72 Small Kitchen Ideas With Big Style

A small kitchen doesn't have to skimp on storage or style. Maximize vertical space with open shelving or to-the-ceiling cabinetry, optimize your layout with clever space planning, and create an inviting feel with new flooring, wall paint colors, backsplashes, lighting, window treatments, or countertops.

Whether you're looking for a budget-friendly refresh or renovating a compact kitchen, check out these small kitchen ideas in a range of styles for inspiration.

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Paint Base Cabinets

Kendall Wilkinson Design

Update a smaller kitchen on a budget with bold paint accents. Blue and white is a crisp and easy color palette for a small kitchen that works with any style.
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Choose a Bold Backsplash

Design by Emilie Fournet Interiors / Photo by Rachael Smith

Energize a small open-concept kitchen with graphic accent tile. Emilie Fournet Interiors defined the compact cooking area of this London home with a geometric patterned tile backsplash and range hood.
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Add a Mobile Storage Island

Becca Interiors

Put your small kitchen island on wheels so that you can move it around as needed. In this space from Becca Interiors, a budget-friendly mobile kitchen island has a painted sage green base and a bottom shelf for extra storage.
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Get Creative With Flooring

Neva Interior Design / Photo by Agathe Tissier

Create a decorative and practical look in a small open-plan kitchen by mixing floor finishes. Neva Interior Design used penny floor tiles embedded into light oak flooring to create a transition between the small kitchen and the rest of the apartment.

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Multiply Light Fixtures

Design by Forge & Bow Dwellings / Christa Tippmann Photography

Ensure that your small kitchen has balanced lighting by incorporating multiple fixtures. This industrial farmhouse kitchen from Forge & Bow Dwellings is outfitted with everything from pendant lighting to can lights in the ceiling.
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Use Contemporary Cabinets

Fantastic Frank

High-gloss lacquered cabinetry will amplify light in a small kitchen. Choose flat front cabinetry with minimalist hardware for a contemporary feel.
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Try a Tonal Look

deVOL Kitchens

Embrace color in a small kitchen with a tonal look. This cottage kitchen from deVOL Kitchens is finished in multiple shades of green on the walls, backsplash tile, lower cabinetry, and open shelving.
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Install a Corner Banquette

Georgia Zikas Design / Photo by Jane Beiles

Banquette seating will make a smaller kitchen more functional and cozy. In this galley-style kitchen from Georgia Zikas Design, a corner banquette is squeezed in at the far end beneath a window with a skyline view.

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Style Open Shelving

A Beautiful Mess

Keep a small kitchen space feeling light and airy by using open shelving for storage instead of upper cabinetry. The key to making this work is keeping those open shelves neatly styled, like this space from A Beautiful Mess.
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Set Up a Breakfast Bar

deVOL Kitchens

If you don't have room for a table or an island, try a space-saving wall-mounted kitchen breakfast bar instead. In this small galley-style space from deVOL Kitchens, a two-seater cafe-style breakfast bar is built in next to the window to provide a cozy place for a cup of coffee or a meal.
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Utilize Corner Cabinetry

Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Margaret Austin Photo

Make use of every inch of space by installing corner cabinetry. Cathie Hong Interiors painted upper and lower cabinetry in a refreshing shade of light blue in this midcentury modern kitchen renovation.
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Skip the Island

Lobster and Swan

Swap an island for a round bistro table and chairs to preserve flow in a smaller space. This rustic space from Lobster and Swan includes a stone-topped table for dining and meal prep.

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Choose a Small Island

deVOL Kitchens

Choose a small kitchen island that is proportional to your space to maintain an easy flow. A butcher block top will add a rustic note.
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Upgrade Window Treatments

deVOL Kitchens

Keep kitchen window treatments simple in a smaller space. Try simple roller shades, blinds, or wooden window shutters to provide shade and privacy like this traditional space from deVOL Kitchens.
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Combine Functions

Design by Space Factory / Photo by Hervé Goluza

Maximize a small kitchen island with a sink or stovetop. This top floor apartment designed by Space Factory has a multifunctional island with a cooktop on one end and seating for two on the other.
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Use Vertical Space

Neva Interior Design / Photo by Agathe Tissier

Utilize vertical space to make a small kitchen more functional and clutter-free. Neva Interior Design installed wall-mounted shelving and a rack to store utensils and house a mini herb garden in this serene Paris kitchen.

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Choose Light Colors

Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona

Make a small kitchen feel airier with a light neutral color palette of white, cream, beige, or gray. Blogger Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona installed a small L-shaped kitchen in the corner of this open cottage kitchen and dining room remodel.

Add Storage

In a small kitchen, add extra storage with a repurposed bookcase or a versatile kitchen cart.
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Accent With Bold Floor Tile

Caroline Andreoni Interior Design / Photo by Sophie Lloyd

Don't be afraid to make bold decor choices in a limited space. Caroline Andreoni Interior Design Studio used dramatic black-and-white floor tiles in a loopy graphic pattern to energize this otherwise minimalist Parisian kitchen.
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Hang Floating Shelves

deVOL Kitchens

Hang floating shelves to add storage in a smaller kitchen. Choose shelves the same color as walls for an airy look, or add contrast with natural or painted wood.
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Embrace Scandi Style

Fantastic Frank

Emulate the effortless style of an airy Scandinavian kitchen to make the most of a smaller space. Pair simple white and silver finishes and appliances with vintage touches like painted white bentwood chairs and a small table covered in a lacy tablecloth to add warmth.

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Display and Organize Tools

Tyler Karu

Decorate a small kitchen with everyday items like cutting boards, dishware, or pots and pans and keep them organized as a bonus. A gallery wall of cutting boards doubles as decor in this Maine kitchen.
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Add Flexible Seating

Design by Space Factory / Photo by Hervé Goluza

Divide a small apartment kitchen with a custom bar equipped with a slide-out component that doubles its width for dining. This 237-square-foot Parisian mini loft from Space Factory has an open kitchen decorated with bright white cabinetry, subway tiles, and budget-friendly OSB accents to add texture.
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Accent With Black Paint

Design by DasMod and Handsome Salt / Photo by Jenny Siegwart

Use black paint to define a small kitchenette. Paired with white walls and cabinetry for contrast, and finish with colorful wall art for a modern look.
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Install LED Strip Lighting

Fantastic Frank

Good lighting will add functionality and atmosphere to a small kitchen. Under-cabinet LED strip lighting adds an ambient glow while illuminating the countertop in this space from Fantastic Frank.

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Define With Pendants

Desiree Burns Interiors

Define a semi-open kitchen by hanging a pair of pendant lights over the breakfast bar. Choose woven pendants made from rattan or wicker for a light and airy look.
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Install a Modular Table

Design by Space Factory / Photo by Hervé Goluza

Install a modular table in a small apartment kitchen to optimize a small footprint. Space Factory outfitted this Parisian kitchen with a custom-built fold-down table creates a place for dining that can be neatly stowed away when not in use to open up the space.
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Hang a Chandelier

deVOL Kitchens

Give a small kitchen a sense of grandeur with decor details like the crystal chandelier in this London space from deVOL Kitchens. A period fireplace in the kitchen adds a homey touch.
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Minimize Upper Cabinets

Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Photo by Amber Thrane

Create a light and bright feel in a small kitchen by minimizing upper cabinetry. Cathie Hong Interiors created a minimalist feel with a white, black, and gray palette in this California kitchen.

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Optimize Odd Angles

Fantastic Frank

Optimize space in a small kitchen with odd angles by tailoring lower cabinetry to fit. Fantastic Frank outfitted this Scandinavian space with pale gray cabinetry, light blond hardwood flooring, a whisper of pink on the walls, and hanging bulb lights for a minimalist feel.
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Opt for a Peninsula

Design by Rashida Banks for Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Keyanna Bowen

If you dream of having a large kitchen island but don't have the square footage, try installing a space-saving peninsula instead. Rashida Banks for Emily Henderson Design installed a sleek quartz waterfall edge peninsula with seating for three, anchored by a pair of pendant lights.
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Remove Clutter

Design by Violets & Vinegar Design / Photo by Jenny Siegwart

Add plenty of storage to keep a smaller kitchen clutter-free. This contemporary kitchen from Violets & Vinegar Design is decorated in neutral shades of black, white, and gray, with a patterned backsplash to add texture.
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Carve Out a Dining Area

Fantastic Frank

Devote one side of a long and narrow space to a small dining area to create a cozy eat-in kitchen. Hang a plant shelf above the dining table with a trailing plant to add some natural greenery.

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Use Reclaimed Materials

Lobster and Swan

For a budget-friendly small kitchen design, utilize reclaimed materials. Rustic reclaimed wood and textured walls make this DIY English kitchen from Lobster and Swan feel homey and inviting.
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Add a Display Shelf

deVOL Kitchens

Install an extra-long display shelf above the countertop in a smaller space for a dramatic look. Open shelving with a thin brass ledge provides easy access storage for tea supplies, glassware, and pots of flowers in this space from deVOL Kitchens.
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Mix Metal Accents

Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Christy Q. Photography

Add interest to a small gray-and-white kitchen with mixed metal accents. This space from Cathie Hong Interiors includes a brass pendant, stainless steel appliances, and black kitchen hardware.
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Paint Cabinets Sage Green

Bees Knees Interior Design Studio / Tamara Flanagan Photography

In a small kitchen, using soft color accents can add dimension and variation without overwhelming. Bees Knees Interior Design Studio, soothing sage green paint on the lower cabinets is carried onto the mudroom cabinetry visible through the arched doorway, creating a sense of continuity.

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Install a Glass Partition

Design by Space Factory / Photo by Hervé Goluza

Divide a small kitchen from an adjoining space with a metal-and-glass partition. Space Factory divided this Paris apartment kitchen from the entryway with a bank of cabinets finished with chalkboard paint on one side to delight the kids.
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Favor Retro Appliances

Velinda Hellen for Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

Add charm to a smaller space with retro-style appliances. Velinda Hellen for Emily Henderson Design chose a vintage-style refrigerator to anchor this basement kitchen.
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Add a Full-Wall Backsplash

Erin Williamson Design

Install a countertop-to-ceiling backsplash to draw the eye upward in a smaller space like this remodeled 1950s Texas lake house kitchen from Erin Williamson Design. Opt for budget-friendly removable peel-and-stick tiles if you're a renter.
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Mix and Match Patterns

K Shan Design

Mix and match patterns and finishes to give a small kitchen an outsized personality. K Shan Design combined colorful wallpaper, black-and-white check tile flooring, geometric backsplash tile, and gold bar stools around the peninsula in this eclectic space.

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Add Country Style

Rockport Building Partners / Photo by Sarah Szwajkos

Add country style to a small kitchen for a welcoming feel. Rockport Building Partners mixed natural and painted wood, vintage pendant lighting, leaded windows, and a modern kitchen island with a pair of French bistro stools in this inviting space.
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Try an Accent Wall of Tile

Erin Williamson Design

Use tile to create an accent wall in a small kitchen. Erin Williamson Design removed the upper cabinets in this 1950s A-frame lake house kitchen, adding a striking black-and-white tile backsplash that highlights the vaulted ceilings.
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Close Off With a Curtain

Studio Peake

Hang a budget-friendly curtain to conceal a small corner kitchen in an open-plan apartment. This little L-shaped alcove kitchen from Studio Peake can be banished from sight thanks to a green-and-white patterned curtain.
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Colorblock the Cabinets

Alvin Wayne Interiors

Two-tone cabinetry will give a small kitchen a dynamic look. Interior designer Alvin Wayne made the most of this compact New York City kitchen by using cabinetry and countertops in a mix of matte black and bright white lacquer finishes.

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Find Hidden Storage

Fantastic Frank

Find additional storage opportunities in unlikely places. This tiny Stockholm studio from Fantastic Frank has a compact kitchenette to match, seamlessly tucked in beneath the loft bed stairs that double as extra storage.
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Optimize Furniture Layout

Design by Space Factory / Photo by Hervé Goluza

Create zones in an open-concept kitchen with a clever furniture layout. In this small space, a custom-designed dining table is accompanied by a custom leather bench that is placed back-to-back with the adjacent living area sofa, creating separate zones within a 581-square-foot apartment.
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Embrace Minimalism

Fantastic Frank

Embrace minimalism to make a small open-plan kitchen blend in with the rest of your space. This Berlin kitchen from Fantastic Frank has white walls and matte black lower cabinetry, sink, and plumbing fixtures, and a black industrial wall sconce with a long arm that lights the countertop.
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Preserve Flow

Bees Knees Interior Design Studio / Kyle J Caldwell Photography

When designing a small kitchen layout, pay attention to proportions. This compact L-shaped kitchen from Bees Knees Interior Design Studio hugs the corner of a larger pass-through space, leaving plenty of room around the kitchen island to preserve flow.

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Lay Brick Floor Tile

True Home

Brick tile flooring will give a small space a cozy feel. True Home paired the tile with black cabinetry and salvaged marble countertops, adding recessed can lighting to compensate for the lack of natural light.
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Utilize Built-In Storage

Mid City Interiors

Run built-in cabinetry all the way up to the ceiling to maximize storage. This small bungalow kitchen has an L-shaped peninsula with built-in storage that provides seating for four while helping to define the kitchen area.
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Hang a Convex Mirror

Jess Bunge for Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

Hang a convex witch eye mirror on the wall to maximize views. Jess Bunge for Emily Henderson Design hung an ornate gilded witch's eye mirror above a free-standing oven to visually enlarge the space.
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Add Contrast With Tile

Design by Emilie Fournet Interiors / Photo by Kasia Fiszer

Choose a jewel-toned backsplash to add a bold color accent in a small neutral space. Emilie Fournet Interiors installed emerald green backsplash tiles and dark wood wraparound shelving to add warmth to this small London kitchen.

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Choose Colorful Appliances

deVOL Kitchens

Create a focal point in a small kitchen with a colorful appliance like a stove or refrigerator. This small self-contained kitchen from deVOL Kitchens has a U-shaped layout that maximizes space along the three main walls and a vintage-style pale yellow stove to focus the eye.
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Accent With Gold

Mary Patton Design / Photo by Molly Culver

Choose kitchen hardware that reflects light in a smaller space. Warm up an all-white kitchen with gold accents, like this small condo kitchen from Mary Patton Design.
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Add Bar Seating

Alvin Wayne Interiors

Make a semi-open apartment kitchen more functional by adding bar seating along the peninsula. This small New York City kitchen has pale neutral finishes that allow it to blend in with the open adjacent living room.
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Include a Color Accent

Design by Space Factory / Photo by Hervé Goluza

A single bold color accent will speak volumes in a smaller space. Space Factory painted a shelf above the sink in this white and plywood kitchen in Yves Klein blue to add interest.

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Swap Cabinets for Shelves

Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Josh Franer

Maximize space on a blank kitchen wall with bracketed open shelving. This compact kitchen from Leanne Ford Interiors has a dramatic arched window over the sink that floods the space with natural light.
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Maximize Seating

Forbes + Masters

Create multiple seating areas to make a small open-plan kitchen feel more expansive. Forbes + Masters added a pair of bar stools at the corner of the central island and a small round table and chairs by the floor-to-ceiling windows in this high-rise apartment.
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Downscale Furniture

Most Lovely Things

Opt for proportional furnishings to make the most of a small kitchen. Blogger Annie Diamond of Most Lovely Things ripped out the space-hogging built-in island of her new home and swapped in a smaller scale freestanding model and a corner table instead.
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Try a Central Work Table

Erin Williamson Design

In a smaller space, swap an island for a work table. Erin Williamson Design installed a square central work table with a thick marble top and slim metal legs that fits easily in the kitchen without compromising functionality.

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Add Peg Rail Storage

Design by deVOL Kitchens / Photo by Ellei Home

Install a wrap-around peg rail to maximize wall space. Style it with copper pots and plants to add a warm timeless kitchen feel.
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Try French Country Style

Jessica Nelson Design / Carina Skrobecki Photography

Channel the rustic chic of a French country kitchen to add charm to a small space. Jessica Nelson Design chose cross-back wooden bar stools and a wood bead chandelier to add elegance to this small eat-in kitchen.
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Add a Mini Kitchen Floor

Neva Interior Design / Photo by Agathe Tissier

Install a small patch of tile to define a small kitchen in a larger space. Neva Interior Design turned a small L-shaped apartment kitchen into a stylish feature with floor-to-ceiling cabinetry painted navy blue and bold patterned tile.
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Incorporate Cozy Touches

Alvin Wayne Interiors

Make wooden bar stools more comfortable by layering them with seat cushions or faux fur throws. A vase of tall branches draws the eye upward to emphasize the tall ceilings rather than the limited footprint in this New York City space.

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Sneak In Extra Seating

Finding Lovely

Include a small overhang at the end of a smaller kitchen island to make room for a small seating area. Finding Lovely tucked in a pair of bar stools without infringing on the flow of the bright and airy space.
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Install a Multipurpose Hub

Fantastic Frank

Structure a studio apartment kitchen with a multipurpose island. A shiny gold central island is the organizing principle of this Stockholm studio apartment kitchen from Fantastic Frank, housing a sink, energy-saving induction stovetop, mini oven, and seating for two.
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Maximize Natural Light

Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Margaret Austin Photo

Make a small kitchen feel bigger by maximizing natural light. Cathie Hong Interiors placed a kitchen island beneath a large skylight and outfitted the kitchen sink window with a simple white roller shade that lets in daylight even when closed.
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Limit Your Color Palette

Arbor & Co.

Choosing finishes, appliances, and dishware in a similar palette will reduce visual clutter in a small space. This tiny cabin kitchenette has a mix of light and dark finishes that don't compete with the views.

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Add an Interior Window

deVOL Kitchens

Bring more light into a smaller kitchen by opening up the wall and adding an interior window. This faux kitchen sink window amplifies light and views in this warm minimalist space.
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Choose a Narrow Island

Design by Mindy Gayer / Photo by Vanessa Lentine

Choose a narrow island in a compact kitchen. Choose backless or slim low-backed bar stools that won't interfere with flow.
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Customize Your Layout

Jessica Nelson Design / Carina Skrobecki Photography

Break up blocks of cabinetry to accommodate the quirks of a small kitchen layout. Jessica Nelson Design chose a double L-shaped configuration to maximize functionality while accommodating the presence of the back door.
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Add Island Storage

Urbanology Designs / Costa Christ Photography

Choose a kitchen island with built-in storage in a smaller space. Urbanology Designs finished the cabinets and drawers with dark teal paint and brass accents for a decorative feel.

A Beginner's Guide to DIY Kitchen Remodeling on a Budget

FAQ

What is the best layout for a small kitchen?

Consider a U-shaped or galley-style layout for maximum efficiency. Organize your space using the kitchen triangle rule to create a smooth path between the sink, oven (or stovetop), and refrigerator.
How do you maximize space in a small kitchen?

Utilize vertical space by adding floating shelves above the countertops, hanging a peg rail for storing utensils and dish towels, or running built-in cabinetry all the way up to the ceiling.
Where should I put my fridge in a small kitchen?

Make sure that the refrigerator is located in a spot that doesn’t block the flow of the kitchen or other appliances when the door is open. Consider placing your fridge in the corner, and avoid placing it right next to an oven or stovetop whenever possible to maximize energy efficiency.
What countertop color makes a kitchen look bigger?

Light-colored countertops can reflect the light and make a room look bigger. Consider choosing white, light grey, or a pastel color for countertops in a small kitchen.
What is the best color for appliances in a small kitchen?

White, or a similar pale tone, is ideal for appliances in a small kitchen, opening up the space and making it appear a bit larger. Neutral light tones also pair well with most other colors.