15 Small Kitchens That Make the Most of Less Space
From ceiling-high shelves to pop-out chopping boards, these kitchens show you how it's done when tight on space
Most of us know the pain that comes with managing within a pint-sized kitchen. Then there are some kitchens that have mastered the art of making more with less. Takea look at these 15 spaces – they might be just the thing to help you cook in comfort.
2. Where: Perth
Red Lily Renovations
A kitchen island with cupboards or open shelving below doubles as a full-on storage unit. Its extra-wide counter not only affords more work space but turns into an informal eating space with the addition of a couple of stools.
Red Lily Renovations
A kitchen island with cupboards or open shelving below doubles as a full-on storage unit. Its extra-wide counter not only affords more work space but turns into an informal eating space with the addition of a couple of stools.
3. Where: Boston
Patty Kennedy Interiors, LLC
In a tiny Boston kitchen a utensil rack is a versatile gadget that can accommodate a lot more than just pots and pans. The thin metal poles with S-hooks allow you to hang almost anything that can hang partially flat and has a hole in its handle (such as cutting boards, ladles, kitchen tools and most cooking utensils).
Check out more ideas for space servers
Patty Kennedy Interiors, LLC
In a tiny Boston kitchen a utensil rack is a versatile gadget that can accommodate a lot more than just pots and pans. The thin metal poles with S-hooks allow you to hang almost anything that can hang partially flat and has a hole in its handle (such as cutting boards, ladles, kitchen tools and most cooking utensils).
Check out more ideas for space servers
4. Where: Hong Kong
Ample DESIGN
A kitchen in Hong Kong, a city famously known to be strapped for space, makes use of every inch of vertical space by extending cupboards right up to the ceiling. The dark laminated backsplash adds depth to the small kitchen.
What’s the Best Material for Kitchen Cabinets?
Ample DESIGN
A kitchen in Hong Kong, a city famously known to be strapped for space, makes use of every inch of vertical space by extending cupboards right up to the ceiling. The dark laminated backsplash adds depth to the small kitchen.
What’s the Best Material for Kitchen Cabinets?
5. Where: Vancouver
Mari Kushino Design
A clever pullout chopping station is integrated into a set of drawers so it is handy when needed and can be tucked away when not. A white colour scheme, aided with loads of natural light, livens up the small kitchen space.
Mari Kushino Design
A clever pullout chopping station is integrated into a set of drawers so it is handy when needed and can be tucked away when not. A white colour scheme, aided with loads of natural light, livens up the small kitchen space.
6. Where: New York
Studio Dearborn
Instead of dedicating a wider drawer to cutlery, the owner here has decided to utilise not one but two slim gaps between units to install a double-storeyed pull-out to store utensils and miscellaneous oils.
Look up more drawer designs
Studio Dearborn
Instead of dedicating a wider drawer to cutlery, the owner here has decided to utilise not one but two slim gaps between units to install a double-storeyed pull-out to store utensils and miscellaneous oils.
Look up more drawer designs
7. Where: Washington
Aidan Design
In this kitchen, space is maximised by tucking a pantry as a niche in the wall. Glass doors keep the look light, plus allow one to spot things easily.
See more kitchens from around the world
Aidan Design
In this kitchen, space is maximised by tucking a pantry as a niche in the wall. Glass doors keep the look light, plus allow one to spot things easily.
See more kitchens from around the world
8. Where: Pune
Architecture BRIO
The empty space above the countertop is put to good use by floating a ledge, which is used for storage as well as to illuminate the worktop. It also accommodates the chimney duct. The two-way open shelf makes for an airier design and avoids a heavy, boxed-in effect in the small space.
Architecture BRIO
The empty space above the countertop is put to good use by floating a ledge, which is used for storage as well as to illuminate the worktop. It also accommodates the chimney duct. The two-way open shelf makes for an airier design and avoids a heavy, boxed-in effect in the small space.
9. Where: Sydney
Libby Winberg Interiors
This kitchen makes use of every centimetre of available wall space. This includes the awkward gaps above the microwave and fridge, which have been filled with custom-built units, made to match the cupboards on their left.
Libby Winberg Interiors
This kitchen makes use of every centimetre of available wall space. This includes the awkward gaps above the microwave and fridge, which have been filled with custom-built units, made to match the cupboards on their left.
10. Where: San Francisco
Keith Anding Architect
A simple worktop overhang that has the potential to fit in the teeniest of spaces, provides a neat eating spot for two in a small kitchen in San Francisco. Smooth, handle-less cabinet fronts and large windows make the space seem more expansive.
Keith Anding Architect
A simple worktop overhang that has the potential to fit in the teeniest of spaces, provides a neat eating spot for two in a small kitchen in San Francisco. Smooth, handle-less cabinet fronts and large windows make the space seem more expansive.
11. Where: Kent
Whitstable Island Interiors
This kitchen uses every conceivable space optimally – including the wide expanse of the window. A simple rail across the window is fitted with hooks to hang pots and pans. Don’t miss the hooks on the underside of the bottom-most shelf, used to hang mugs.
Whitstable Island Interiors
This kitchen uses every conceivable space optimally – including the wide expanse of the window. A simple rail across the window is fitted with hooks to hang pots and pans. Don’t miss the hooks on the underside of the bottom-most shelf, used to hang mugs.
12. Where: Mumbai
Sapna Bhavnani of Mad o Wot
In a small, very eclectic Mumbai apartment, a custom kitchen island multitasks seriously. It is used as a worktop cum dining spot; moreover, it works as a separator between the kitchen and the living room, with the stools making for additional seating whenever required.
Tour the house here
Sapna Bhavnani of Mad o Wot
In a small, very eclectic Mumbai apartment, a custom kitchen island multitasks seriously. It is used as a worktop cum dining spot; moreover, it works as a separator between the kitchen and the living room, with the stools making for additional seating whenever required.
Tour the house here
13. Where: Yorkshire
Sheffield Sustainable Kitchens
The kitchen here is contained against a single wall and yet, every inch has been made to count. The suspended ceiling grilles support pegs for pots and pans. Open shelving and accent lighting under the shelves give an impression of a larger kitchen.
Open shelving or closed, which is better?
Sheffield Sustainable Kitchens
The kitchen here is contained against a single wall and yet, every inch has been made to count. The suspended ceiling grilles support pegs for pots and pans. Open shelving and accent lighting under the shelves give an impression of a larger kitchen.
Open shelving or closed, which is better?
14. Where: Maine
Whitten Architects
The kitchen allows the shelf to run right across the window to get a few precious more inches of storage. The vertical lines of the wall panels and floor boost the perception of height, making the area look wider than it actually is.
Whitten Architects
The kitchen allows the shelf to run right across the window to get a few precious more inches of storage. The vertical lines of the wall panels and floor boost the perception of height, making the area look wider than it actually is.
15. Where: Adelaide
Atypical Type A
Spices and other ingredients can take up a lot of surface area in a cabinet or on a countertop. This kitchen skirts that problem with an eye-catching display of rows of matched jars placed in a chic stainless-steel wall-mounted rack.
Read more:
16 Hard-Working, Small Apartment Kitchens10 Genius Ways to Maximise Space in a Small Kitchen
Tell us:
If you too struggle with a small kitchen, what are your space-optimising tricks? Do tell us in the Comments section below.
Atypical Type A
Spices and other ingredients can take up a lot of surface area in a cabinet or on a countertop. This kitchen skirts that problem with an eye-catching display of rows of matched jars placed in a chic stainless-steel wall-mounted rack.
Read more:
16 Hard-Working, Small Apartment Kitchens10 Genius Ways to Maximise Space in a Small Kitchen
Tell us:
If you too struggle with a small kitchen, what are your space-optimising tricks? Do tell us in the Comments section below.
Wand Ely Architect Inc.
A pegboard wall of durable metal is used to hang all kinds of kitchen utensils, from small tools and ladles to large pots and pans. The pegboard also makes for efficiency, by displaying everything so it’s all in sight and at hand.
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