Skip to main content
Small Space Solutions

Small Kitchen
Design Ideas

A small kitchen is a layout problem, not a budget problem. Four layouts compared, eighteen fixes that free up counter space, and seven small kitchens you can drag from before to after.

One of the cheapest tricks is the floor: planks running the length of a room stretch it. See the direction on your own floor before you order.

Start NowBrowse Ideas
4.8/5
from 1,387+ reviews
Small modern kitchen with flat-panel graphite cabinets and pale stone countersSmall all-white kitchen with white shaker cabinets and white tile
Small minimalist kitchen with one unbroken run of handleless pale oak cabinetsSmall kitchen filled with daylight from a large window above the sink
AI Generated
in 30 seconds
18
Specific fixes below
4
Layouts compared
7
Before and after pairs
58
Smallest kitchen shown, sq ft

Best Layouts for
Small Kitchens

The right layout can make a small kitchen feel twice as big. Here are the most efficient options.

Galley Kitchen

Two parallel walls maximize efficiency in narrow spaces

60-100 sq ft

One-Wall Kitchen

All appliances along a single wall for studios and lofts

50-80 sq ft

L-Shaped Kitchen

Corner layout creates an efficient work triangle

80-120 sq ft

U-Shaped Kitchen

Three-wall design maximizes counter and storage space

100-150 sq ft

Space-Maximizing
Design Ideas

Six fixes that buy back room in a kitchen you cannot make any bigger

Small kitchen with cabinets running to the ceiling, a pegboard strip and a hanging pot rack

Vertical Storage Solutions

Maximize every inch with floor-to-ceiling cabinets, pegboard walls, and hanging pot racks.

Pro Tips:

  • Use cabinet risers
  • Install door-mounted organizers
  • Add floating shelves
Small kitchen in an all-light palette with cream cabinets and glass-front upper doors

Light Color Palette

White and light colors reflect light, making small spaces feel larger and more open.

Pro Tips:

  • White or cream cabinets
  • Light countertops
  • Glass-front cabinet doors
Small kitchen with a compact butcher-block island on castors and baskets on the shelf below

Multi-Functional Islands

A rolling island provides extra prep space, storage, and can be moved when not needed.

Pro Tips:

  • Rolling cart islands
  • Fold-down tables
  • Butcher block on wheels
Small kitchen with two floating oak shelves on slim brackets in place of upper cabinets

Open Shelving

Replace upper cabinets with open shelves to create visual depth and easy access.

Pro Tips:

  • Floating wooden shelves
  • Metal industrial brackets
  • Display attractive items
Small kitchen with a mirrored backsplash reflecting the window and glass-fronted cabinets

Mirror & Glass Elements

Mirrors and glass backsplashes create the illusion of more space by reflecting light.

Pro Tips:

  • Mirrored backsplash
  • Glass cabinet doors
  • Reflective tile
Small kitchen fitted with a narrow refrigerator, a drawer dishwasher and a compact wall oven

Compact Appliances

Choose apartment-sized or counter-depth appliances designed for small spaces.

Pro Tips:

  • 24" refrigerators
  • Combo washer/dryer
  • Drawer dishwashers
Drag to compare

Small Kitchen
Before & After

Drag any photo to wipe between the room as it was and the room redesigned. Same walls, same window, same camera - so you are judging the change, not the photography.

The same galley with warm gray flat-panel cabinets, white quartz counters and a white subway backsplash
Narrow galley kitchen with honey oak cabinets on both walls, speckled laminate counters and a single ceiling dome
BeforeAfter
Drag

72 sq ft galley

Modern
  • Gray flat-panel doors
  • White quartz counters
  • Subway tile to the cabinets
The same wall with white subway tile, two oak open shelves, a flush ceiling light and a stainless refrigerator
Worn cream cabinets with chipped paint, a butcher block counter, patterned wallpaper and a yellow fluorescent box light
BeforeAfter

58 sq ft one-wall

Scandinavian
  • Two oak open shelves
  • Subway tile floor to shelf
  • Flush light in place of the fluorescent
The same kitchen with white cabinets, a marble counter, an apron-front sink and oak floorboards
Small U-shaped kitchen in honey oak with tiled counters, a black tile border and track lighting
BeforeAfter

88 sq ft U-shaped

Farmhouse
  • White doors, black hardware
  • Marble counter over tile
  • Apron-front sink
The same galley in plain white cabinets and white counters, with the walls painted out
Very narrow galley with dark woodgrain cabinets, orange laminate counters and patterned wallpaper on both walls
BeforeAfter

65 sq ft galley

Minimalist
  • White doors and counters
  • Wallpaper painted out
  • Nothing left on the worktop
The same kitchen with white upper cabinets, pale blue base cabinets, white quartz counters, oak shelves and two glass pendants
Galley kitchen with knotty pine cabinets, stained tile counters and a glazed back door at the far end
BeforeAfter

80 sq ft galley with a back door

Coastal
  • Pale blue base cabinets
  • Quartz over the tile counters
  • Two glass pendants
The same kitchen with gray painted cabinets, white quartz counters and a white subway backsplash
Kitchen with cherry cabinets, dark speckled laminate counters, a mosaic backsplash and a peninsula with three stools
BeforeAfter

92 sq ft peninsula

Contemporary
  • Cabinets painted gray
  • White quartz counters
  • Subway tile over the mosaic
The same kitchen with light gray cabinets, white quartz counters, subway tile and a stainless range
Dated U-shaped kitchen with dark wood cabinets, orange laminate counters, patterned wallpaper and a ceiling fan
BeforeAfter

95 sq ft U-shaped

Modern
  • Light gray doors
  • Quartz over the orange laminate
  • One pendant instead of the fan

Expert Tips for
Small Kitchens

Interior designers share their best secrets for making small kitchens feel larger

Layer Your Lighting

Use under-cabinet, overhead, and accent lighting to eliminate shadows and create depth.

Use Every Vertical Inch

Extend cabinets to the ceiling and use the top for decorative storage.

Keep Counters Clear

Store appliances in cabinets to maximize prep space and visual openness.

Small kitchen made to feel larger with pale uninterrupted surfaces and one tall window
58
sq ft still works

See Your Small Kitchen
Redesigned

Upload one photo of your small kitchen and see it in any of these styles. Same walls, same window, same measurements. Results in 30 seconds.

Start Now

200+ design styles • Starting at $14/mo • rated 4.8 out of 5 from 1,387+ reviews