1. CONSIDER THE KITCHEN TRIANGLE RULE
Most of us, we are sure, have heard of the kitchen triangle rule, or the 'golden triangle' as it's sometimes called. And while it may have its roots in the 1940s, the idea of designing a kitchen floorplan that makes it super easy to move from the most important aspects of the room, definitely is something to be considered in 2023 too, especially when space is tight.
2. MAXIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF UNITS WITH A U SHAPED SMALL KITCHEN
U-shaped kitchens tend to be kitchens without islands, are one of the most popular small kitchen layout ideas for a reason, they really maximize on space and are perfect if you need plenty of cupboard room and surface areas.
3. KEEP WALL CABINETS NARROW
This kitchen designed by Beata Heuman really is a lesson in small space design. The fact that it's open on one side does slightly distract from the small scale, but look closely, and my gosh that's a small kitchen. But for what it lacks in square footage it more than makes up for in style – the deep olive greens, the slab marble splashback, and those gorgeous curves going on. But it's a practical space too, where everything has its place.
4. GO FOR A DOUBLE GALLEY LAYOUT IN A NARROW KITCHEN
If you are dealing with a narrow kitchen, the best way to go to make the most of your space is a double galley layout. This way you make efficient use of both sides but it doesn't feel too boxy as a U-shaped layout would in a space of this size. In fact, leaving one wall free from cabinets can keep a kitchen feeling open and light – especially if one wall has a window as in this deVOL kitchen.
5. OPT FOR A NARROW KITCHEN ISLAND
Kitchen island ideas may seem reserved for spacious kitchens with acres of space to play with, but they shouldn't be drawn out as part of a small kitchen layout. We have seen plenty of examples of an island working in the tiniest of spaces and in fact can often make a small kitchen feel more open.
6. DITCH WALL CABINETS FOR OPEN SHELVING
If you are really tight on space, ditching the wall cabinets is a simple layout idea that's going to make your kitchen feel much bigger. It's also a way you can switch up the layout and feel of a current kitchen without having to totally remodel. If you've inherited a kitchen you don't mind the style of but the wall cabinets are just making the space feel claustrophobic, get them off the walls, re-plaster, and replace them with some lovely wall tiles, and simple open shelving that you can use as both storage and decor.
7. BRING IN FREESTANDING PIECES FOR A FLEXIBLE LAYOUT
Freestanding furniture can be such an asset in a small kitchen – a butcher's block, a sideboard, a vintage trolley, they add storage and surface space but they all add personal style and create a relaxed feel to a kitchen, breaking away from the rigid layout of just banks of cabinets.
8. ADD A PENINSULAR BREAKFAST BAR
This look works really well in open-plan kitchens, where you might have to share your cooking space with say a living room or a dining room, but they are also a nice alternative to an island that might be easier to work into your small kitchen.
9. OPEN UP THE ROOM WITH A SINGLE GALLEY LAYOUT
Think traditional galley layout, but just down one wall. This again is a layout that works really well if you're kitchen is part of a larger room, as it keeps the space open and easy to move around, nothing gets cut into or blocked off. However, when you are limiting your kitchen to just one wall, every inch really does have to count.
10. ADD FLOOR TO CEILING UNITS INTO YOUR SMALL KITCHEN LAYOUT
As we've mentioned many a time now, often with small kitchen layouts, the classic combo of wall and floor cabinets doesn't work. That gap in between makes the space feel smaller and cramped. However, we definitely aren't against going floor to ceiling with a selection of units. This eradicates that wasteful gap and provides so much extra storage so you can ditch the wrap-around wall cabinets.