Galley Kitchen Review: Pros, Cons, and Layouts

It's a classic kitchen layout that's versatile, durable, simple, and about as ergonomically correct as you can get. A galley kitchen is a long, narrow kitchen layout with services on one or both sides. An aisle runs down the center of a galley kitchen. The galley kitchen typically dead-ends at one end, but sometimes it acts as a pass-through to other parts of the home.

If you're remodeling, a galley kitchen can work beautifully as one of the most functional spaces in the home. Even though a galley kitchen is a space-saver and usually fits the needs of small kitchen areas, consider installing one in a larger space simply because it works so well and saves on resources.

Best Spaces for Galley Kitchens

Galley kitchens are best in spaces where you need to maximize space and create a small but efficient full kitchen. It could be a city apartment in a pre-war building, a home where the existing layout leaves just a small room for the kitchen, a mobile home, or a guest house. You also might do a galley kitchen if you're installing a second kitchen for prep in your home. You would want that kitchen to be as efficient as possible, and a galley will get the job done.

Cost

Since galley kitchens are small, they tend to be less expensive to build or remodel than other kitchen layouts. Because kitchen countertops and cabinets are quite expensive, this cost is drastically minimized in the smaller space.

Less floor space means less kitchen flooring that you need to purchase. More of the kitchen design budget is freed up to spend on appliances, the sink, or on other parts of the house.

Resale value may be lower for homes with galley kitchens than for houses with other types of kitchen layouts because homeowners tend to prefer larger gourmet kitchens.

Design

A classic galley kitchen is a long, narrow kitchen that has base cabinets, wall cabinets, counters, or other services located on one or both sides of a central walkway.

The countertops can be interspersed with appliances like fridges, sinks, cabinetry, and other functional items.

Less often, a galley kitchen is called a corridor kitchen because its main traffic lane is a long, narrow aisle leading to other parts of the home.

Comfort and Convenience

Galley kitchens are ergonomically better than some other kitchen design layouts since key services are clustered near each other. Walking toward or reaching for items between the refrigerator, stove/oven, and sink is kept to a minimum.

Countertop and storage space can be limited in a galley kitchen because there are fewer base cabinets. Clutter can quickly build up and prep space may be restricted.

Since people tend to gather in a kitchen when entertaining, galley kitchens are perhaps the least welcoming kitchen design when it comes to accommodating guests.

Installation

Since galley kitchens are smaller, they tend to be slightly easier for do-it-yourself remodeling if the layout is simple with two banks of cabinets with straightforward, rectangular countertops.

The layout keeps the major kitchen services such as water, electrical, and gas clustered in the same area using the work triangle. Doing so makes it easier for plumbers and electricians to install or service appliances.

Where to Install a Galley Kitchen

A galley kitchen is a great space-saving solution especially ideal for apartments and homes with only a small footprint allotted to the kitchen.

A galley kitchen would also be a practical addition to a guest house or mobile home. You could even add a galley kitchen as a second kitchen in your home.

Design Considerations: How to Make a Galley Kitchen Feel Larger

Consider some design tips when planning and designing a galley kitchen to make it larger, or at least feel larger.

Stick to Standard Size Appliances

For example, appliances usually should be kept to standard sizes to avoid overcrowding in a galley kitchen.

Keep to the Basics

Stay with basics such as upper and lower cabinets, counters, refrigerator, sink, stove/oven, and a dishwasher.

Avoid Kitchen Islands

Typically, there is little room in a galley kitchen for a permanent, full-size kitchen island or breakfast bar. However, you may have options. if there's room, a mobile island at the end of the kitchen may be a good compromise. If there's a window at the end of the kitchen, add a fold-out wall-mount table and a stool for a tiny eating nook.

Minimize Sink Size

Oversized farmhouse sinks or sinks angled at 45 degrees are difficult to fit into most galley kitchens. Instead, look for scaled-down sinks and keep sinks parallel to the counters. Drop-in sinks with built-in rims take away even more countertop space. Instead, consider installing an undermount sink so that the countertop can extend all the way to the sink edge.

Use Space-Saving Devices

Running kitchen cabinets to the ceiling maximizes storage space which is important in a smaller kitchen. Keep to lighter-toned cabinets, some with glass doors to avoid an imposing presence in a galley kitchen. For lower cabinets, make use of lazy-Susans and roll-out shelves to better utilize that often-wasted space at the back of cabinets.

Remove a Window

You can lose a window in a galley kitchen to gain more upper cabinet space. To decide whether you want to remove the window, think about whether the effort and expense will be worth the extra cabinet space.

Consider Aisle or Walkway Width

The aisle or walkway running the length of a galley kitchen is its backbone. The space between opposite counters, or the walkway itself, should be a minimum of three feet. Even more importantly, accessibility can become an issue for those who use wheelchairs or walkers. If aisle width is an issue, consider clustering all of the services on one side of the kitchen only.

Use Light, White, and Neutral Colors

Lighter tones can make your galley kitchen feel much larger. Use light and bright materials for counters, cabinets, flooring, and wall paint. Even appliances should be shiny or matte white or stainless steel. For example, consider unstained or lightly stained maple, birch, or bamboo cabinets or white cabinets and countertops to keep the space streamlined, airy, and light.