8 Ways to Fit a Seating Area into a Galley Kitchen
Wondering whether you can put a perch in your compact cookspace? Take a look at these rooms for inspiration
It’s easy to think a galley kitchen needs to be functional rather than sociable, but there are ways to make it both. With some smart thinking, you may be able to squeeze in a small perch or even a dining area. Check out how Houzz professionals have laid out these slim kitchens to find ideas for your own home.
2. Go round the bend
This kitchen is quite roomy, but it could have been tricky to fit a seat into the rectangular space. The designers at Smartstyle Interiors have added a peninsula to the end of the run of base units with a couple of stools below.
The simple addition is ideal as a breakfast bar and can double up as an extra work surface. A peninsula like this would need a fairly wide area, so would work best in a larger galley kitchen.
11 kitchens where a peninsula beats an island
This kitchen is quite roomy, but it could have been tricky to fit a seat into the rectangular space. The designers at Smartstyle Interiors have added a peninsula to the end of the run of base units with a couple of stools below.
The simple addition is ideal as a breakfast bar and can double up as an extra work surface. A peninsula like this would need a fairly wide area, so would work best in a larger galley kitchen.
11 kitchens where a peninsula beats an island
3. Carve out a niche
The long side window could have made life tricky in this galley kitchen, but the team at Idesign Interiors have used it to their advantage.
The wall that’s perpendicular to the window has been fitted with a bench seat, with storage above and below. Guests can take a pew and chat to the cook, or the owners can relax with a cup of tea, all while gazing out at the view.
The long side window could have made life tricky in this galley kitchen, but the team at Idesign Interiors have used it to their advantage.
The wall that’s perpendicular to the window has been fitted with a bench seat, with storage above and below. Guests can take a pew and chat to the cook, or the owners can relax with a cup of tea, all while gazing out at the view.
4. Build in a bench
Banquette seating in this galley kitchen ensures a streamlined dining zone that doesn’t impinge on the space.
The team at Emily Rennie Design have only included worktops along one wall, with units above that go almost to the ceiling. To add more storage, they’ve installed floor-to-ceiling cabinetry with integrated ovens alongside the seating area.
The layout you choose for your kitchen will depend on how you use the space – if you think you can prepare food with just one run of worktops, a design like this would be ideal.
Banquette seating in this galley kitchen ensures a streamlined dining zone that doesn’t impinge on the space.
The team at Emily Rennie Design have only included worktops along one wall, with units above that go almost to the ceiling. To add more storage, they’ve installed floor-to-ceiling cabinetry with integrated ovens alongside the seating area.
The layout you choose for your kitchen will depend on how you use the space – if you think you can prepare food with just one run of worktops, a design like this would be ideal.
5. Pop in a perch
Your seating area doesn’t have to be huge, as this space designed by Naked Kitchens demonstrates. The long, narrow window provides the ideal place for someone to perch while the designated chef prepares dinner.
To design a windowsill seat like this, make sure the area nearby isn’t the main work zone. Here, for example, the cooking area is mostly on the other side of the room to the right of the oven. Next to the window perch, the work surface is kept clear.
Ditch these 9 things now if your kitchen is running out of space
Your seating area doesn’t have to be huge, as this space designed by Naked Kitchens demonstrates. The long, narrow window provides the ideal place for someone to perch while the designated chef prepares dinner.
To design a windowsill seat like this, make sure the area nearby isn’t the main work zone. Here, for example, the cooking area is mostly on the other side of the room to the right of the oven. Next to the window perch, the work surface is kept clear.
Ditch these 9 things now if your kitchen is running out of space
6. Work with the window
If there’s a shorter window at the end of your galley kitchen, an idea like this one could work. The team at French interior design company Eddy COEURVOLAN have fitted a shelf at the base of the window and slotted in a couple of stools below.
The clever part here is the flooring, which continues up the wall. It draws the eye along and up to create the illusion of space, and makes more of a feature of the seating zone.
If there’s a shorter window at the end of your galley kitchen, an idea like this one could work. The team at French interior design company Eddy COEURVOLAN have fitted a shelf at the base of the window and slotted in a couple of stools below.
The clever part here is the flooring, which continues up the wall. It draws the eye along and up to create the illusion of space, and makes more of a feature of the seating zone.
7. Get hooked
For something altogether more flexible, try a simple wall-hung folding chair like this one. The seat doesn’t get in the way when the owners need room to move around, but there’s space at the end of the units to set up a perch when necessary.
The work area to the right is also flexible – the worktop can be unfolded (you can just see the hinges on the end) to provide a dining surface.
For something altogether more flexible, try a simple wall-hung folding chair like this one. The seat doesn’t get in the way when the owners need room to move around, but there’s space at the end of the units to set up a perch when necessary.
The work area to the right is also flexible – the worktop can be unfolded (you can just see the hinges on the end) to provide a dining surface.
8. Pop out
If your galley kitchen is situated in a corner of a bigger room, don’t be afraid to jut it out a little. Here, the worktops continue into the main space to form a handy breakfast bar.
There’s plenty of room to install a couple of comfortable seats either side, where the owners can enjoy a sociable meal.
Tell us
Would any of these ideas work in your galley kitchen? Or have you already fitted in a seating area? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments section.
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Find an interior designer or decorator in Singapore
If your galley kitchen is situated in a corner of a bigger room, don’t be afraid to jut it out a little. Here, the worktops continue into the main space to form a handy breakfast bar.
There’s plenty of room to install a couple of comfortable seats either side, where the owners can enjoy a sociable meal.
Tell us
Would any of these ideas work in your galley kitchen? Or have you already fitted in a seating area? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments section.
More
Find an interior designer or decorator in Singapore
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If a dining zone is important to you, it could be worth forgoing a few units.
This kitchen is quite long, so the designers at Jack Trench Bespoke Kitchens & Furniture could be flexible. Along one wall is a full row of units and work surface, while the other has a shorter run. This has left enough space to fit in a circular table where the owners can sit and enjoy a meal together.
In a shorter kitchen, utilise vertical space by incorporating cupboards that go right up to the ceiling. With some clever planning, you might be able to swap base units in one corner for a seating area.