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Small Kitchen Design Ideas and Real-Life Inspirations

What makes a small kitchen design so appealing is how effectively it uses space. Every drawer, shelf, and surface is thoughtfully planned to serve a purpose. With clever layouts, innovative storage solutions, and the right balance of style and practicality, even the smallest of spaces can be transformed into a kitchen that’s ideally suited to modern, multifunctional living.

In this blog, we’ll explore two inspiring real-life transformations of small kitchens and share our top strategies and must-have ideas to help you make the most of your own compact kitchen.

Small But Mighty: Real Life Kitchen Projects

Mimi Bouchard’s Luxurious London Galley Kitchen

As part of a comprehensive whole-home renovation, Mimi Bouchard’s London galley kitchen underwent a total transformation. Working within the original footprint, the design focused on improving functionality while adding refined details to suit her elegant, modern lifestyle.

The galley layout uses tall larder cabinets, deep drawer storage, and integrated Miele appliances for a seamless, efficient design. One side of the kitchen includes internally lit glazed cabinets, perfect for adding personal touches, while the opposite run features a full-height double pantry and a bi-fold breakfast unit with generous drawers beneath.

To enhance the flow of the space, a built-in bench and breakfast table provide a relaxed dining area. Above it, an antiqued OKA mirror reflects light and adds a vintage charm, further enhancing the sense of space in the narrow room.

The classic shaker cabinetry is finished in a warm neutral tone, providing a timeless backdrop. For contrast, Mimi selected Caesarstone’s 5003 Piatra Grey worktops, a smooth, slate-like surface with subtle white veining. This modern choice adds visual depth without overpowering the space, while the gentle sheen of the surface helps reflect light, enhancing the room’s bright and inviting atmosphere.

Mandy Miller Simmonds’ Chef’s Kitchen in a Georgian Townhouse

Chef and food content creator Mandy Miller Simmonds needed a kitchen that could handle everything from recipe testing to social content creation. Renovating her Georgian townhouse in Kent, Mandy designed a compact kitchen that was elegant yet practical, perfectly tailored to her professional and personal needs.

The design was guided by the home’s high ceilings and classic architectural features, striking a balance between functionality and style. Most of the storage and working zones are positioned towards the back of the kitchen, while a large multifunctional island in the adjacent room acts as a prep area, workspace and dining spot.

Open shelving above the cabinetry was introduced to maintain a bright, open feel and add visual breathing room. The bold Avocado green cabinetry is offset by crisp white Caesarstone worktops, creating a striking yet balanced contrast that keeps the space feeling light and airy.

Smart storage is seamlessly integrated throughout the space, including a concealed home bar hidden behind closed cabinetry for a clean, streamlined look. Miele appliances are symmetrically positioned on either side of the sink, while a Quooker tap offers instant boiling water and helps minimise worktop clutter.

Despite the compact footprint, this kitchen delivers on style, storage and functionality, tailored perfectly to Mandy’s busy lifestyle.

Top Tips for Creating the Illusion of More Space

Designing a smaller kitchen is all about smart choices. Here are some of our favourite tricks for making any space feel bigger, brighter, and more efficient.

Keep surfaces light: soft-toned flooring and worktops reflect more light, giving the illusion of a larger room. Man-made quartz, like Caesarstone, offers a seamless, consistent finish ideal for smaller kitchens.
Plan storage with intention: Avoid overcrowding. Instead, choose deeper or taller cabinets, or leave some wall space free to create breathing room. This also gives you space to add personality, whether that’s a favourite print, plants or personal keepsakes.

Enhance natural and artificial light: Layer your lighting with ambient, task and accent options. Under-cabinet LEDs and statement pendants work beautifully in tandem, and dimmer switches allow you to adjust the mood when entertaining.
Use glazed or open cabinets: Glazed doors break up the run of solid cabinetry and help bounce light around. Regional Sales Manager and Designer, Emily Grundy, shares, “Use a combination of closed and open/glazed wall cabinets to open up the kitchen. If you’re worried about keeping these glazed cupboards tidy, use reeded glass; it blurs the view and still looks beautiful.”
Stick to a limited colour palette: Using a cohesive colour scheme throughout helps unify the space and prevents it from feeling disjointed. Consider soft tones, neutral shades, and subtle contrasts.

Small Kitchen Design Must-Haves

To get the most out of your compact kitchen, consider incorporating these space-savvy design elements:

Drawers: Bespoke drawers are a game-changer in small kitchens. Choose deep drawers for pots and pans, slimline pull-outs for utensils, or internal organisers to keep everything neat. Add a hidden tech drawer for charging phones and tablets.

Boiling water taps: A Quooker or similar tap can save counter space and streamline your kitchen setup.
Compact or banked appliances: Design Director Tom Howley advises, “Built-under drawer fridges and dishwashers work brilliantly, as well as ovens with doors that slip underneath the unit. For wine lovers, built-under temperature regulators are compact and stylish.”
Countertop cabinets: Great for breakfast stations or baking zones, these keep clutter behind closed doors without taking up worktop space. They also double as appliance garages, ideal for hiding toasters, coffee machines and other small electronics.

Pull-out and slim pantry solutions: Use the full height and depth of your kitchen to maximise storage. Pull-out larders, cage structures and deep drawers make it easier to stay organised. Designer Sophie Hartley shares, “Tall cabinets on one side with the opposite wall left empty, or with open shelving only, will give the illusion of space.”
Open shelving: Perfect for low ceilings, open shelves prevent the room from feeling boxed in. Use them to store jars, crockery or decor items you reach for regularly.

If you’d like to explore more small kitchen design ideas and see them brought to life, we’d love to welcome you to one of our nationwide Tom Howley showrooms across the UK.