Who said a dream kitchen has to be big? Sure, the sprawling kitchens seen in American movies are undoubtedly impressive and very practical. But the space we have isn't always what we need: sometimes we need to furnish a small kitchen and optimize the little space we have.
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It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good! We, for example, have always had a weakness for small, functional kitchens, where everything is in its place and there are no superfluous objects. Just like in the homes of our grandmothers, where there was the essentials and nothing more. In large rooms, in fact, a lot of space is often wasted; or we tend to fill every corner with accessories and appliances that are never used, ending up making the space too heavy.
So, how do you furnish a small kitchen without sacrificing space and style? Let's find out together in this little guide!
Furnishing a small kitchen: mission impossible? Not at all!
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Furnishing a small kitchen is easier than you think. Just adopt a minimalist approach, prioritizing functionality. The motto: less is more!
Here's a collection of solutions and ideas for a small kitchen:
1) To avoid visually "clogging" the space, favor solid colors and light tones. White, ivory, or beige furniture will never go out of style and will visually enlarge your small kitchen. The same goes for wall colors.
2) To design a kitchen in a small space, maximize height (unless you live in an attic, but we'll talk about that in a few lines!). Choose tall cabinets, columns, and shelves, and exploit awkward spaces to store items you rarely use.
3) Walls are often overlooked when it comes to furnishing a kitchen. Use hooks and rails to hang potholders, dishcloths, and smaller utensils: you'll free up a lot of drawer space without even realizing it!
4) Tall drawers and wasted space? Make the most of it with internal dividers: you'll gain precious centimeters and, what's more, you'll find things much faster.
5) To avoid overwhelming your small kitchen, remove everything you don't use every day. Don't worry, we're not saying you should throw away items or give up the small appliances you love! Just keep only the things you use every day within reach. For example: what do you do with that "good" 60-piece cutlery set you only show off at Christmas? Put it away safely in the closet and bring it out only when needed.
In short: furnishing a small kitchen isn't difficult; all it takes is a little organization. But what do you do when the kitchen is difficult to use, or has a very low ceiling? Let's find out in the following paragraphs!
How to furnish a small and narrow kitchen without sacrificing style
Owners of hallway kitchens: raise your hand! Furnishing a small, rectangular kitchen, where the space is entirely lengthwise, can be particularly challenging. But we love a challenge and won't be discouraged by such trivial details!
Let's start with the choice of furniture: to furnish a narrow kitchen, the best solution is always a linear kitchen. Use the entire long side of the room to accommodate cupboards, wall units, stovetop, hood, oven, and refrigerator. You can also make the most of the opposite wall by screwing hooks and rails to hang, for example, aprons and clean dishcloths, which won't take up much space.
Rather than enclosing the space with a table, opt for a small peninsula against the wall opposite the kitchen, as long as it has a pull-out top: this way, it won't get in the way when you move around. Coffee tables with matching low stools, which can be tucked under the top when not in use, are also an excellent solution.
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Okay, now we know how to furnish a small, narrow kitchen, but what if the rectangular shape of the room really isn't our thing? Once again, color comes to the rescue. Paint the short wall with horizontal stripes (or choose a beautiful wallpaper) to visually balance the spaces. The difference is huge—try it and believe it!
Exposed shelves and wall units to furnish a low-ceilinged kitchen in the attic
Ah, how beautiful attics are! Romantic, picturesque, they bring to mind the homes of artists and poets. Furnishing an attic isn't difficult when it comes to the sleeping area: drawers and racks instead of closets, a nice low bed, and you're done. Yes, but what about the kitchen? Help, here's where things get tough!
Don't panic. First solution (drastic but necessary, especially if the room has a sloping ceiling): opt for a low-ceilinged kitchen without wall units and make the most of the exposed shelves. It takes a bit of organization, but the visual impact will be beautiful, because nothing conveys warmth like a kitchen where the food can actually be seen! Get some glass jars and some nice washable labels and organize all the long-life foods: tea, coffee, spices (but also biscuits and dried fruit).
And what if the ceiling is very sloping and no furniture seems to fit its bizarre shape? Consider having a custom-made attic kitchen built, low and functional, perhaps with shelves, racks, and cabinets with an oblique shape that follow the ceiling. This way, you'll truly make the most of every available inch and the room will have a truly unique look.
The extra idea! Three solutions for furnishing small kitchens based on style
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At this point, you're probably wondering: where do we put the style? We've thought about that too. Because it's true that the kitchen is a place of service and must, above all else, be practical and functional. But that doesn't mean aesthetics don't matter!
You should always consider the style of your home before designing a room, and this also applies when furnishing small kitchens. Lack of space shouldn't be seen as a handicap, but rather as an opportunity to embrace unusual solutions and make your home even more beautiful and original.
Here's a small roundup of furnishing ideas for small kitchens, divided into three styles: modern, shabby chic, and rustic. Three additional "gems" to take as inspiration based on the style of your home.
The Small Modern Kitchen
A modern kitchen is, by definition, practical and functional: clean lines, smooth surfaces, and prominent materials. What are the best small kitchen solutions for modern decor?
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In addition to what we've already covered, we'd like to share another idea: give concealed kitchens a try. An extremely minimal solution, certainly not suited to a vintage or Provençal-style home, but perfect for a small, modern kitchen: once you're done cooking, simply close it to minimize clutter and give the room a sense of space. Choose a white finish, like the walls, to visually maximize the space.
The Small Shabby Chic Kitchen
Let's face it: the shabby chic style lends itself particularly well to small spaces, partly because of its typical colors (white, ivory, pastels, etc.) and partly because its romantic, delicate style transforms small homes into authentic gems.
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An additional idea for decorating a small shabby chic kitchen is to use an accessory borrowed from the past: plate racks! That's right: a beautiful plate rack will transform Sunday service into a work of art and save you space in your cabinets, using your walls as additional storage. You can even buy a vintage one and have fun painting it a distressed white or a beautiful pastel color, like sage green: the result will be delightful.
The Small Rustic Kitchen
An additional idea for furnishing a small rustic kitchen is inspired by old-fashioned kitchens: use enameled or brass hooks to hang pans (preferably copper) directly on the wall! Much like a plate rack, this solution will allow you to stylishly utilize unused wall space and free up space in drawers, where pan handles always waste space.
See? Furnishing a small kitchen isn't just simple: it can also be fun and provide plenty of ideas for making the space more original, distinguishing it from the uniform kitchens seen in catalogs. A unique space that truly reflects you, thanks to many small touches "stolen" from kitchens of the past. We bet you'll never miss the exaggerated spaces of large kitchens again!
