Let’s face it: the world is getting smaller. With more people and less space to put them in, designers are starting to get super creative with how they go about designing small spaces. Different rules apply! Ergonomic designs replace extravagant designs, and I am here for it.
Just because a space is small, doesn’t at all mean that it can’t be incredible, cozy, and functional. If anything, operating in a smaller kitchen (as a singular person) is way more efficient than having a huge one.
So, whether you are a fellow tiny-home enthusiast or you’re looking to get some inspiration for your very own tiny kitchen home projects, this collection is really going to tickle your fancy!
(If you want a little fun, give designing your own kitchen a shot with these fun kitchen design software options.)
1. The Home Diner Tiny Kitchen
Floors & Walls: We’re starting off this collection with a banger if you ask me. Beautiful hardwood floors match the kitchen cabinets perfectly, and crisp white walls bring us that chic modern feel. I especially love the shiny backsplash that really helps reflect the light!
Features & Furniture: Sometimes I find kitchen islands to be a little bit pointless, especially in a smaller kitchen. Why not turn the kitchen into a hosting zone like the designer has done here. A bench seat is a really brilliant idea since it space saves by being built right tin to the wall, and they’re honestly comfier than most chairs! Love me a round table, too.
Decor: This super minimal space isn’t currently decorated, but I’m sure that it would look absolutely lovely with some wooden spoons on the walls, a vase of fresh flowers, and maybe a colorful hand towel.
2. The Closet Kitchen
Floors & Walls: I can’t help but think of Harry Potter’s bedroom when I see this kitchen. It’s just so uncommonly small, but it seems to come equipped with everything that you could need! We have a cream and wood color scheme going on here, which is timeless and stylish, and allows for tons of play with your furnishings and decorations.
Features & Furniture: This L shaped kitchen I think could honestly do the trick as a single occupier. Everything is completely within reach in this little space and the wooden countertops give it a classy touch. I love it!
Decor: While this space isn’t currently decorated, I think that a patterned tile for the backsplash could be so cute, and maybe a tall plant set up beside the edge of the countertop here. There’s so much possibility with such a tiny space!
3. The Modern Tiny Kitchen
Floors & Walls: The more I look at these small kitchens, the more I realize how convenient they are (especially as a highly serious home cook myself – I need everything precisely in its place, and precisely within reach).
Limestone tiled floors are chic and elegant, and we have a variety of facades going on with the walls here, from light gray wall paint, to white a brick painted backsplash, to another backsplash with plain red brick! I honestly love the variety and I think that they all go great together.
Features & Furniture: This sweet little U shaped kitchen is such a smart design, and the sunken in area around the sink makes it a bit more interesting than a single wall kitchen.
I find the white cupboards paired with the black waterfall countertops to be incredibly chic, the modern gas stove top is to die for, and the under-mount sink really hits the whole thing home.
Decor: The decorations in this room I find to be very sweet, from the bowl of fresh lemons, the shelves with sweet ceramics, and the sweet little floor mat in front of the sink. Everything is so precious!
4. The Camper Kitchen
Floors & Walls: We thought this would be a fun one to throw in there. I am personally a van camper, but this kitchen is beyond anything that I could ever really imagine! Since there are no floors and walls we will just breeze by this section.
Features & Furniture: Honestly, I think you might find everything you could be looking for in this camper kitchen, save maybe for a deep frier. So many different levels of drawers pull out which also double as countertops. Just amazing.
Decor: While this camper kitchen doesn’t really need decorations, you can’t help but admire the beauty of the way that it’s structured and executed. It’s really elegant.
5. The Hallway Kitchen
Floors & Walls: Something I’ve noticed a lot with smaller home designs is really utilizing hallways like we never have before! And while this isn’t a hallway, a long kitchen design is a great way to save space.
This beautiful kitchen starts with cherry red stained floors, which are met with bright lemon yellow walls, and a laminate brick backsplash with red and white.
Features & Furniture: This hallway style kitchen comes equipped with tons of white cabinets and drawers, which are all topped with taupe countertops. Having shelves with fogged glass doors is a really smart way to make sure that the top half off the room doesn’t feel too clogged.
Decor: While this room isn’t currently decorated, I think all that it really needs is some playful bowls and vases. The features themselves are so nice and bold that you don’t really need much else!
6. The Industrial Mini Kitchen
Floors & Walls: Now I get the feeling that the designer here had a professional chef in mind when this kitchen was being designed. I am always a sucker for checkerboard floors, but they bring a nice sense of play to a kitchen that is rather serious with its stainless steel countertops and backsplash.
Features & Furniture: Laminate cabinets line both the bottom and upper halves of the room, meaning that this person really needs as much storage as they can get. We even have super organized shelving behind us (the organization of that is almost erotic), and some serious appliances in here. This kitchen did not come to play!
Decor: I wouldn’t ever really expect a kitchen as seriously equipped as this one to have decorations, so I will not suggest any.
7. The Spaceship Kitchen
Floors & Walls: While this kitchen isn’t particularly attractive, I really do appreciate what its doing. Limestone tiles line the floors while we have white walls, but where things get really interesting is with the actual facade of the kitchen.
Features & Furniture: I like how the wood backsplash of this kitchen almost creates a little cove like feel, and suddenly the whole space feels a lot more modern, chic, and interesting. Also considering how tiny this room is, I’m quite amazed at how much storage they managed to stuff in here.
Decor: Since this room is completely naked, I’d be happy to suggest a tiny little potted plant, a patterned floor mat, and maybe some decorative spoons hanging from the backsplash.
8. The Zen Garden Kitchen
Floors & Walls: Now this kitchen is by far my favorite in the whole collection. I find it is so intelligently and elegantly designed. We start with slate tiles for the floor (very chic) and simple white walls. It’s so smart to design a kitchen underneath a staircase I can hardly take it!
Features & Furniture: This U shaped kitchen really comes with it all, just all of it is a little bit smaller than usual. Kitchen countertops are more narrow, the camouflage fridge isn’t as big, and the cupboards are just a bit shorter. But I find that this space still feels spacious and has room for everything that you could need.
Decor: With such gorgeous features like the wood laminate cabinets and black trim, this Japanese inspired kitchen doesn’t really need all that much else, though I do certainly appreciate the air plant and the floating shelves.
If you’re curious, this design is courtesy of Ki Design, and you can check out the rest of the home design by clicking here.
9. The Midcentury Chic Kitchen
Floors & Walls: While this isn’t the most tiny kitchen, I find that it’s still small and gorgeous enough to make the collection. This beautiful room is giving us that cream and wood color scheme that I am such a huge fan of, I fell into its trap!
Features & Furniture: This U shaped kitchen is very clever with its design. While we have a standard height from the preparatory counter areas, we have a raised breakfast bar that very quickly turns this little kitchen into a little hosting area as well! These stools with open framing and low backs are a great choice for a smaller space.
Decor: This space is simply and beautifully designed, and it feels fully complete even with just a single little potted plant in the window frame. I’d personally do precisely the same thing.
10. The Impossibly Small Kitchen
Floors & Walls: Now this kitchen is so small that I can’t even believe that it exists, so it obviously had to be included in the small kitchen collection. We have black laminate floors and white tiled walls, and we even have a teeny little peep window at the top of the room!
Features & Furniture: There is one cupboard, one mini fridge, a tiny sink, one shelf, and I’m not even sure if there is a cooking method in this kitchen. But I’m sure that is will absolutely do to create simple meals for one.
Decor: Though it is certainly too small for decorations, that didn’t stop the designer from hanging up some cute little towels on the wall.
11. The Cozy Cute Kitchen
Floors & Walls: This is such a sweet little kitchen! I absolutely love the color scheme, starting with some simple stone tiles for the floor, and surprisingly bright green walls! This is backed by some really beautiful green tiles for the backsplash. Sometimes people can be afraid of incorporating bright colors into small spaces, but this is proof that it looks amazing!
Features & Furniture: This quaint little L shaped kitchen boasts both wooden laminate cabinets and countertops, and those clever windowed cabinets for the upper portion of the room to ensure it doesn’t feel too crowded. This little table tucked against the window is the perfect size for a quaint space like this.
Decor: I keep saying quaint so I’m just gonna keep saying it some more! This room is begging for some beautiful ceramics to sit in those upper cupboards, and I’d love to see a fun and textured floor mat to match some funky hand towels. Let’s get eclectic about it!
12. The U Shaped Kitchen
Floors & Walls: Now this is a great example of a smaller kitchen that really doesn’t need to sacrifice anything for its size. Off white tiles adorn the floors and so do white walls, but things start to get more interesting in the next section.
Features & Furniture: This U shaped kitchen is truly the perfect shape and size to encourage a super efficient meal prepping experience. Wood laminate cupboards are chic, stainless steel appliances are essential, and a bright blue tiled backsplash is a great way to have a bit of fun and to brighten up the space.
Decor: While this space isn’t currently decorated, I think that it could look so cute (especially since there’s such a generous amount of counter space in here) for some rustic and decorative bowls, maybe some sweet little veggie themed figurines, and this blank white wall is just begging for some cute prints or photographs!
13. The Skylight Kitchen
Floors & Walls: Well this is rather special isn’t it. It’s not every day that you see a window feature as fantastic as this one. I can just imagine myself making my morning coffee and gazing out the window in here. It’s so serene, and it all starts with black slate tiles for the floors, and crisp white walls that are met with dramatic black window framing.
Features & Furniture: This rather tiny kitchen still has all that you could need with a double door fridge, plenty of drawer space and upper storage space (all adorned with some rather attractive wood laminate doors) and super clean white countertops. I find this all rather chic and fabulous.
Decor: While this room isn’t currently decorated, I don’t think that it really needs all too much. So much effort went into designing and building this beautiful window feature, that you kind of feel satisfied with just looking at that.
14. The Counter Kitchen
Floors & Walls: While I don’t find this kitchen to be the most attractive of the collection, I do appreciate that it really is trying to do it all in such a small space. Sometimes small kitchen designs will sacrifice having seating, but this is proof that it can totally work!
White floors are met with white walls and white cabinets, but we start to get interesting in other areas.
Features & Furniture: This U shaped kitchen features white countertops and white cabinets and drawers too, but I find that this little counter set in front of the window with a couple stools in front of it is such a smart way to bring the whole thing full circle! And you didn’t even have to compromise on seating and sacrifice a stove top for a George Foreman or anything!
Decor: This sweet little kitchen is quite alright just as it is, but with so much white everywhere, I wouldn’t mind seeing some pops of color here and there!
As an expert in interior design and small space optimization, I can provide insights and knowledge related to the concepts used in this article. Let's take a look at some of the key concepts mentioned in the article:
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Ergonomic designs: In small spaces, ergonomic designs are crucial to maximize functionality and efficiency. These designs prioritize usability and comfort, ensuring that every element in the space is easily accessible and serves a purpose.
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Small kitchen design: Designing a small kitchen requires creativity and smart solutions. By using space-saving furniture, clever storage solutions, and efficient layouts, it is possible to create a functional and stylish kitchen in a limited area.
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Flooring and walls: The choice of flooring and wall materials can greatly impact the overall aesthetic of a small kitchen. Hardwood floors, tiles, and laminates are popular choices for small kitchens, while walls can be painted in light or bright colors to create an illusion of space.
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Furniture and features: Compact and multifunctional furniture is essential in small kitchens. Kitchen islands may not always be practical, so alternative options like bench seating and round tables can be used. Other features like backsplashes, countertops, and sinks should be chosen based on their functionality and visual appeal.
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Decorations: Adding decorative elements to a small kitchen can enhance its overall look and make it more personal. Simple additions like wooden spoons on the walls, vases of fresh flowers, and colorful hand towels can bring life to the space without overwhelming it.
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Utilizing small spaces: Smaller homes often require creative use of hallways and unconventional spaces. Designing kitchens along hallways or utilizing under-stair spaces can save space and create unique design opportunities.
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Color schemes: The choice of color scheme can significantly impact the perception of space in a small kitchen. Light and bright colors, as well as patterns, can make the space appear larger and more inviting.
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Storage solutions: Maximizing storage in small kitchens is crucial. Utilizing cabinets, drawers, and shelves efficiently can help keep the space organized and clutter-free. Clever storage solutions like pull-out drawers and shelves can optimize space utilization.
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Functional appliances: Choosing the right appliances for a small kitchen is essential. Compact and energy-efficient appliances can save space and still provide all the necessary functionalities for cooking and food preparation.
By considering these concepts, it is possible to design and create incredible, cozy, and functional small kitchens. Whether you are a tiny-home enthusiast or looking for inspiration for your own small kitchen project, these ideas can help you make the most of limited space.
