Small Kitchen Ideas

Whether you’re adding a kitchen to your basement or other living area, or you just want to make better use of the one you have, consider using one of these small kitchen design layouts.

• A galley layout: Galley kitchens have a center aisle to work in and cabinets and appliances on one or both sides. The aisle can be open at both ends, so people can walk through the kitchen, or closed at one end. If you use this design, make sure your aisle is at least four to six feet
  wide so you can easily open appliance and cabinet doors.
• A U-shaped layout: You'll need to use three walls for this kind of design, which is also called a horseshoe layout. If you have enough room, add a small kitchen island with cabinets or drawers for kitchen towelsor a small cart. Need more kitchen seating? Choose an island that’s open at the bottom and slide stools underneath.
• An L-shaped layout: This classic design uses a corner of your kitchen and features two countertops attached to adjoining walls. It’s flexible, and it makes it easy to create a “work triangle” by putting your sink, stove and refrigerator in a triangular arrangement. Putting your work stations in a triangular shape can save a lot of walking around in your kitchen.

Some kitchen designs and layouts can be DIY projects. For more involved projects, like removing a wall or installing plumbing, you may need a contractor. The Home Depot can connect you to hand-selected, licensed and insured contractors in your area.

When dealing with petite spaces, color is one of the most important factors. Painting your kitchen bright white or any color that is mostly white is ideal. Light grays or dreamy greens like seafoam have the same effect as white. Light colors make your space appear larger and more welcoming. Also, opt for light colored, large tiles on the floor, which provide a more open appearance. Bright or darker hues can be used as pops of color through appliances and accessories in your small kitchen design.

Modern styles lend themselves to smaller kitchens because their design is minimalist and sleek. They often feature white walls, white cabinets and stainless steel appliances in their small kitchen design. They may use black accents, like black sinks and faucets.

Other modern features you may want to consider are light colored or bright white subway tiles as backsplash for your small kitchen design. Geometric patterns are a great choice as well. Opt for shiny marble countertops to make a space feel bigger by reflecting light.

Having limited space isn’t always a bad thing. The advantage of having a small kitchen is that everything is within reach, from the dishwasher to the refrigerator. These small kitchen ideas encourage you to stay organized and put things away when you’re finished with them. Plus, you’re less likely to keep non-essentials around or buy multiples of the same gadgets.

To save even more space in your small kitchen design, look for multi-purpose gadgets, like a food processor that slices, shreds cheese and kneads dough, or a sandwich maker that makes sandwiches, waffles and burgers. Choose smaller appliances and food storage containers. You may not need a full-size microwave if you’re only re-heating foods. A compact refrigerator might be enough for a tiny basement kitchen.

Making the most of the space you have is key when implementing small kitchen ideas. Things like hanging your pots and pans can make all the difference. Cabinet door organizers and pull out cabinet drawers are also great for storing kitchen accessories and spices. Also, remember those underutilized places above cabinetry. Use that area to get double duty out of baskets by using them as decor and storage for seldomly used kitchen items.

Even your countertops can serve a dual purpose. Butcher block countertops add style and function to even the smallest of spaces. They can be used as a cutting board, giving you more room for food prep.

Kitchen counters can easily become a catch-all whenever you're coming and going throughout your day. Make sure to keep your appliances to a minimum and wipe down all counter surfaces. No matter how small your kitchen area is, getting rid of clutter will make it feel larger.

Countertop real estate is valuable in a small kitchen. Floating shelves perform double duty by using vertical space and giving you a reason to show off your plates and kitchen trinkets. Choose plates and accessories with neutral tones and a dash of color for dimension.

You have to get creative with your small kitchen design ideas, and a bar cart or rolling cart can be a big help. While cooking, a cart can be used to house all your cooking utensils and accessories. It can also be used to store decor when not in use.

Don't underestimate the power of glass when it comes to small spaces. Installing glass cabinet doors is not only aesthetically appealing, but it creates the illusion of more space. Anything we can see through automatically makes things feel more open. Even glass accessories can help in this way.

Plants inject color and an organic feel into any space. Place your potted plants on floating shelves or hang them from the ceiling to draw the eye upward and create the illusion of space. You could even opt for herbs that you usually cook with to make them easily accessible.