Photo of a small modern galley eat-in kitchen in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, concrete benchtops, grey splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and grey benchtop.

Kitchen: Sweet Harmony

ART EGREGOR

Inspiration for a small modern single-wall eat-in kitchen in Dublin with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, wood benchtops, beige splashback, timber splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood floors, no island, beige floor and beige benchtop.

NY Upper East Side Kitchen

MandiCasa

This MandiCasa project exemplifies the art of making the most of petite kitchens, showing it is possible to fulfill the user’s every wish in both style and function, regardless of square footage. For their apartment on New York’s Upper East Side, our client wanted their kitchen re-design to include a high-counter island that would open to the living room, providing a convenient area for preparing and enjoying meals. Aesthetically, they desired a more urban yet warm feel that would enhance the interior of their home. Designers: Lorena Polon, MandiCasa New York Matthew Lee Interiors Cabinetry: Rho and Yoga in Ghisa Urban lacquer and wood melamine Appliances: Sub Zero/Wolf, Fisher Paykel DW, Galley workstation Countertop: Dekton Rem by Cosentino

Colocation Marseille - Cuisine 1 (Nuit) 1

THE FANCY ROOM

Cuisine équipée four, évier, réfrigérateur Salle à manger Table 4 personnes Rangements plan de travail en pierre Fenêtre lampe suspendue baie vitrée Accès terrasse

Ankara, Turkey

Minimarch Design Studio

This modern style kitchen is a great example of how to achieve a sleek and stylish look on a budget. The use of simple and clean lines, paired with a neutral color scheme, creates a timeless and elegant design. The cabinets are made from affordable materials, such as melamine, while still providing ample storage space. The black hardware and fixtures give a modern edge to the overall look of the kitchen.

Casa di E

zero6studio

Inspiration for a small modern u-shaped kitchen in Rome with flat-panel cabinets and white cabinets.

Yandina Sunrise

Atelier Chen Hung

The kitchen has a pale pink nougat-like terrazzo benchtop, paired with a blonde/pink Vic Ash timber joinery to make for an appetising space for cooking. Photography by James Hung

Kitchen Open Shelving And Picture-Ready Dishware Vanity Fair Magazine Featured B

By Darash - Kitchen Cabinets, Vanities & Closets

Maximize your kitchen storage and efficiency with this small-kitchen design and space-saving design hacks. Open shelves are extremely functional and make it so much easier to access dishes and glasses.

Kitchen Floating Shelves

Design by the Jonathans

This is an example of a small modern galley eat-in kitchen in Bridgeport with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Pull Out Spice Rack Allows For Great Functionality

Sea Pointe Design & Remodel

Stunning quartz countertops with waterfall overflow effect contrasts beautifully with the maple cabinetry and bold shiplap hood. The hood was custom designed by our Designer Janna and manufactured by our very own craftsmen at Sea Pointe Construction.

Kitchen Backsplash Installations

Carolina Tile & Stone Inc

DUOMO DIMENSIONAL is a 3D carved mosaic, inspired by the classic style of Italy’s majestic cathedrals. Shown here in polished Calacatta Gold marble.
Small modern galley eat-in kitchen in Charlotte with quartzite benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, with island and green benchtop.

Condo at the Market

Board & Vellum

Photography by Tina Witherspoon.
Design ideas for a small modern galley separate kitchen in Seattle with an undermount sink, medium wood cabinets, a peninsula, grey benchtop, black appliances, flat-panel cabinets and white splashback.

Kitchen Condo Reveal

M Prevost Design

Kitchen condo remodel
Design ideas for a small modern galley kitchen in San Diego with shaker cabinets, quartzite benchtops and blue splashback.

Mini studio à Neuilly Plaisance

AGENCE MARN DÉCO

Cuisine ouverte et salle d'eau.
Photo of a small modern single-wall open plan kitchen in Paris with a single-bowl sink, beaded inset cabinets, light wood cabinets, laminate benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, ceramic splashback, panelled appliances, terrazzo floors, multi-coloured floor and white benchtop.

Perfect Storm

Matt Woods Design

Apartment kitchen
Photo of a small modern galley separate kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, black cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, marble splashback, black appliances, concrete floors, grey floor and grey benchtop.

Modern NYC Luxury Kitchen Remodel

NYKB

Modern NYC white kitchen with peninsula, perfect to entertain.
Inspiration for a small modern l-shaped kitchen in New York with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, a peninsula and white benchtop.

Modern Apartment Upgrade in Cobble Hill

Crown Woodworking Corp

Small modern galley eat-in kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, white splashback, subway tile splashback, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

U-Shaped Apartment Kitchen in Manhattan

SieMatic New York

This small galley kitchen in Manhattan needed an efficient layout, and clean lines and materials that created more visual space. Kitchen designer Robert Dobbs put together a modern design including upper cabinets in Titan Pine wood grain laminate and base cabinets in a warm, neutral yet dramatic high gloss truffle grey for clients who wanted "not another white kitchen!" Floating corner shelves with LED lighting add to the sense of space and provide task lighting. The vent hood's glass canopy helps it disappear. Upper cabinets include bifold doors that open up and make the ceiling look higher. Thin countertops and handle-free base cabinets continue the simple, horizontal and clean, linear design. Kitchen design: Robert Dobbs, SieMatic New York Photographer: Lauren Moss

Flat at 3303 Water Street

FORMA Design

The POLIFORM kitchen is all white flat cabinets, undercounter drawer refrigerators and glass/stainless steel appliances. The backsplashes are back-painted glass, with LED cove lighting. Photography: Geoffrey Hodgdon

Studio apartment

Insight Vision GmbH

Modern studio apartment for the young girl.
Design ideas for a small modern l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Frankfurt with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, grey splashback, cement tile splashback, ceramic floors, no island, grey floor, stainless steel appliances and grey benchtop.

Small Modern Kitchen Design Ideas

There’s a lot to consider when it comes to planning your kitchen design. Where do you even start? Gathering some inspiration in a photo gallery is always a good starting point, as looking at different kitchen designs often brings up ideas you haven’t even thought of yet.

Browse Photos of Kitchen Designs for Inspiration and Collect Your Ideas

You can browse through photos of all kinds of kitchen styles, layouts and sizes on Houzz to get started before jumping into any design software or contacting a local professional for help. Here’s a few considerations to keep in mind when planning your kitchen.

1. What Makes a Good Modern Kitchen Design, and Why is it Important?

For starters, you want to find a balance between aesthetics and function. You may have heard of the ‘kitchen work triangle’, which refers to the space between your fridge, sink and stove. You want everything within easy reach when you’re working in the kitchen and look beautiful at the same time. It’s a good idea to take note of both when browsing our photo gallery.

2. Consider Your Space to Determine Your Kitchen Layout

Firstly, consider the space you have, and the limitations that come with it. Do you have a small kitchen and need to maximise your workspace and storage? Can you allow yourself some more space and a big island with seating? Are you designing your kitchen from scratch or renovating an existing design? Which appliances do you already own and what are their measurements? Are there windows you need to take into consideration when planning cabinets? How do kitchen, living and dining areas connect? Depending on your space and needs, you want to use a shape that suits you. U, G, or L-shaped kitchen, with or without island or peninsula? Know your dimensions, plan cabinetry carefully and consider the placement of your appliances. You don’t want to end up with a finished design, only for your significant other to question where the fridge is supposed to go. Consider from the start where your fridge, oven, microwave and sink goes to save yourself from starting again from scratch - remember the kitchen work triangle! You also want to plan the layout of your cabinets. Maybe you’re planning for a pantry and can do with less storage space in your kitchen, so that your design can be one without upper or lower cabinets for a different look. A corner cabinet can be a smart storage solution if you want to keep the look clean and simple.

3. Decide on a Kitchen Style, But Don’t Forget Practicality

You want the style of your kitchen to reflect your personality and taste. We have curated a large array of kitchen styles here at Houzz, from traditional to contemporary to transitional and everything in between. Consider what your cooking style is for a start - Italy is known for its cuisine, so italian kitchen designs are generally popular. Also consider ergonomics - depending on how much time you spend in your kitchen, the height of your counters can make a big difference to your overall health. You also want to consider colour and finishes of cabinets, countertops and splashbacks. Which colour do you want your cupboards to be? Simple, timeless white or rather making a statement in black? Maybe rather a rustic wood? Also consider the colour of your floor - if you have dark floors, you may want to keep cabinets lighter. You could also go for an all-white look and choose black appliances for contrast. Once you know which style you fancy, don’t forget how you will be using the space. You want to keep cooking in mind, as well as how easy to clean and maintain the space will be. How many cooks do you need to accommodate? Do you have kids around? How much storage do you need? Maybe you want to go for open shelves rather than cabinets and allow for easy reach of key items you use when cooking. Again - remember the triangle! Lastly, choose lighting that both enhances the look of your kitchen as well as your cooking performance, providing light in all the right places.

4. Be Conscious of Your Budget

No matter what you plan for your kitchen design, cost is always a big factor. Be sure to plan with your budget in mind. It may make more sense to go for a modular kitchen design rather than custom build. You can save a lot of money if you get at least 3 estimates from professionals before locking in the job. And don’t forget to allow a 20% buffer for emergencies. Once you are ready to hire a pro, our directory will help you find one, no matter where you are. So whether you're looking for an Interior Designer in Melbourne or an Architect in Sydney, you can be sure to find a qualified expert for the job!