Small Kitchen Design Ideas: practical and design tips

Small kitchens can create a fantastic opportunity to go bold! We love working with compact spaces, and here are a few tested tips from our recent projects. Designing a small kitchen can often feel like an overwhelming task at first. Limited space demands careful planning, yet it also presents a chance to be inventive and thoughtful in how materials, colour and layout are used. When approached well, even the most compact kitchens can feel generous, characterful and highly functional.

Here are some ideas we have tested on our own projects to make smaller kitchens work beautifully.

Embrace Rich Colours!  Whether it is tones of burnt pink or dark forest green, both of which we have used lovingly on our projects, bold and deep hues can create attractive setting and add personality to an interior.  

Integrate Open-Plan Spaces. If the kitchen is part of an open-plan layout, integrate it into the overall room design. By styling features to look more like furniture, the room feels larger and cohesive rather than divided into "zones."

Focus on Details. These details like the choice of plinths, handle designs, and cabinetry styles can complement the rest of the room. These do not have to be costly, and even to the standard kitchens- these details could be sourced and added separately.

Utilise Dual-Aspect Islands. A small island can offer dual-sided storage, serving the kitchen on one side and the living/ dining area on the other. This allows the joinery to act as a visual link or a quirky bar rather than a functional kitchen block or necessity

Play with Materiality and Scale. Don’t feel restricted to using the same materials throughout the kitchen. An island or specific units can introduce a new dimension through contrasting materials, styles, or even a carefully chosen vintage piece. These moments of contrast bring character and depth to the space.

Unify with Colour. Particularly in open-plan spaces, colour can be a powerful tool for creating cohesion. Matching the colour of some or all of the kitchen units with the wall and/or ceiling colour can establish a calm, unified backdrop. This allows freestanding furniture, an island, or accents such as metal and timber to truly sing.

Continuity in Flooring. Maintaining the same flooring into the kitchen area can help unify the overall space rather than reinforcing rigid “zones.” If wood flooring in the kitchen is not an option, consider softer transitions between materials. For example, tiles can gradually blend into the timber floor before fully transitioning, avoiding a harsh line between areas.

Create focal points to pause. If the kitchen is located in a separate room, consider incorporating a small breakfast area. In a recent project, we installed a petite round bistro table with two distinctive chairs to animate a quiet corner. A vintage glass pendant above adds character and creates an immediate focal point when entering the room.

Prioritise Clever Storage. Clear surfaces are only possible when storage is thoughtfully planned. Ensuring sufficient and well-organised storage for pantry items, crockery, and appliances will make the kitchen far more functional and enjoyable to use, keeping the surfaces clear for meal preparation.

Working on small kitchens can be challenging, but it can also be an incredibly rewarding process. The most successful spaces are those where the practical requirements are carefully considered alongside the design with character.

One final piece of advice: always test the layout in plan with all cabinet doors and appliances open to ensure there are no clashes or awkward movements within the space.