Small Galley Kitchens That are Big on Space-Widening Ideas
In a space-challenged cookspace, you need all the bright ideas you can muster to make it feel spacious
If your galley kitchen feels cramped, is short on storage, and has limited worktop space, you’ll need some clever space-saving design ploys. Check out these ideas to make the most of the room you have.
Throw some shapes
Curved units aren’t just the preserve of the super-swish designer kitchen. In fact, there’s more to them than good looks.
A curved cabinet can provide storage while giving you back quite a few precious inches of floor space. The rounded unit in this galley kitchen helps to open up the room, and prevents the owners from banging into any sharp corners.
Curved units aren’t just the preserve of the super-swish designer kitchen. In fact, there’s more to them than good looks.
A curved cabinet can provide storage while giving you back quite a few precious inches of floor space. The rounded unit in this galley kitchen helps to open up the room, and prevents the owners from banging into any sharp corners.
Be clever with seating
Want to work a dining area into your galley kitchen? Even in a wide room, like this one, it can still be tricky to fit in a full-sized table and chairs.
Get around this by choosing a long, narrow dining table and pairing it with benches and stools, rather than chairs. When you’re not eating around the table, you can push the stools or benches underneath and repurpose the table as a kitchen island.
Want to work a dining area into your galley kitchen? Even in a wide room, like this one, it can still be tricky to fit in a full-sized table and chairs.
Get around this by choosing a long, narrow dining table and pairing it with benches and stools, rather than chairs. When you’re not eating around the table, you can push the stools or benches underneath and repurpose the table as a kitchen island.
Use contrast to create visual space
Two clever things are going on in this kitchen. Firstly, the central floor pattern leads the eye into the room to make it look longer.
Secondly, the contrast in the colours of the wall and base units on either side make it look wider. So, two tricks, one overall effect: the kitchen looks bigger.
Two clever things are going on in this kitchen. Firstly, the central floor pattern leads the eye into the room to make it look longer.
Secondly, the contrast in the colours of the wall and base units on either side make it look wider. So, two tricks, one overall effect: the kitchen looks bigger.
Reflect the light
Mirrors are useful items for adding a spacious feel, and in this kitchen a mirrored wall has created an optical illusion. The back wall appears wider than it is, making the space feel larger.
You could equally replace your standard tiled backsplash with a mirrored one made from toughened glass. If you’re worried about splashes, go for an antiqued finish to hide the marks.
See more contemporary kitchen designs
Mirrors are useful items for adding a spacious feel, and in this kitchen a mirrored wall has created an optical illusion. The back wall appears wider than it is, making the space feel larger.
You could equally replace your standard tiled backsplash with a mirrored one made from toughened glass. If you’re worried about splashes, go for an antiqued finish to hide the marks.
See more contemporary kitchen designs
Go high
To max out every inch of space in your galley kitchen, choose tall wall units and take them right up to the ceiling.
Pack away those items you use less frequently in the highest part of the cabinets, freeing up cupboard space elsewhere.
Make your kitchen storage efficient
To max out every inch of space in your galley kitchen, choose tall wall units and take them right up to the ceiling.
Pack away those items you use less frequently in the highest part of the cabinets, freeing up cupboard space elsewhere.
Make your kitchen storage efficient
Line a wall with shelving
In this kitchen, the designers have opted to replace the work surface on one side with a wall of floor-to-ceiling storage.
Open shelving has a number of benefits in any space – it places everything to hand, and there are no doors protruding into the space. The open design also makes a narrow room feel wider.
TELL US
Does your kitchen have a galley layout? How have you made the most of the space? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments section.
MORE
Small Space Solutions: 99 Ideas for Your Compact Kitchen
In this kitchen, the designers have opted to replace the work surface on one side with a wall of floor-to-ceiling storage.
Open shelving has a number of benefits in any space – it places everything to hand, and there are no doors protruding into the space. The open design also makes a narrow room feel wider.
TELL US
Does your kitchen have a galley layout? How have you made the most of the space? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments section.
MORE
Small Space Solutions: 99 Ideas for Your Compact Kitchen
If you want to pack storage into a kitchen, the obvious thing to do is to install both base and wall units. However, fitting wall units in a narrow galley kitchen might make the space feel narrower still.
Luckily, there is a way to have your metaphorical cake and eat it – install light-coloured wall units. In this kitchen, dark grey cabinets would have made the room feel cramped. Instead, the designers have chosen white ones, which visually widen the space.