Kitchen Guides
16 Hard-Working, Small Apartment Kitchens
Don't let a tight kitchen hamper your style; adopt clever design solutions to make your cook space deliver its best
Most apartment dwellers don’t get to choose the size and layout of their kitchens. Were you, too, given a tiny kitchen space to pack in all the essentials? Incorporating both function and style in a small space can be tricky, but it isn’t impossible. Take cues from the following sixteen kitchens that make the most of the allotted area in the apartment.
1. This compact kitchen space is divided into two parts – the kitchen platform side and the dining side. This layout draws our attention away from the narrowness of the room. The overhead cabinets touch the ceiling, creating a sense of height in the small space. Clean lines and absence of handles tailor a clutter-free look. The recessed lights under the cabinet counters add much-needed depth in the narrow linear space.
2. Here, in this small apartment kitchen, the narrow breakfast table and slim-legged bar chairs do not add to the visual weight. They also bring a bit of structure to the straight-lined layout of the kitchen. The colour of the cabinets have been kept in line with the sober palette of the room, with pops of colour and fun coming in through the eclectic orange and brown accents.
3. The colour white has the power to make any space feel expansive. White cabinets, countertop, backsplash, wall and window trims enlarge the size virtually, to counter the tight space of this U-shaped urban kitchen.
7 White Kitchens That Mix It Up With Accents
7 White Kitchens That Mix It Up With Accents
4. Here, light-coloured tiles clad the walls all the way up to the ceiling, giving the small space a lofty appeal. This kitchen pulls off a highly functional design by incorporating open shelves as well as closed cabinets. The vertical lines of the cabinets and window boost the perception of height and grain of the wood, across the floor, makes the area look wider than it actually is.
5. Using mirrors to maximise the sense of space is probably the oldest trick in the book. The reflective surface bounces back light and extends views, adding to the airiness of any cramped area. Here, the mirrored backsplash virtually doubles the size of the kitchen, while the use of white reinforces the effect.
Feast on These 9 Steamy Splashback Tiles
Feast on These 9 Steamy Splashback Tiles
6. This wee enclosed kitchen opens up to the dining space by a door-less passageway. This saves space usually taken by the door panel and also maximises the area. Abundant natural light makes the space feel airy and bright.
7. In this studio apartment, the kitchen platform extends outwards, ending as a breakfast bar. Minimalist design and small appliances (induction cooktop, oven and dishwasher stacked one on top of the other) give a clean, orderly distinction to the little space. The overhanging dining counter allows stools to be stored beneath when not in use.
8. Island counters, be they small or big, prove a great boon for small-space kitchens. In addition to providing a bonus platform to work on, an island can double as a dining or breakfast bar, if need be. The island of this open kitchen does all that and segregates the cooking area from the living zone. Cabinets fit neatly beneath the island and high above the refrigerator and kitchen hood. A foam-green brick backsplash, black pendant lights and chandelier add bundles of personality to the well-lit space.
Are These Best Kitchen Island Storage Ideas You’ve Ever Seen?
Are These Best Kitchen Island Storage Ideas You’ve Ever Seen?
9. In narrow kitchens, if there is no space for an island, a small portable table can do the job. Here, a wheeled cart develops more working space and provides storage for items that come in handy while cooking. The huge window at the focal point lets in plenty of natural light, spread further by the white surfaces of the cabinet and walls.
10. Talking of surfaces, glossy ones amplify reflection, making any area appear sizeable. Cabinetry, backsplash and floor, all with a smooth sheen, scatter the artificial light in this U-shaped kitchen here. Slender handles and lack of ornamentation keep the look sleek and minimal.
What’s the Best Material for Kitchen Cabinets?
What’s the Best Material for Kitchen Cabinets?
11. In this kitchen with sleek surfaces, modular cabinets provide ample storage and amplify space. Plain, handle-less units provide unobstructed movement around the area. The numerous hooks under the overhead cabinet can be used to hang pans, ladles, cups and other paraphernalia; this helps to keep clutter off the counter and makes the wall area work harder.
5 Things to Know Before Installing a Modular Kitchen
5 Things to Know Before Installing a Modular Kitchen
12. Open shelves are visually lighter than solid cabinets. They also make sure that items of daily use are instantly accessible. Here, the punch of orange and the traditional iron brackets under the open shelves draw the eyes away from the fullness of the area.
10 Ways to Deal With Open Kitchen Shelves
10 Ways to Deal With Open Kitchen Shelves
13. The custom cabinetry of this two-toned kitchen works to provide utmost space utility. The open shelves at the bottom of the overhead cabinets house daily essentials and displayable items. Glass-fronted cabinets, like open shelves, give a light look and make any area feel larger.
14. Here, shallow counter depth opens up considerable space in this restricted apartment kitchen. Pale colours and open shelving make the restricted space appear ample.
15. A single block of cabinetry makes up for everything in this open kitchen space of a city apartment. Although the work-triangle is not achieved in this design, the close proximity of all the three utilities (stove, sink and fridge) makes working comfortable. Integrated drawer handles and a bright blue hue keep the look simple and cool. The full-height open unit potentially satisfies the storage needs of this kitchen.
16. The artwork distracts the eye from the restrictions of the L-shaped kitchen here. Furthermore, this urban kitchen displays light hues, reflective backsplash tiles and a shiny countertop, which visually broaden the compact space.
Read more:
Want to Make Your Small Kitchen Feel Bigger?
5 Recipes for Solving Problem Areas in Small Kitchens
Tell us:
What makes your small kitchen work wonderfully? Share your tips in Comments below.
Read more:
Want to Make Your Small Kitchen Feel Bigger?
5 Recipes for Solving Problem Areas in Small Kitchens
Tell us:
What makes your small kitchen work wonderfully? Share your tips in Comments below.
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