how do you maximize a small galley kitchen

Galley & Small Kitchen Ideas & Plans

• Maximizing Space. Believe it or not, there are ways to maximize space in kitchens without actually building an addition...
• Creating Illusion of Space. The best way to make your small kitchen appear more spacious is by using lights. Also, stick...
• Shifting Focus Away from the Space. Although you want to use lighting to make your...

Full Answer

How do you make a galley kitchen look bigger?

This trick is particularly effective if you're fortunate enough to have windows at the end of your galley kitchen, as natural light is also helpful in creating the illusion of space. Pair with white and light wood kitchen furniture to complete the look.

What is a galley kitchen layout?

A galley kitchen layout is particularly suited to more compact spaces, as it ensures you have the worksurfaces and appliances you need while still providing essential storage for small kitchens. The trick is to make the space work for you – make it look bigger by using light colors and reflective surfaces.

What are the benefits of a galley kitchen?

They're characteristically short on floor space, so galley kitchen designs that maximize the height potential of a room are a real bonus. If you're worried about ceiling high cabinets making your kitchen feel small and boxed in, we'd recommend opting for a crisp white finish.

What is the best way to organise a double galley kitchen?

In double galley kitchens, storage ‘walls’ or ‘banks’ are a great solution for both open plan and closed schemes, by giving over the whole wall to a combination of storage and appliances. Storage can be organised in pull-out larders or increasingly popular pantry ideas – both have narrow shelving which makes products easily visible.

How do I make my galley kitchen more open?

Another option is to create a “window” from the kitchen to an adjoining room. Your kitchen will feel more open and you'll feel less isolated while cooking. “Adding small mirrors to the front or back end of a galley kitchen does a great job of improving light flow and creates a larger sense of space.

How do I plan a small galley kitchen?

Try to contrast dark units with lighter worktops and kitchen flooring, to avoid overwhelming a small space. While too much detail can be overpowering, incorporating a feature wall or a patterned backsplash is a great way to add depth to a galley kitchen.

Where do you put a refrigerator in a galley kitchen?

For a typical galley layout, McFadden suggests putting the refrigerator on one end, a pantry (if there is one) and wall ovens on the other end, with the sink and cooktop centered in the middle on opposite walls. If the kitchen is wide enough, he recommends putting the cooktop directly across from the sink.

What can I do with a galley kitchen?

The galley layout can work just wonderfully in a large kitchen. The presence of two runs of units provides an architectural frame to a dining table or kitchen island (opens in new tab) in the centre, while in open plan areas an island or run of units provides the cut-off between living and cooking zones.

How do you make a galley kitchen sociable?

Consider a peninsula or breakfast bar If you have the space for some seating, consider a peninsula at the end of the galley kitchen. Choose chairs that can be tucked away under the peninsula so that you can use the extra worktop space for food prep. This makes the galley kitchen sociable and functional too.

Where do you put a dishwasher in a galley kitchen?

Place it next to the sink This involves scraping leftovers from dishes into the bin (located to one side of, or under, your sink,) then giving dishes a quick rinse under the tap, before loading them straight into the dishwasher. Consequently, the best placement is on the opposite side of the sink to the scraping area.

Can a stove be next to a refrigerator?

Can You Put A Stove Next To Refrigerator? The short answer is yes. A stove can be right next to a refrigerator, especially in a very small kitchen. However, it's not the best placement for two appliances that serve the opposite functions, to cool and to heat.

Can an oven be next to a fridge?

Allow your fridge and oven to be a little closer Traditionally, designers advised against putting the fridge next to the oven as it would have to work extra hard to hold its temperature, wasting energy.

What is the minimum width for a galley kitchen?

seven to 12 feetBasic Dimensions The width of a galley kitchen should be seven to 12 feet with a minimum of three feet between opposing countertops. Three feet of walking space between countertops is a bare minimum and is best reserved for single-occupancy kitchens. Four to five feet between countertops is optimal.

How do you plan a kitchen layout?

7 Kitchen Layout Ideas That WorkReduce Traffic. ... Make the Distance between Main Fixtures Comfortable. ... Make Sure the Kitchen Island Isn't too Close or too Far. ... Place the Sink First. ... Always Put the Stove on an Exterior Wall. ... Keep Vertical Storage in Mind. ... Create a Floor Plan and Visualize Your Kitchen in 3D.More items...•

What are the 6 types of kitchen layouts?

The 6 Most Popular Kitchen Layout TypesThe One Wall Kitchen. Usually found in smaller kitchens, this simple layout is space efficient without giving up on functionality. ... The Galley Kitchen. ... The L-Shaped Kitchen. ... The U-Shaped Kitchen. ... The Island Kitchen. ... The Peninsula Kitchen.

How much space should be between cabinets in galley kitchen?

A bare minimum distance between the fronts of the cabinets is three feet, which will allow for opening the oven and cabinet doors and for moving between appliances, but the space will surely feel cramped. More than five feet between runs and you'll be spending much time in transit, walking back and forth.

How to remodel a galley kitchen?

If you have a galley kitchen or other type of kitchen with limited space and are getting ready to remodel, we recommend that you think about ways to: 1 Maximize the space 2 Make the room appear more spacious 3 Take the focus away from the size

What colors should I use for a kitchen backsplash?

Also, stick with lighter shades like white, pale yellow, tan, etc. Avoid dark colors. Just like in fashion—black and other dark shades slim down and white expands. You can use glass-front cabinets and glass tile backsplash to open up your kitchen as well.

Can you use lighting in a kitchen?

Although you want to use lighting to make your kitchen seem bigger than it is, it’s also a good idea to think of ways to shift the attention to things in the kitchen so the small size isn’t the main focus. Fortunately, there a numerous ways to create beautiful focal points:

Why do you need a galley in a kitchen?

A galley kitchen layout is particularly suited to more compact spaces, as it ensures you have the worksurfaces and appliances you need while still providing essential storage for small kitchens.

How to make the most of a tall narrow kitchen?

To make the most of a tall, narrow kitchen, use a mixture of wall cabinets, open shelving, base cabinets and drawers to vary your design and keep the outlook as open as possible .

Why are galley kitchens called galley kitchens?

But the reason that galley kitchen layouts work is that they are ergonomically sound – it's easy to place everything so it is to hand.

What is a mix of drawers and cupboards?

A mix of both drawers and cupboards can serve you well in any kitchen, and can be designed in such a way that any handles and all the cabinetry lines align . Drawers are great for pots, pans, chinaware and ingredients, as you can pack a lot into the space and still access it easily.

What is a single run kitchen?

A single run is kitchen design as its most essential. If you only have a single run – one row – of cabinets, worktop space may be limited, so it makes sense to create different zones for food preparation, serving and cleaning up, often divided by the key points of hob, sink and refrigerator.

Can a galley be used in a kitchen?

The galley layout can work just wonderfully in a large kitchen. The presence of two runs of units provides an architectural frame to a dining table or kitchen island in the centre, while in open plan areas an island or run of units provides the cut-off between living and cooking zones.

What did Melissa and Blake do in the kitchen?

Shifting the location of a nearby closet allowed Melissa and Blake to continue the kitchen area into the living room, extending cabinets and counter space. They also removed a smaller closet that once sat outside the kitchen and built a bar counter with seating in its place, uniting the galley kitchen with the combined living and dining room.

What was Laura and Tim's plan for their kitchen?

Laura and Tim were ready to trade in their “old and grungy” kitchen in their 1929 brick townhouse. They remodeled their galley kitchen and kept the layout —with one major change. They enclosed an outdoor patio at the back of the kitchen that had a drafty door which was poorly located as well. The new plan was to envelop the patio into the cook space and the adjacent dining area. What started as a kitchen remodel turned into a full-blown extension project. A skylight in the new enclosure brought in a stream of natural light.

Did Lisa and Chris move the kitchen?

Moving the dining area outside of the kitchen allowed Lisa and Chris to extend their cabinets along the back wall. They also relocated the fridge to what was once the cramped dining nook, while keeping the original location of the sink and continuing counter space on the opposite wall. In addition to extra counter and storage space, a nearby wall was demolished to create a large, eat-in peninsula.

How to make a galley kitchen look stifling?

Another easy way to make a galley kitchen appear stifling is by decluttering your countertops. Employ your cabinets–they are there for storage! If you absolutely must leave an appliance out, make sure it has clean lines and a minimalist design.

What is a galley kitchen?

Galley kitchens have become one of the few things to make home buyers and owners cringe (besides shag carpeting.) They are known for being closed-off, unwelcoming, and dark. In the age where everyone wants an open concept floor plan, the galley kitchen is quickly added to the cons list when someone is looking for a renovation project.

How to make a galley look bigger?

Hardwood floors installed lengthwise in a galley kitchen can make the room look bigger. Placing the floor planks horizontally can give the space a smaller, "chopped up" look. Light colored floors, especially those that match the walls and cabinetry, tend to make a narrow galley kitchen appear wider. Avoid patterned floors that can visually shrink the room. Natural or artificial light that's reflected on shiny surfaces, such as glossy floors or stainless-steel appliances, can make your kitchen seem large and luminescent. Skylights, windows, recessed ceiling lights and track lighting are ideal for providing bright illumination. Suspend a sparkling chandelier or attractive pendant light in kitchens with higher ceilings to draw your eyes upward, making the space appear roomier.

How to make your kitchen feel bigger?

Keeping your kitchen free of clutter is a necessity to make it feel larger. Remove seldom used appliances, dishes and other kitchen items that take up valuable counter space. Accessorizing with a few items can leave your countertops looking neater and your kitchen feeling bigger. Choose accessories that are useful or aesthetically appealing. For example, a frequently used coffee maker or espresso machine, a bowl of fresh fruit and a vase of fresh flowers make ideal accents for your kitchen countertop.

How to give impression of a larger kitchen?

Integrated appliances built into kitchen walls and cabinetry provide a seamless look to give the impression of a larger space. Also, install appliances that are in scale with the size of your kitchen so they don't overpower the room. Stainless-steel appliances provide shiny surfaces to reflect light, emphasizing the feeling of more space. Cabinetry finished in light-colored paint or stain can help create a perception of openness. Glass cabinet doors and open wall shelves help to avoid a boxy, cramped feel.

How to make a room look more spacious?

Apply a light paint color to the walls, creating the visual illusion of a more spacious room. Barely beige, soft white or light gray are light paint colors that provide a neutral backdrop for almost any color scheme. Paints with a satin or semigloss finish tend to reflect more light, making a space feel more open and airy. Also, you can visually raise a low ceiling by painting it a couple of shades lighter than the wall color. Paint a kitchen ceiling in a shade of white to make it appear even loftier.

What is the best layout for a galley kitchen?

The best layout for a galley kitchen will depend on how much space you have . If you have a bigger area to work with you could include a breakfast bar or a wall hung table, while if you're working with a small space, you'll have to be more creative and incorporate pull out tables and fold up chairs too.

What is a galley kitchen?

Experts at Magnet say, 'Galley kitchens are one of the most popular layouts in homes across the country. They’re well-suited to smaller properties, giving you a useable kitchen space without sacrificing on your floorplan.'.

What is open shelving?

Open shelving is a great kitchen storage alternative that works well in a galley kitchen. In addition to costing less, overall, than kitchen cabinetry, open shelving also allows for a more relaxed, unfitted finish.

What to include in a kitchen design?

So, work with your kitchen designer to include a breakfast bar or a wall hung table – or one that can pull out from under a work surface, and pick chairs that fold up too, so you can have floor space when you need it and dining space when you need it, too.

Can you have all your kitchen units down one end?

If your kitchen is generous in length, you can have all your units down one end leaving an end free for a small table – if you opt for a rectangular one and a bench or two you’ll have even more space.