Tips for Kitchen Designs in Small Spaces

We believe that all kitchens have the potential to be a great space. If a kitchen is small, though, it can feel like more of a challenge. The key to working out kitchen designs in small kitchens is in the layout and features. So what are the best ways to design a small kitchen and where should you spend your budget for the best effect?

Layout

A work triangle- the path between cooking, cleaning, and food storage areas—is designed to bring efficiency into the kitchen. In a small room, achieving this triangle is easier, as your options for situating appliances are limited. For square rooms, a U-shape layout makes sense, while for rectangular rooms, a galley or L-shape is often preferable. When considering Tips for Kitchen Designs in Small Spaces, focusing on vertical layout and smart storage solutions can maximise functionality. These flexible aspects play a crucial role in tailoring your space to suit your needs.

Colour

To make a space feel larger, stick to lighter tones. This goes for wall colours, cabinet fronts and worktop finish. Don’t feel limited by this, though. By choosing natural granite or quartz for your kitchen worktops, you can choose from a wide range of hues that fit any colour scheme. Look at sage or duck egg shades. Choosing light-reflective surfaces can also give the appearance of space. So consider gloss cabinet front finishes and sparkling quartz worktops.

Storage

When a floor area is finite, it’s the inside of cabinets that revolutionise kitchen designs for small kitchens. You can make your cabinet functions more efficient by using pull-out solutions to access the back of corner units. With clever solutions, you can utilise every corner of space, from spice racks on the back of cabinet doors to hanging cups or utensils from the underside of cabinets.

Clean Lines

Whilst it is important to make the most functional use of space, Kitchen designs in small spaces should prioritise a clutter-free layout. This goes beyond ensuring everything has its place on your worktop. A streamlined concept can be achieved through handleless cabinets, which enhance the sense of openness. By removing handles from your design, there is less clutter and fewer lines throughout your kitchen. Stone worktops work well to highlight this feature, and with the simple graining of natural marble, the lines of your cabinet fronts are further enhanced.

Vertical Solutions

Kitchens in older properties may have smaller kitchens, however, they often benefit from high ceilings. So, it’s wise to concentrate kitchen designs for small kitchens on maximising this part of the space. Don’t allow the space above your cabinets to become either redundant or a dumping ground. Build up cabinetry to make the most of that space. Or for a period feature that’s coming back on trend, consider a Victorian sheila-maid.

Lighting

As well as maximising natural light in your kitchen, your lighting choices play a crucial role in functionality and style. Avoid bulky fittings that overwhelm the space; instead, opt for smaller yet stylish fixtures that enhance character. A layered lighting approach—including task, ambient, and accent lighting—creates depth and texture. One of the best Tips for Kitchen Designs in Small Spaces is to install under-cabinet lighting, which not only improves visibility but also adds a sleek, modern touch to compact kitchens.

Features

When a kitchen is small, concentrate on beautiful features to create a sense of luxury in the space. A choice of natural stone worktop is an ideal place to allocate some of your budget for a kitchen refit. Whether you prefer elegant marble or sparkling granite, why not make your worktops become the talking point of the space?

A small kitchen need not be a space of compromises. Indeed, it can be a place of luxury and calm. At Zenstone, we are familiar with many kitchen designs for small kitchens in Surrey. So we’re ideally placed to advise you which stone worktops will look and function wonderfully in your space.