Let’s face it; An overwhelming majority of people out there can not afford lavish celebrity interiors. Especially in urban settings, the apartments and homes are generally low in space. But having a small space is not an excuse for an unsatisfactory design scheme. Here are ten easy-to-apply small kitchen design ideas to make the most of your space.

Tons of small kitchen design ideas maximize storage and efficiency. In the end, it’s all about analyzing the layout of your space. Whether you’re investing in renovation and building from scratch or just planning to refresh your present design, you might want to give these a try! 

1. Remove upper cabinets

small kitchen design ideas

Photo: Emily Gilbert Photography

Instead of going for sturdy closed cabinets above your kitchen area, you can go for open shelves. This elimination creates a significant change in the visual appeal of your kitchen. Keeping the small kitchen interior design as uncluttered and simple as possible will do wonders to the aesthetics of the space! 

“Open shelves are extremely functional and make it so much easier to access dishes and glasses,” explains the New York-based interior designer Jenny Wolf

2. Add green elements

small kitchen design ideas

Thomas Barwick

Adding green elements to the small kitchen interior design can create a convenient, lively space for you. The soothing ambience interior plants provide irreplaceable regardless of the interior design styles you are using. 

3. Add extra seating 

small kitchen design ideas

© Emily Gilbert Photography

Use that extra counter area for casual dinners or your morning coffee. Pull up a few barstools and take advantage of an extra dining spot.

Avoid those oversized furnishings; instead, go for bar stools and elegant seating chairs that suit your interior design styles. 

4. Get creative with the lighting!

small kitchen design ideas

tulcarion

Having enough lighting in the cooking area is important. Why not add some style to it? 

Pendant lights with decorative fixtures present your design taste to space and help you personalize. 

5. Add a convenient Kitchen Island 

small kitchen design ideas

Ryan McVay

Even if your kitchen is not as spacious as you want, you can still bring in a conveniently narrow kitchen island.

For example, you can go for a rolling island, one that can be removed once you are done dining. You can also move it to a side wall and make it function as a bar counter! 

6. Use lighter shades

small kitchen design ideas

Photo: Malcolm Menzies

Let the outside landscape permeate the walls of your kitchen and voila! You get a spacious blend of outdoors and indoors. Keeping the colour palette light and neutral can create a larger facade for your kitchen, especially if you have a window on one side.

Therefore, keeping an especially light palette on countertops, backgrounds, walls, and millwork might work well with a small kitchen interior design. 

7. Use patterns in flooring

small kitchen design ideas

Photo: Zeke Ruelas

Using patterns in unexpected areas like the flooring can be an efficient way of giving an illusion of depth and virtually expanding the space. 

For example, you can go for chevron or herringbone wood-floor patterns or hand-painted cement tiles for bohemian styles.

8. Install pot racks

small kitchen design ideas 

Get rid of the bulky pots and pans taking up valuable storage space over your kitchen area and in cabinets. You can try hanging them from a rack to create a culinary centrepiece that doesn’t stand in the way of other essentials! 

9. Bring warmth and comfort in your kitchen 

small kitchen design ideas

Aleksandra Zlatkovic

Adding warm elements like a rug of your choice can make a small kitchen interior design feel more cohesive and connected, especially if your kitchen doesn’t have one separate room.

10. Use your mugs as decor! 

small kitchen design ideas

ThomasVogel

Hanging your mugs is one of the most popular small kitchen design ideas. Not only does it free up space in your cabinets, but your most prized mugs can also become a decorative element. 

Invest in a rack under your cabinet or install a mug tree on your countertop. The options are enormous; you can go for any rack right to the wall for bigger statements.


Pictures from: architecturaldigest.com