10 Galley Kitchens That Maximise on Space, Storage and Light
Check out these beautiful cook spaces for clever ways to make the most of your galley kitchen
Amanda Pollard
16 May 2017
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
Yes, it is possible to make a galley kitchen feel brighter and more open. We’ve put together a collection of the best galley kitchens on Houzz, with tips and tricks for bringing in light, maximising storage and making your cook space feel bigger.
Choose a coloured glass splashback
This is a simple cook space with white units and wooden worktops, but the glass splashback makes it altogether more special. The aquamarine colour complements the earthy tone of the wood, and connects with the bright chairs in the dining area beyond. The glass works well to reflect the light and creates a bright and airy feel in a relatively small space.
Coloured glass splashbacks are available from a number of stockists and come in a variety of shades – some companies will even colour match for you.
This is a simple cook space with white units and wooden worktops, but the glass splashback makes it altogether more special. The aquamarine colour complements the earthy tone of the wood, and connects with the bright chairs in the dining area beyond. The glass works well to reflect the light and creates a bright and airy feel in a relatively small space.
Coloured glass splashbacks are available from a number of stockists and come in a variety of shades – some companies will even colour match for you.
Build in recessed shelves
Make the most of every inch in your galley kitchen by building storage into the walls. Here, they’ve ditched wall cabinets and opted for recessed shelves to the left and all around the larder. The storage makes a feature of the back wall, drawing the eye along and elongating the space. The lack of wall units also helps to open up the room and make way for some useful pendant lighting.
Make the most of every inch in your galley kitchen by building storage into the walls. Here, they’ve ditched wall cabinets and opted for recessed shelves to the left and all around the larder. The storage makes a feature of the back wall, drawing the eye along and elongating the space. The lack of wall units also helps to open up the room and make way for some useful pendant lighting.
Double up with a mirror
Feeling squeezed in your galley kitchen? How about installing a mirror along one wall? This one covers the whole surface above the worktop and makes a huge impact. The mirror reflects the room and creates the illusion of extra space.
To maintain balance, the black oven and dark veins in the marble splashback replicate the black wall reflected in the mirror.
Not sure whether to include a mirror in your kitchen? Discover its many uses
Feeling squeezed in your galley kitchen? How about installing a mirror along one wall? This one covers the whole surface above the worktop and makes a huge impact. The mirror reflects the room and creates the illusion of extra space.
To maintain balance, the black oven and dark veins in the marble splashback replicate the black wall reflected in the mirror.
Not sure whether to include a mirror in your kitchen? Discover its many uses
Bring the sun in with roof lights
In a narrow space it’s important to maximise the amount of light coming in. The owners of this galley kitchen have the luxury of a glazed door in the dining area beyond and a window over the sink. However, what really lifts the space are the roof lights above the cooking area. The sun can come streaming in to make the room feel light and airy.
In a narrow space it’s important to maximise the amount of light coming in. The owners of this galley kitchen have the luxury of a glazed door in the dining area beyond and a window over the sink. However, what really lifts the space are the roof lights above the cooking area. The sun can come streaming in to make the room feel light and airy.
Turn it into a showstopper
Even if your cookspace isn’t the vast, open-plan room you dream of, that doesn’t mean it can’t have the wow factor. Make a feature of your galley kitchen and show it off to its full potential. In this pared-back space, the owners have installed a stunning chandelier to make a statement. The sparkly pendant has the added advantage of reflecting light around the room, making the space feel brighter.
Even if your cookspace isn’t the vast, open-plan room you dream of, that doesn’t mean it can’t have the wow factor. Make a feature of your galley kitchen and show it off to its full potential. In this pared-back space, the owners have installed a stunning chandelier to make a statement. The sparkly pendant has the added advantage of reflecting light around the room, making the space feel brighter.
Complement the colour scheme
This stunning room has been enhanced by its carefully chosen colour palette. The pale blue units create a light feel and help to open up the space. The aqua hue also complements the terracotta shades in the dining room behind. The two colours look beautiful together, and the warm tones in the dining area invite you to come on in.
When you’re considering a colour scheme for your galley kitchen, don’t forget to consider the adjacent rooms and how they tie in with the look of your cookspace.
This stunning room has been enhanced by its carefully chosen colour palette. The pale blue units create a light feel and help to open up the space. The aqua hue also complements the terracotta shades in the dining room behind. The two colours look beautiful together, and the warm tones in the dining area invite you to come on in.
When you’re considering a colour scheme for your galley kitchen, don’t forget to consider the adjacent rooms and how they tie in with the look of your cookspace.
Poke out a worktop
This galley kitchen is longer and slightly wider than others, so it has space for a seating area. The owners have cut the cooking area off on one side and taken the worktop around the corner. This simple idea has created a small nook at the far end with bench seating and a table. At the other side the worktop also stops, but useful storage continues to the back door.
On a tight budget? Here’s how to give your kitchen a purse-friendly designer look
This galley kitchen is longer and slightly wider than others, so it has space for a seating area. The owners have cut the cooking area off on one side and taken the worktop around the corner. This simple idea has created a small nook at the far end with bench seating and a table. At the other side the worktop also stops, but useful storage continues to the back door.
On a tight budget? Here’s how to give your kitchen a purse-friendly designer look
Add plenty of lighting
If you don’t have the opportunity to fit roof lights into your galley kitchen, maximise your lighting instead. This one has plenty of down lights to illuminate the area and the shiny surfaces help to reflect the light around the room.
Alternatively, consider installing track lighting which would fit neatly into the layout of a galley cook space. A track lighting system can work well in a kitchen as the lamps can be positioned to illuminate specific cooking zones.
If you don’t have the opportunity to fit roof lights into your galley kitchen, maximise your lighting instead. This one has plenty of down lights to illuminate the area and the shiny surfaces help to reflect the light around the room.
Alternatively, consider installing track lighting which would fit neatly into the layout of a galley cook space. A track lighting system can work well in a kitchen as the lamps can be positioned to illuminate specific cooking zones.
Keep it streamlined
This kitchen is tiny, but the clever design has turned it into an extremely functional space. Handleless cupboards keep the room streamlined, and every inch of space up to the ceiling has been used for storage. Simple, integrated appliances and a neat under mounted sink add to the sleek look, and a window brings light into the room.
This kitchen is tiny, but the clever design has turned it into an extremely functional space. Handleless cupboards keep the room streamlined, and every inch of space up to the ceiling has been used for storage. Simple, integrated appliances and a neat under mounted sink add to the sleek look, and a window brings light into the room.
Open up for a spacious feel
If your kitchen feels too tiny, you could create an airier room by opening up a section of wall on one side. Alternatively, position your one-walled kitchen in front of a glazed opening as seen here, and turn it into a galley version with an island unit.
The beautiful joinery and open front of this room makes it feel larger than it actually is, and the ample storage helps to give it an uncluttered look.
Read more:
7 Ways to Modernise Your Kitchen
How to Bring a Pantry Into Your Kitchen
Tell us:
Which of these galley kitchens is your favourite? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
If your kitchen feels too tiny, you could create an airier room by opening up a section of wall on one side. Alternatively, position your one-walled kitchen in front of a glazed opening as seen here, and turn it into a galley version with an island unit.
The beautiful joinery and open front of this room makes it feel larger than it actually is, and the ample storage helps to give it an uncluttered look.
Read more:
7 Ways to Modernise Your Kitchen
How to Bring a Pantry Into Your Kitchen
Tell us:
Which of these galley kitchens is your favourite? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
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I love doing very dramatic colours and patterns for small spaces be it a galley kitchen or small bathroom. I used a black wood veneer for a tiny kitchen in Sloane Square, London and added a patterned floor finish too. The eye takes in the drama rather than the smallness of the space.....
Mary