Small Kitchen Design Ideas

 

The problems of a small cluttered kitchen are well known. As kitchen is a hub of activity a not so well designed kitchen can mean chaos and not to mention undue stress on the householder. But there is a silver lining to every problem. A smaller kitchen can be given the illusion of a larger more spacious kitchen using certain design elements. Check out the small kitchen design ideas given here and remodel your kitchen in a jiffy.

Here are some great ideas to transform your space constrained kitchen in to a more spacious and functional kitchen.Storage space is the main challenge in a small kitchen.

Small kitchen design: Ideas for storage

• Choosing taller cabinets give you ample storage space and also give the illusion of a bigger kitchen.
• Go for plenty of cabinets below the counter top. The cabinets can also be lined up on both sides of kitchen to get more storage space.
• Utilize your kitchen wall well. You can go for well spaced shelves to hold utensils or a built in rack.
• Choose smaller sized kitchen appliances so that they can be kept under cabinets and thereby free up your counter top giving you more working space. You can also build the stove right in to the countertop.
• Get a smaller kitchen island which will give you extra storage and working space.

If you cannot do these changes overnight due to budget constraints then some small things which you can do right away are

• You can buy those inexpensive baskets and keep it above your cupboards to hold things. Or buy those expanding curtain rods to hold pans and utensils.
• Instead of the kitchen island you can go for additional carts to hold utensils.

Apart from storage space other things to keep in mind are

• Do not use fluorescent lights as these can be very depressing in a tiny kitchen. Instead opt for lights under wall cupboards which do not make the room too bright and small.
• Go for glass cabinet doors which can add space to your room.
• Choose white color walls and keep the cabinets in darker color contrasts to give the perception of space. Go for light colored kitchen backsplashes for getting a spacious feeling in an otherwise tiny kitchen.
• Keep furniture for kitchen small, like round tables and foldable chairs.
• To increase efficiency always keep the refrigerator, stove and sink near to each other so that you do not have to walk across the room to use it. The best design is to keep them in an equilateral triangle where each of them is 4-7 feet apart from each other.


 

More small kitchen design ideas  

You can choose to renovate you kitchen in contemporary or traditional décor styles. If you have a liking for European or Italian kitchens you can give those a try too.

An Italian kitchen conveys warmth and coziness. It can be modern and sophisticated or simple and basic. In such a kitchen there is more use of natural elements and the colors are rich and vibrant. Blue, red, gold, orange, yellow are some examples. You should go for brightly painted tiles and backsplashes. Creativity can be seen in full force in the Italian kitchens. There are spices in colorful jars, hand painted utensils, olive oil bottles, creepers all giving you the message of an alluring kitchen. You too can let your imagination run wild while remodeling your kitchen. Go for brass, copper or clay accessories and go for wooden beam structures which are a common design element in the Italian kitchens.

A European kitchen on the other hand conveys efficiency and immaculateness. Frosted glass kitchen cabinets, internal cabinet lighting, stainless steel work tops and cabinets with frameless doors are some features of a European kitchen. In European kitchens you should strive for an unfitted look. To achieve that you can paint different colors on island and cabinets, plaster walls and tile floors with white color etc.

The design factors in a contemporary kitchen are cabinets with light wood, doors with no drawer, counter tops of granite or solid stone and flooring of wood, ceramic or marble. The emphasis is also on geometric shapes. So use lines, curves and other geometric patterns in floors, cabinets, backsplashes etc. Opt for stainless steel appliances to complete the look of modern and chic look to your kitchen.


 

The Most Common Layouts For Small Kitchens

Before you start working on the layout of your kitchen, you would want to know about the most commonly used small kitchen layouts. The popular ones are ...

In Line Kitchens: These are basically one wall kitchens - a design you would choose if you have only one wall available for your kitchen. A in line kitchen would have the refrigerator, dish washer, the kitchen sink and cooking range - all arranged next to one another along the same wall.

Pros:

• This is perhaps the least expensive kitchen to remodel.
• Best suited for narrow and long kitchens.
• Allows for easy access to your kitchen appliances.

Cons:

• Space on the counter is at a premium.
• Does not use the kitchen work triangle and thus efficiency is not high.
• You may find it hard to use some time saving appliances because of lack of counter space.

Galley Kitchens: Also called corridor kitchens, these are a lot more comfortable, spacious and efficient compared to one wall kitchens. Galley kitchens have work space on both the opposing walls of a corridor. While these designs could be as long as you may choose, the ideal length for a galley kitchen is between seven to twelve feet.
If you have more than ten to twelve feet available, you could as well create a U shaped layout instead and increase your kitchen's counter space. But if you have more than 10 feet available for your kitchen, you most possibly wouldn't be reading this page :-)

Pros:

• This is a efficient small kitchen design.
• Works very well for rectangular spaces.
• Allows you to divide your kitchen into multiple work sites.

Cons:

• Not suitable for kitchens with several cooks.
• Not a good design for larger kitchens.
• Not good if your kitchen has through traffic as that may cause congestion.
• Not suitable for homes with open floor plans.

L Shaped Kitchens: This is another very common small kitchen layout. In this design, workspace is created on any two adjoining walls. As this layout utilizes the kitchen work triangle concept, it is efficient and comfortable to work in.

Pros:

• Makes very good use of corner space.
• It's an efficient design for small spaces.
• Divides the kitchen into multiple work areas.
• Since through traffic is not allowed, congestion due to traffic that may occur in corridor kitchens is not likely to happen.
• You could even add a kitchen island or a dining area - something that's not possible with some of the other small kitchen designs.

Cons:

• Not an efficient design for large or very large kitchens.
• If several cooks will be working in the kitchen simultaneously - like in a restaurant kitchen for instance, this is not a layout you would want to use.

U shaped kitchen design: A U shaped kitchen is essentially a corridor kitchen with one end closed. Typically, either the cooking range or the kitchen sink is placed at the closed end. Since the kitchen work triangle is used here, work flow is efficient and the kitchen is relatively more comfortable to work in compared to open ended corridor style kitchens.

Pros:

• This design is efficient.
• Through traffic is not allowed and hence traffic related work disruptions and congestions do not happen.
• The kitchen is divided into several work areas.
• You could utilize the closed end for extra counter space and maybe install a extra cabinet or two for additional storage space.

Cons:

• Is not the best design for kitchens with multiple cooks.

Peninsula shaped kitchens: This is another good design for smaller kitchens. A peninsula kitchen has two workspaces - one on a wall and another free standing workspace running parallel to the first. It's like a in line kitchen that has a long kitchen island.

Pros:

• Has more workspace available than a in line kitchen of similar size.
• Very well suited for homes with open floor plans.
• This design uses the work triangle concept and hence is efficient.
• The kitchen is divided into several work areas.

Cons:

• Not the best layout for larger kitchens.
• Unsuitable for kitchens with more than one cook.
• If through traffic is allowed, work disruptions may occur.

Designing small kitchens: Software to your aid

There are plenty of software design tools too to help you in coming up with designs for your kitchen. Smartdraw is one such tool which has a plethora of templates and art elements to help you come up with a kitchen idea. It is quite versatile tool and you can stamp shapes, lines and other symbols on the template. Punch profusion home design tool is another interactive software which is very user friendly. You can download and use it for 15 days after which you will have to pay to use the software. If you want a free software then Google sketchup fits the bill quite nicely.

You can also get great design ideas from home improvement stores and home decorating magazines.

Here are more resources related to small kitchen design that you may want to take a look at ...

Small Kitchen Layout

Galley Kitchens

Small Kitchen Floor Plans

Small Kitchen Makeovers

Small Kitchen Remodeling Tips

Small Country Kitchen Design

Kitchenette

Kitchen Sinks

Small Houses

Small Spaces

Kitchen Cabinets

Small kitchen appliances

Kitchen Work Triangle

Compact kitchen

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