20 Best Small Kitchen Ideas (That Optimize Your Space)

Often the hub of the family home, the kitchen is a place to gather, cook, eat, laugh, and share in special moments together. When space is limited, it takes smart planning to create a multifunctional and aesthetically appealing kitchen.

It’s all about working with the layout of your space, whether your kitchen is confined to a single wall, U-shaped, or tucked in a corner. Whether you’re renovating and starting from scratch or just looking to refresh your existing space, you’ll want to give these tricks a try.

So do not worry about your kitchenette! Here top 20 small kitchen ideas that would help you out to find the best design for your dreams kitchen.

1. Identify Your Kitchen Layout

Before moving on to the kitchen ideas, here is some information about basic kitchen layouts. There are four main kitchen layouts: “Galley,” “L,” “U,” and “G” (Peninsula). Each accommodates a work triangle in its own way.

• Galley. Efficient, but counter space is limited and foot traffic can be disruptive.
• L-Shaped. Popular, no foot traffic crosses through work triangle. Lots of counter space.
• U-Shaped. Surrounds the cook with appliances and counter space. Ideal for an island if the “U” is big enough.
• G-Shaped. Cozy, lots of counter space. Links the kitchen to the dining area with a common counter surface.

2. Galley Kitchens for a Tiny Kitchen

Galley kitchens are an inevitable part of most small homes. We are also often finding this kind of kitchen layout at an urban apartment.

A galley kitchen has a hallway like a layout with two parallel walls. At some point, you will feel stuffy and cave-like when you are in it.

There are two ways that you can do to create a less claustrophobic feel for the galley kitchen.

• Remove the upper cabinetry and replace it with shelving. Limit tall storage to the pantry area, where you can keep bulky items that you don’t use frequently, rather than on the counter.
• Open It Up. A portal or open corner can help connect the kitchen to the rest of the living space.

3. Bar stools at your G-Shaped Kitchen Ideas

If you know peninsula, it is also known as a G-shaped kitchen. This layout has an extra counter that extends from a U-shaped kitchen.

If you are completely remodeling your small kitchen space in order to create a more open floor plan, then you may want to consider a peninsula.

You may also want to implement a peninsula in the place of that wall to add counter space and perhaps provide seating for guests or feeding the kids an after-school snack. The extra counter will be more useful by making bar stools seating.

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

4. Decorate the Extra Counter with Pendants Lighting

If you do have a small kitchen and dining area. You might want to try to downsize your kitchen furniture, adding the extra counter and giving a final touch by hanging pendant lights.

Add a row of striking pendant lights to brighten up the entire kitchen. Check kitchen lighting ideas for more brilliant inspiration to strengthen your tiny kitchen’s character!

5. Single Line Kitchen Table with a Prep Area

One wall kitchen designs are often found in smaller homes, apartments, and lofts.

One wall or single line kitchen keeps all the cabinets, appliances against one wall of the home to save space.

This design can actually be very efficient due to the countertops proximity to appliances and the kitchen sink.

A common setup is to have the sink positioned between the refrigerator and the range creating an effective zone for cleanup.

Sometimes it comes up with an island for additional counter space. If you don’t have enough space, so think about bringing in a table that can do double duty as a spot for prep and dining.

6. L-Shaped Small Kitchen Ideas

For a small kitchen space that surrounded by walls, this layout situates the counters along two perpendicular walls and makes use of a single corner, leaving the rest of the space open.

If your L-shaped kitchen faces a blank wall, why not make use of it? Install a floating shelf or table for extra counter or dining space.

Dealing with a narrow space? Install a table that can fold down to be flush with the wall when not in use. Change your fitted storage and cabinets into shelves will work too.

7. Small Kitchen Island

Kitchen Island is the best companion for you in the kitchen. In a small kitchen, an island in the center element that offers space to cook and eat, as well as storage and often a sink.

A kitchen island can be handy when you’re cooking, but it also takes up floor space the rest of the time.

Find a version with wheels—or add them to your existing island—so that you can roll it into a corner or closet and keep the kitchen clean.

Hang a striking pendant light or more above the island to illuminate the surface and add style. Get more crazy inspirations through kitchen island ideas to help you in finding the best way to mix and match your kitchen stuff. Thus, kitchen Island is totally styling your tiny kitchen!

8. DIY Your Kitchen Furniture

On the internet, there are tons of ideas of design hacks and DIY tips that we could try on decorating your small kitchen.

If your cupboard and shelves are all full, then hanging pots, mugs and tea towels onto your walls, or the edges of your shelves is a brilliant way to create a simple and effective DIY storage that also looks great.

Hanging hooks onto open shelves and cupboards is also extremely low on a budget and very simple DIY, so what have you got to lose?

9. Horseshoe Small Kitchen Ideas

Also known as a U-shaped kitchen, this style offers plenty of counter space and under counter storage.

While this layout offers plenty of storage, all that cabinets can make space feel dark and cramped.

A coat of white paint can brighten up the room, and exposed shelving will make it feel more open.

10. Freestanding Small Kitchen Ideas

A freestanding kitchen is a convenient addition to any home, especially one with a traditional style.

Pieces of furniture can be collected, mixed and matched, to create the perfect kitchen scheme to suit your family’s needs.

With a freestanding kitchen, furniture can be moved around or even replaced if you find something that better suits the space.

11. Color Ideas for Small Kitchen

When it comes to kitchen color, white, gray, blue, red, yellow, and green really shine. Each of these shades can do something different for the room, but they all help to create a warm and welcoming space.

The white colored kitchen can really energize a room. Blue is another color that works well in kitchens.

Like a ray of sunshine, yellow color can instantly brighten up a room. Also believed to make people hungry, yellow has a soothing quality and will instantly make people feel calm and happy in your kitchen. Also, through kitchen backsplash ideas, you can explore more the materials, colors, and textures to emphasize the room character.

A good option for small spaces, yellow can make rooms feel bigger and brighter, and it pairs well with white and gray accents.

12. White-on-White Kitchen Ideas

Most people start the days in their kitchens, and white can really energize a room. It feels fresh and clean, and an all-white kitchen will really wake you up the minute you step in it.

You can also have more fun with your countertops and backsplash in an all-white kitchen and choose brighter colors or designs for those.

The design can be described this way: white cabinets, white walls, white ceiling, possibly a white counter, and in case we forgot anything, let’s make it white, too.

If you have white thermofoil MDF cabinets, embrace the look of it.

Go ultra-modern and sophisticated with white plastic stools, a white-on-white clock, and white small appliances. Stainless steel cone pendant lights will complete the look.

13. Calming Blue Kitchen

Small kitchen remodeling is a game all by itself. One of the thing that you can try is by coloring your kitchen.

Blue is another color that works well in kitchens instead of white and grey. It is an invigorating color and works best when used sparingly; otherwise, it can overpower a room.

Dark blues also work well in kitchens, but it’s important to accent the rest of the room with hints of white, gray or other neutral tones to keep it from feeling too intense and dark.

14. Minty Kitchen for a Vintage Look

An important tip for painting a small kitchen space is to determine your design style before selecting a shade.

For traditional or transitional-style rooms, your whites should be warmer, while modern or contemporary-style spaces call for whiter whites.

If you’re bored with your all-white kitchen, then liven it up with a dose of light or bright color.

Popular tones continue to be shades of blue, from deep cerulean to sea-green for some coastal flair. Sunny yellow and mint green are commonly used as a measure of cute-vintage appeal.

15. Luxurious Grey Kitchen

Gray is a neutral that’s been taking center stage lately in many homes. Grey is one of the color ideas for the small kitchen.

It often gets categorized as being too cold, but with the right shade, it can work wonders in a kitchen.

Best of all, it pairs beautifully with a wide array of other colors and is the perfect base to build upon in a kitchen.

It also works well as a countertop or cabinet color. Grey shades also represented by marble. The modern-luxurious effect of the marble will brighten up your room.

16. Downsized Kitchen Cabinet Ideas

From a design standpoint, small kitchen cabinets can be made to look larger using several design tips. First, try painting small cabinets white.

White rooms appear bigger, and if you paint your small kitchen cabinets white or another light-reflective color, space will appear bigger.

Small kitchen cabinets can also be left open without doors—or given glass-paneled doors to make them (and your overall space) appear bigger.

17. Choose the Right Kitchen Furniture

Like every detail in your cooking space, small kitchen furniture must be streamlined to fit the tight confines of the room.

Maximize a minimal floor plan with seating and tables that suit your room in the house without overwhelming it.

Even in cramped quarters, the dining table, in any of its many forms, serves as a focal point.

Round tables are ideal for small kitchen spaces because they promote conversation and can squeeze in a few more guests than a rectangular model.

A built-in bench also needs a table to complete a cozy breakfast nook, so select a version with a small footprint rather than sturdy, stocky pieces.

18. Small Kitchen Tiles

Tile for small kitchens can help a cramped space to feel like it’s “living large.” Covering your kitchen countertops, floors and backsplash in the tile will help catch not only spills but also visual attention.

• Choose one that complements the dimensions and style of your kitchen. Popular materials, from ceramic and terracotta to porcelain, are typically found in square and rectangular shapes. These vary in size from small mosaic-ready tiles to large slabs. Because of this variety, tile is a great vehicle for introducing texture, pattern, and color into your kitchen.
• For starters, you can make a major design statement with a tile backsplash. Because the backsplash in a small kitchen is a petite canvas, go ahead and bring in some pattern or color drama through the tile. Ideas include uniform classics, like subway tile or a geometric herringbone pattern, as well as bold, colorful mosaics or custom-painted murals on the tile. Get more on kitchen backsplash ideas for amazing backsplash inspirations.

19. Modern Small Kitchen Ideas

Modern design’s minimalism goes hand-in-hand with the pared-down approach of a small kitchen: limit to the bare necessities, conceal features and integrate multi-tasking elements. Here some tips below:

• Eliminate the extras such as pendant lights for fuss-free recessed lighting, and swap space-hogging appliances for models that can be tucked in drawers.
• Make a place for everything and put everything in its place. To this end, consider a pullout pantry and full-height cabinets. Another idea for a modern kitchen is exposed cabinetry. Open shelving establishes an airy feel to the room while exposing an edited, tidy stack of dishes and glasses.

20. Small Kitchen Rug Ideas

Small kitchen rugs are often among the last decor touches, but they’re no less important to overall layout and design.

These hard-working additions define different areas in your kitchen while serving as a focal point. Strategically placing a rug or two in your small kitchen can also give your bare floors an instant boost of warmth and a shot of color.

In a small kitchen, the layout is the best determining factor for where to place a rug and which shape best suits your space.

For instance, galley-style kitchens have a prime location along their narrow aisle for an elongated rug known as a runner. An L-shaped breakfast nook with a round table looks finished and polished with a round area rug underneath.

So what do you think?

Through the small kitchen ideas above, we truly understand that you are the only person, who knows your space better than anyone else.

Then you can decide which layout suit your space and style. In additions choose the bright color with an accent of tiles or rugs to make your room look bigger and comfortable.

Check also: outdoor kitchen ideas to the extraordinary kitchen ideas!