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However, the floorplans of many homes in the UK don't offer a huge amount of space for a room that is used for cooking, dining, and socialising. Many of us are working with small kitchen ideas, so if you're frustrated by the lack of space in yours, you're in good company. ‘The addition of breakfast bar seating can create intimacy in the smallest kitchen, and only requires a 40cm worktop overhang to dine in comfort,’ says interior designer Abigail Hall. This small kitchen idea is nothing new, but it is gaining traction, especially in country kitchen ideas.
Make It Double as a Mudroom
Just because you have a miniature cooking space doesn’t mean you need to forgo areas to prep and dine. The trick is to think small, as with this diminutive kitchen island in an apartment designed by Nicholas Obeid. With vintage stools tucked beneath and a pair of Allied Maker pendants hung above, this vignette has all the impact of its sprawling suburban cousins. Turn your kitchen into a funky spot with some fresh design and small kitchen lighting ideas. Apartments and homes with small kitchens may have an open concept layout where this room becomes visible to those in the living room or dining room—give them something to look at and appreciate.
Select tiles in soothing natural tones
A patterned small kitchen island or surface will direct attention directly to it, niftily making guests not notice how small the rest of the space actually is. Choose a large repeating pattern rather than small so it doesn't seem too busy and cluttered. Place mirrors behind shelving to make small kitchen ideas feel twice as big. ‘Make the most out of narrow spaces between appliances or in small corners by using sliding shelves or a slim pull-out pantry.
Save space with a stylish breakfast bar
Ensure you have the clearance to roll the door fully open and closed before choosing a barn door. Yes, clutter can make a space feel smaller but it can also add a ton of personality and make a small kitchen feel homey rather than overly busy. You wouldn't think to stick a table in the middle of a small kitchen but actually it works and make the kitchen appear bigger, you can't really tell the proportions of the space – clever.
Open shelving is a must for a petite kitchen space
They come in large and small sizes, and they’re made to blend in with your cabinetry to create a seamless and stylish aesthetic in your kitchen. Let’s face it; there are very few small appliances you use often enough to leave on the counter full time. In a small kitchen, counter space is at a premium, and you can build or install a dedicated cabinet to house your toaster, blender, espresso machine, and other devices. Whether you want to install patterned tile flooring, colorful paint or wallpaper, or unique touches such as antiques, art, or tchotchkes, a small kitchen with character can brighten your day. A pantry barn door can be a reasonably simple DIY installation; however, they only work for some kitchen layouts.
Stacked shelves over the counter and a slim shelf over the fridge — painted the same color as the walls — put every small spot to use. Weave in retro design elements, like a classic checkerboard floor and vintage-inspired gold hardware. This bright kitchen, designed by Brady Tolbert for Emily Henderson Design, also makes use of vertical space with sky-high open shelving. This small kitchen decor idea shows how to engineer new storage opportunities into even the tiniest spaces.
An island unit is perhaps the most popular feature in a kitchen, and is one that can work well in a small kitchen. When it comes to fitting a kitchen, a question that's often asked is 'can I put an island in a small kitchen?
From cooking and cleaning to enjoying meals with loved ones, we spend a lot of time in the kitchen — it's the heart of the home, after all. While having a big, spacious kitchen is a dream for many homeowners, small kitchens can be just as functional when properly designed and organized. To help you make the most of your limited square footage, we rounded up small kitchen ideas that pack a lot of style. In this small kitchen, open upper cabinets help the room feel spacious and allow space for displaying colorful accessories. Showcase dishware, potted herbs, and other decor that fits your small kitchen color scheme.
A narrow shelf or rolling storage cart can be a stylish and practical addition to a small kitchen. Choose a low-profile design that can easily slide against a wall or into a corner. Stock it with glassware, dishes, and other items that will look good on display. The unused space next to the fridge is an ideal spot to tack up grocery lists, hang keys, or sort mail and papers. Consider hiding the display behind a closed door to minimize visual clutter in a small kitchen. Here, shallow shelves that stash all sorts of essentials are recessed into the wall and disguised by a tall cabinet door.
A blue kitchen is a great way to try this out as it's easy to style and isn't far away from the comfort of a navy scheme. Kitchen appliances have come a long way, so there are plenty of small-scale options that are still stylish and highly functional. The very nature of kitchens means there are a lot of hard lines and edges. In a small kitchen, softening some of this hardness will create a more visually appealing scheme. Gray home decor has been a big trend for years, serving as many designers’ neutral of choice. Linda graduated from university with a First in Journalism, Film and Broadcasting.
Modern Kitchen Ideas — 28 Practical, and Decorative Tips - LivingEtc
Modern Kitchen Ideas — 28 Practical, and Decorative Tips .
Posted: Tue, 19 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Alternatively, if you have a separate washer and dryer, you could consider keeping them in the kitchen but stacking them one on top of the other in an old larder cupboard. It hides them out of sight, saves space and helps streamline laundry days. Choose a clever pullout drawer to maximise space and make finding your favourite frying pan easy-peasy. Keep surfaces from looking cluttered by tucking the toaster, kettle and coffee machine away in a breakfast cupboard, otherwise known as an appliance garage. As soon as you open the cupboard your favourite gadget is sat ready to use. Ensure the units are as tall as physically possible to elongate the space.
Strategically placed, small built-ins allow for extra storage in tucked-away spaces. In this small kitchen design by Rodeheaver, the shelves provide the perfect place for olive oil, vinegar, and other cooking essentials. Crowding a small space with cabinetry can afford you more storage, but it can also make your kitchen feel even more claustrophobic. Swap solid cabinet fronts for ones made of glass, which will lighten the feel of the entire room.
It means you can swap a bulky extractor hood above the hob in favour of extra storage. Whether planning a new kitchen or carrying out a makeover on existing cabinets, glass is a key material to enhance small kitchen ideas. Connect both water and electricity, and your island will become an impressive workhorse, incorporating cooking, washing and cooling appliances.

Not only does a dark wood accent (like this farmhouse-style island) provide additional counter space, it adds warmth and contrast when paired with white kitchen cabinets. Here, blogger Brigette Muller of @hummusbirrd also adds stools for a small dining spot. The gap between your cabinets and the ceiling can be critical storage space. Here, a clever small kitchen decor idea is installing wooden framing to add warmth and make the overhead kitchen storage look intentional.

The best kitchen layouts are usually dictated by the immovable architectural elements, like windows, doors, chimney breasts and structural beams. The proportions of the room led to a narrow small kitchen island, which is highly functional though, and includes a sink, dishwasher and bins plus sink and overhang for stools. Open shelving is less burdensome than solid wall cabinets, but even they create a degree of visual ‘noise’, so if it’s simplicity you are seeking, better to go without. If you’re keen to eek out every bit of floor space you can, remember that worktops and cabinetry do not have to be at the same depth the whole way around the kitchen. Our kitchen ideas guide to small kitchen layout ideas covers all the bases to help you reach the full potential of your kitchen. If you tend to charge your phone or iPad in your kitchen, move that clutter into a drawer with docking outlets like this sleek setup by designer Sarah Robertson.