitchen? Have you used any of these tricks – or incorporated some of your own? Share your thoughts and expertise in the Comments.
MORE
Read more stories on small spaces
It’s tempting to go all white in a tiny space, but the designer of this little kitchen has worked colour and drama into the scheme to draw the eye past the narrow cooking area through to the cosy dining spot.
The chandelier is the centrepiece, and it stands out prettily against the aqua wall, which adds colour without overwhelming the room. The space-smart, well-padded bench seating, also in a pale aqua, makes for a comfy dining experience.
The cabinets and worktop are an unobtrusive white, so they recede, but the marble surface adds to the luxury feel of the room. The glass doors on the wall cabinets, meanwhile, help the space to feel open.
TELL US
Do you have a small kitchen? Have you used any of these tricks – or incorporated some of your own? Share your thoughts and expertise in the Comments.
MORE
Read more stories on small spaces
Could this be the cleverest, neatest small kitchen ever? It’s certainly packed with ideas for anybody with one wall to play with in a studio or shoebox apartment.