Smart Ways to Squeeze a Kitchen Into a Cramped Space
Craving a kitchen that slots into a small spot but still looks stylish? Take inspiration from these clever solutions
From a culinary marvel in a cupboard to an elegant cookspace in the corner of a living room, there are a surprising number of ways to squeeze a stylish kitchen into a small home. Read on to see if these designs could work in your home.
This kitchen is housed in a hallway cupboard in a 1930s Moscow apartment that wasn’t originally designed to have a kitchen…
…the integrated units sit behind bi-fold doors that open to reveal a beautifully simple yet comprehensive set-up.
The kitchen includes a compact stovetop, a fridge, a pull-out rack for washing-up equipment, a pull-out chopping board hidden under the oak-veneer benchtop (pictured in the first image), and a ventilated drawer to store vegetables and pans. There’s also a shelf for crockery.
The kitchen includes a compact stovetop, a fridge, a pull-out rack for washing-up equipment, a pull-out chopping board hidden under the oak-veneer benchtop (pictured in the first image), and a ventilated drawer to store vegetables and pans. There’s also a shelf for crockery.
The oak drying rack on the right is a masterclass in simple, multi-functional design. The water drips off the freshly washed crockery and flows directly across the marble lip back into the sink (the area below the rack is slightly sunken so the water doesn’t spill over the front), and the plates can also be stored in it.
The neat extractor fan was custom-designed by the architect and is fitted with a powerful but silent motor.
The neat extractor fan was custom-designed by the architect and is fitted with a powerful but silent motor.
The cupboards also house a washing machine, laundry basket and shelving. Being able to close the doors on the functional areas keeps the small flat feeling uncluttered and restful.
The Great Space Grab: Creative Ways to Include an Extra Room
The Great Space Grab: Creative Ways to Include an Extra Room
Choose small appliances and pull-out features
More open but no less thought through, the kitchen in this Brisbane tiny house, which measures just 7.5 by 2.4 metres, has all the essentials packed into its little footprint.
On one side there’s a small oven, fridge, stovetop and sink, while opposite is a compact laundry. The units on the latter side are slimmer to allow space in the corridor.
More open but no less thought through, the kitchen in this Brisbane tiny house, which measures just 7.5 by 2.4 metres, has all the essentials packed into its little footprint.
On one side there’s a small oven, fridge, stovetop and sink, while opposite is a compact laundry. The units on the latter side are slimmer to allow space in the corridor.
Instead of a splashback, the run of kitchen cabinetry is backed by windows on both sides that make the narrow space feel much more open.
The area behind the stovetop, meanwhile, has a mirrored splashback that helps this tight corner feel a bit more roomy.
The area behind the stovetop, meanwhile, has a mirrored splashback that helps this tight corner feel a bit more roomy.
The timber shelving that lines the wall up to the ceiling provides the owners with extra storage and a place to display their favourite accessories. Leaving the wood natural and including plenty of colourful items and houseplants makes this a focal point and gives the room texture and interest.
The bench seating and coffee table (just seen in the foreground) have more storage, adding to the drawers and cupboards in the kitchen.
The bench seating and coffee table (just seen in the foreground) have more storage, adding to the drawers and cupboards in the kitchen.
A surface pulls out from the kitchen unit (pictured here on the left-hand side) to create a dining table or extra bench space.
Browse more compact kitchens
Browse more compact kitchens
Create a built-in piece of ‘furniture’
This elegant French kitchen in Lyon proves style doesn’t have to be sacrificed in a multi-purpose space. This is a large room in a large apartment, but the idea of fitting the entire kitchen into one well-considered piece of ‘furniture’ could be applied in a much smaller property.
This wall unit, which packs in plenty of storage and appliances, is elegant in a burnt-pine laminate that chimes with the Brazilian rosewood sideboard in the living area.
This elegant French kitchen in Lyon proves style doesn’t have to be sacrificed in a multi-purpose space. This is a large room in a large apartment, but the idea of fitting the entire kitchen into one well-considered piece of ‘furniture’ could be applied in a much smaller property.
This wall unit, which packs in plenty of storage and appliances, is elegant in a burnt-pine laminate that chimes with the Brazilian rosewood sideboard in the living area.
All the appliances bar the neat oven are fully integrated so are hidden from sight, and the tap and sink are in a stylish matt-black finish that doesn’t shout kitchen as much as chrome might. The units are also stepped to avoid a blocky expanse.
Similarly, this idea creates a piece of ‘furniture’ with the kitchen, on a smaller scale and this time in a rural Scottish home. The essentials – stovetop, oven, sink and storage – have been worked into a freestanding sideboard-inspired unit to give this combined kitchen, dining and living space a relaxed feel.
Unobtrusive shelving provides extra storage and display space, with the bottom shelf continuing at right-angles above the kitchen benchtop, adding a slim place to rest mugs and storage jars without crowding the kitchen.
Broken-plan kitchen
This little kitchen has been divided from the living area thanks to stylish black-framed windows. The glazing covers two of the four walls to ensure the space feels bigger than its tiny footprint would suggest. A black-framed mirror in the small living area echoes the windows for cohesion.
This little kitchen has been divided from the living area thanks to stylish black-framed windows. The glazing covers two of the four walls to ensure the space feels bigger than its tiny footprint would suggest. A black-framed mirror in the small living area echoes the windows for cohesion.
The units fill one wall from top to bottom, packing in plenty of storage as well as essential appliances. The cupboard doors are plain with unobtrusive handles for a streamlined look.
A stylish pendant light – black again to echo the window frames – and downlights under the units banish any gloomy corners to fully open up the space.
A stylish pendant light – black again to echo the window frames – and downlights under the units banish any gloomy corners to fully open up the space.
The decorative tile splashback brings personality to the tiny room, and the monochrome design elegantly links the white benchtop, pale grey units and black frames for a polished finish.
30 Superb Small Kitchens From Around the Globe
30 Superb Small Kitchens From Around the Globe
Hide in plain sight
This is also a corner kitchen in a living room, but the approach is different. Where the last kitchen stood out as its own space, the kitchen in this London apartment blends in with the rest of the home. The matt-white units are free of handles for an unobtrusive finish.
As well as storage, the architect managed to squeeze in a standard-sized oven, a microwave, a full-sized fridge with freezer, and a slimline dishwasher. The washing machine has been neatly tucked away in a cupboard in the hallway.
You could try this idea with a pocket door slotted between the kitchen and living area to close off the space entirely if desired.
This is also a corner kitchen in a living room, but the approach is different. Where the last kitchen stood out as its own space, the kitchen in this London apartment blends in with the rest of the home. The matt-white units are free of handles for an unobtrusive finish.
As well as storage, the architect managed to squeeze in a standard-sized oven, a microwave, a full-sized fridge with freezer, and a slimline dishwasher. The washing machine has been neatly tucked away in a cupboard in the hallway.
You could try this idea with a pocket door slotted between the kitchen and living area to close off the space entirely if desired.
A glazed internal window between the kitchen and hallway lets in plenty of daylight to keep the space feeling as open as possible. The glazing also doubles as a splashback behind the sink that has been undermounted beneath the benchtop, so the preparation and serving area is streamlined.
Create an attractive focal point
It’s tempting to go all white in a tiny space, but the designer of this little kitchen has worked colour and drama into the scheme to draw the eye past the narrow cooking area through to the cosy dining spot.
The chandelier is the centrepiece, and it stands out prettily against the sage-green wall that adds colour without overwhelming the room. The space-smart, well-padded bench seating, also in a pale green, makes for a comfy dining experience.
The units and benchtop are an unobtrusive white, so they recede, but the marble surface adds to the luxurious feel of the room. The glass doors on the wall-hung cabinets, meanwhile, help the space feel open.
It’s tempting to go all white in a tiny space, but the designer of this little kitchen has worked colour and drama into the scheme to draw the eye past the narrow cooking area through to the cosy dining spot.
The chandelier is the centrepiece, and it stands out prettily against the sage-green wall that adds colour without overwhelming the room. The space-smart, well-padded bench seating, also in a pale green, makes for a comfy dining experience.
The units and benchtop are an unobtrusive white, so they recede, but the marble surface adds to the luxurious feel of the room. The glass doors on the wall-hung cabinets, meanwhile, help the space feel open.
Tell us
What tricks have you incorporated into your own pint-sized kitchen? Share your thoughts in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration and join the conversation.
More
Find a kitchen designer or renovator near you
What tricks have you incorporated into your own pint-sized kitchen? Share your thoughts in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration and join the conversation.
More
Find a kitchen designer or renovator near you
Could this be the cleverest, neatest, smallest kitchen ever? It’s certainly packed with ideas for anybody with one wall to play with in a studio or one-bedroom apartment.