Brilliant Galley Kitchen Ideas for Small Spaces That Maximize Style and Function
Proof that you don’t need a big space to have a beautiful, hardworking kitchen
Long, narrow, and often misunderstood, galley kitchens are the unsung heroes of smart kitchen design. Their origins lie in ship’s kitchens – they are efficiently designed long and narrow spaces used for maximum speed and function.einetrated galley kitchens are often thought to be small or limiting spaces that do not offer much potential.
However, with some smart styling, storage and decorative accents you could easily create a galley kitchen that feels both stylish, inviting, and super functional, becoming the true heart of your home. This collection of images demonstrates that even the smallest of spaces can be functional and so incredibly beautiful.
1. Ditch the cabinetry on one side
Too much cabinetry can make a narrow kitchen feel heavy and boxed in. Removing upper units on one wall instantly opens up the space.Designer Sinead Trainor suggests swapping upper cabinets with open shelving for an airy, bright feel, and still very easy access to everything you are using.
2. Create contrast with colour
You can add contrast by using dark lower cabinets, with pale upper cabinets, which gives a galley layout some structure, shape, and balance. This is an easy way to add depth without overpowering the mini sized kitchen space, and you could have a playful design twist using unusual handle shapes.
3. Embrace glossy finishes
There are plenty of options available for glossy cabinets, chrome fixtures or even glass fronted cupboards. Glossy finishes and shiny materials bounce light around a room, and even result in a more spacious feeling room. Lacquered finishes can really lift a small, dark space
4. Cheat with mirrors
Mirrored splashbacks or gloss finish cabinet doors will trick the eye into thinking there is space where there isn’t. Martin Wharton, of the design firm Wharton Architecture, even used a mirrored panel all the way around the window, doubling the light and making it feel more airy.
5. Bookend with a busy feature wall
Adding a busy, bold feature to one end of the galley – such as fun patterned wallpaper or brightly patterned tiles to the kickspace – draws the eye along the direction of the room making it feel much longer. A floral such as House of Hackney’s Hollyhocks would provide a stunning artistic focal point, inviting visitors to consider it more of a piece of art than a kitchen.
6. Add a statement splashback
Your splashback can be more than functional — it’s an opportunity for drama. From bold geometric tiles to an aged copper panel, this single detail can give the kitchen its personality.
7. Layer in natural materials
It would help your galley kitchen, if it has a modern slick finish, add some warmth so the space does not feel cold and sterile. Natural wood finishes primarily oak, walnut, or bamboo can soften sharper edges and provide texture. As Sinead Trainor notes, these materials also have stylistic longevity.
8. Streamline with integrated appliances
There is nothing worse than a tiny area with a lot of appliances on display looking cluttered. Integrated appliances to hide Ovens, Dishwashers and Refrigerators behind cabinet doors of the same finish as your cabinetry provides a cleaner, cohesive look. The trend for an “invisible kitchen” is ideal for minimalists.
9. Use colour to zone and expand
Two-tone paints or colour blocking is an excellent option for demarcating the cooking and dining areas or attracting the eye upwards to give the impression of taller ceilings. A bold, deep colour on one end wall can also give the perception of vertical movement.
10. Bring architectural interest with arches
Curves soften the strict lines of a galley layout. Consider arch-shaped doorways, scalloped tile edges, or curved pendant lights to add character and movement.
11. Install eye-catching lighting
Think beyond basic downlights.A series of pendants, a distinctive pendant or lights as sculpture can add nuances to the mood while injecting personality.
12. Jazz up the quiet corners
Even functional areas deserve attention! Display bold artwork above the sink or transform an awkward nook into a small coffee bar — these touches will make the kitchen feel more like a living space.
13. Style your shelves artfully
If you have open shelving, resist the urge to fill every open space with all of your items. First, group like items together, second, sprinkle in your decorative pieces within your shelving, and most importantly, allow air space in your shelving so that the curated elements can be seen.
14. Pare it back
Sometimes, less is more. Be honest with materials (wood, stone, metal) and accentuate clean lines. In a galley kitchen for example, a minimalist approach can heighten a sense of calm, spaciousness in the whole room.
15. Open it up
Where possible, connect your galley kitchen to other rooms.Similarly, a breakfast bar, serving hatch or glazed doors can promote the entry of light and social engagement with your kitchen as it currently is, without the need for a full renovation.
Coclusion
A galley kitchen may not be as easy to navigate like an open plan space with scope for cavorting, but it is every bit as efficient, has charm, and great design potential. With the right choice – a statement splashback, a clever lighting upgrade, or simply stripping back to gorgeous honest materials – these rooms can be designed to be the most fashionable and functional spaces in the home.
Due to the design of a galley kitchen, no detail is too small, and even the smallest tweaks can seem like major changes. Use these ideas as inspiration for your own renovation, and you will appreciate why this style has always been so popular. Small really can be mighty — and in the case of the galley kitchen, utterly beautiful too.
