how do you style a galley kitchen

Smart design and organization will make a galley kitchen feel more spacious than the footprint suggests.

• Add light to a galley kitchen, by either installing a window or a skylight or by adding bright ceiling and task lighting, will illuminate work areas and make the kitchen more inviting.
• Choose light colors, as bold and dark hues can make a galley kitchen feel even narrower. Light shades on cabinets, painted walls, and other surfaces will make the kitchen feel larger.

Full Answer

How to design a galley kitchen?

“The goal when designing a galley kitchen is to make it feel the least cavernous as possible,” Zames says. “Reduce the number of tall cabinets that you're going to use, or consolidate your tall storage into one place.

How to decorate a galley kitchen?

How to decorate and update a galley kitchen

• High-quality appliances. Ideally, choose built-in appliances for your galley kitchen. ...
• Clever colour choices. ...
• Open shelving and storage. ...
• Stand-out accessories and utensils. ...
• Bring in some plants. ...
• Change up the lighting. ...

How to make a galley kitchen look larger?

Make your galley kitchen look bigger with these ideas –

• 1 Color Scheme. Cabinets on running from end to end on either side can make the kitchen appear dark and small. ...
• 2 Lighting. The right lighting can make a world of a difference to how big your kitchen looks. ...
• 3 Open shelves. ...
• 4 Backsplash. ...
• 5 Glossy. ...
• 6 Clean the counter. ...
• Pin It – 6 ideas on how to make your galley kitchen look bigger. ...

How to design the perfect kitchen layout?

When it comes to kitchen designs, these are generally the most popular:

• L shaped kitchens featuring two perpendicular walls. ...
• U shaped kitchens that consist of three adjacent walls. ...
• Galley kitchens featuring two rows of cabinets facing each other with a galley between them. ...
• Kitchen islands that create a work surface or storage area in the heart of the kitchen. ...

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How can I make my galley kitchen look good?

Because the space can appear small, it is important to select light paint colors to make the kitchen feel open and airy. Stainless steel or white countertops, glass-front cabinets and colorful backsplashes are all keys to making a galley kitchen design appear larger.

How do you layout a galley kitchen?

Galley Kitchen Ideas and Layout ConsiderationsBalance Aisle Space, Light, and Storage. ... Measure Your Space to Use it Wisely. ... Use Windows to Open Up the Space. ... Create a Cooking Work Triangle. ... Open Up Your Galley Kitchen with Shelving. ... Choose a Focal Point in Your Galley Kitchen Design.More items...

What Colour is best for a galley kitchen?

We suggest sticking to neutral hues, with colourful accents to add vibrancy. White or grey galley kitchens are a stylish choice and look particularly striking in compact spaces. Another trick is to anchor your kitchen with dark coloured base cabinets and lighter shades on your wall cabinets and surfaces.

How do you modernize a galley kitchen?

5 Galley Kitchen Remodeling IdeasPaint the Walls a Space-Enhancing Shade. A fresh coat of paint is the first remodeling idea you should consider for a galley kitchen. ... Add Windows and Let There Be Light. ... Choose Understated Flooring. ... Install Sleek Cabinetry. ... Turn Your Galley Kitchen Into an Open Kitchen.

Where should a refrigerator go 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.

How do you make a galley kitchen open concept?

Remove a Wall (or Partial Wall) ... Rework the layout by Borrowing Square Footage from a Nearby Space. ... Join the Kitchen and Dining Room with a Countertop Extension. ... Move the Dining Area Outside the Kitchen. ... More Ways to Make Your Galley Kitchen Look Bigger.

How do you make a narrow galley kitchen look bigger?

A savvy way to make a galley feel bigger is to deliberately reduce the depth of one of the cupboard runs. Fitting standard 600mm base cabinets down one side to house traditional appliances, then narrower 300mm-depth units on the other, helps to maximise storage space without making the room feel too cluttered.

Why galley kitchens are the best?

Named after a ship's kitchen, galley kitchens were originally associated with simplicity and tight spaces – there's not much room for superfluous detail on the average ship. 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.

Can you put an island in a galley kitchen?

If you're considering adding a kitchen island to your galley kitchen remodel, you may be able to do so without any construction required. Portable kitchen islands are widely available, and they can be a great option for galley kitchens that are small enough to require a more flexible design.

How much is it to remodel a galley kitchen?

According to Bob Villa, the average galley kitchen remodel cost will fall between $17,000 and $21,000. Investing that amount of money into your galley kitchen should allow you to upgrade countertops, flooring and cabinets for all but the largest kitchens or most high-end materials.

How do you brighten a small galley kitchen?

A galley kitchen looks bigger when it's painted white, has open shelving, bright lighting. You can increase the kitchen's appearance by painting the roof a few shades lighter than the walls, laying a rug with lengthwise stripes, and using glass containers for countertop items.

Why is it called a galley kitchen?

The galley is the compartment of a ship, train, or aircraft where food is cooked and prepared. It can also refer to a land-based kitchen on a naval base, or, from a kitchen design point of view, to a straight design of the kitchen layout.

What is galley layout?

A galley kitchen is a long, narrow kitchen layout with services on one or both sides. An aisle runs down the center of a galley kitchen. Sometimes, the galley kitchen dead-ends at one end or it can be a pass-through kitchen.

How much space should be between cabinets in galley kitchen?

When designing a new galley kitchen, plan to keep the cabinet runs four to five feet apart for optimal meal preparation.

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 floor space does a galley kitchen have?

Your galley should be 7-12 feet wide with a minimum of 3 ft between the opposing countertops. 3 ft works well for a single-occupancy kitchen, but ideally, you would need at least 4-5 feet.

How to make a galley kitchen look more open?

Since a galley kitchen can be constraining, it's best to add storage that creates an open and airy feel. Try adding floating shelves above your counter or install sleek and minimalist cabinets. It can also be helpful to use light color pairings and try ambient lighting such as under cabinet lighting and recessed lighting. Light or monochromatic paint colors on your cabinets or light-colored flooring can give the illusion of more space.

How to create a work triangle in a galley kitchen?

You can create an effective work triangle in your galley kitchen by placing your fridge and oven on one side, and your sink and dishwasher on the opposite side.

Why do you need asymmetrical kitchen layout?

A symmetrical layout works well in larger kitchens because you won't need to worry about creating a more spacious feel, but you may want more versatility if you have limited space. If you have a kitchen with limited space, you'll want to consider having an asymmetrical design so that you can have counters of differing lengths or cabinets that vary shapes and sizes. This will help you to create a more strategic design that works with the space you have.

Why did the Galley kitchen become popular?

Galley kitchens emerged from the kitchen layout used on ships or trains, which was designed to fit into small areas with the ability to accommodate multiple cooks. Due to the efficiency of its layout, it soon became a preferred layout for professional chefs and amateur cooks alike.

What is the best layout for a kitchen remodel?

If cooking is a passion of yours and you're looking to create a layout that works well for prep work, then a galley kitchen could be the best layout for your redesign. If you're interested in more inspiration for your next kitchen remodel, check out our kitchen lighting ideas. We cover everything you need to know about adding new lighting to your culinary space to help you create the perfect ambiance in your kitchen.

What side of the kitchen is the refrigerator on?

Galley kitchens typically have the sink and refrigerator on one side, while the stove and oven are on the other side. This layout helps keep prep work more streamlined with the ability to travel back and forth between the refrigerator and sink with minimal effort. If possible, it's recommended to place the refrigerator close to the entryway to make the process of putting groceries away easier.

What is symmetrical galley?

That means that both sides will have the same cabinetry set up with the countertops running the same length. The main difference between the two sides will be splitting up the sink, refrigerator, and stove which should each be no more than eight feet apart from each other.

What can I do with a galley kitchen?

Perhaps you're thinking, what can I do with a gallery kitchen? Well, galley kitchen ideas are designed to be both compact and ultra-efficient, maximizing every inch of space for both storage and preparation.

How to introduce a small dining area into a galley kitchen?

Introduce a small dining area into galley kitchens by opting for a compact dining table, which can be pushed against an unused wall.

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 the most important thing to consider when planning a galley kitchen?

Good kitchen storage ideas are perhaps the most important element to consider when planning a galley kitchen.

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 .

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.

What is a storage wall in 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.

What is a galley kitchen?

In general, galley kitchens are smaller spaces, which can be a great benefit to anyone involved in cooking or food preparation. The famous "work triangle," which co-locates the refrigerator, stove and sink, offers maximum efficiency with minimal steps between the various components. The tradeoff is that sometimes the space can feel cramped, ...

How many rooms does a gut remodel turn into?

A gut remodel turns eight outdated rooms into one modern, open kitchen with top-notch sustainable features for cook Adrian Hale and her family.

Can you add a kitchen island to a galley kitchen?

Always a key concern, especially for smaller galley kitchens, space, storage and surface area can be added via a kitchen island, peninsula or other storage options like countertop containers or pantry storage. If you're considering adding a kitchen island to your galley kitchen remodel, you may be able to do so without any construction required.

Can you remodel a galley kitchen with a peninsula?

Similarly, a galley kitchen remodel can often involve the addition of a kitchen peninsula. Whereas a kitchen island can sometimes be cumbersome in galley kitchens—especially a smaller one—a peninsula may give you the added storage and functionality you want, with a more out-of-the way design.

How do you arrange a galley kitchen?

The best layout for a galley kitchen will depend on how much space you have.

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.

How to make a dark kitchen look light?

Use the same flooring throughout to help the look flow visually and if the kitchen is dark then choosing white units and open shelving will help to keep it light and airy. Adding in patterned tiles for a splashback will add a decorative touch.

Why can a kitchen be one wall unit?

Galley kitchens can be one single run of wall units because it could be that your space literally only allows for it due to being so narrow.

What to do with one wall of base units?

If you only have one wall of base units a great idea is to put in an island to create further worktop space and storage and it’s a fab alternative to a repeat row of base units.

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.

How wide is a galley kitchen?

In a traditional galley kitchen, the passageway measures anywhere from 4 to 6 feet wide, although larger galley kitchens may now expand ...

What to put on a countertop for a galley?

Add interest and bring nature inside by featuring vases of flowers on countertops, and continue the natural theme with an elegantly placed bowl of fresh fruit and vegetables. Countertops can also be a great place to display unique and attractive storage elements like mason jars or other large, decorative glass containers, filled with stores ready for use in your galley kitchen.

What does it mean when cabinets are flush with the ceiling?

Many galley kitchens utilize most, if not all, of the available height of the space for cabinets—which can mean that upper and lower cabinets are nearly flush with the ceiling and floor, respectively. To ensure that the space doesn't look too cramped, try creating the impression of an overall taller design.

What color backsplash is used in a gray Spanish kitchen?

A Moroccan tile backsplash in neutral tones is the focal point of this gray Spanish style kitchen. Arched doorways mimic the niche behind the stove, while white cabinetry on either side provide plenty of storage space.

What is a two-walled kitchen?

The two-walled design of a galley kitchen maintains the traditional "work triangle" that's essential to any effective kitchen design— this refers to the triangle created by the stove, refrigerator and sink. If cooks can easily access all of these kitchen features, cooking will be much more efficient and enjoyable.

Can you put a portable island in a galley?

Storage can be an issue in some galley kitchens, so you may want to consider adding a portable kitchen island to your design, if the space will allow for one. An island can add a great storage option, as many of them feature drawers, cabinets and convenient features like pull-out garbage cans or wine racks.

Is it easy to decorate a galley kitchen?

It's easy to enjoy the functional aspects of a small, efficient galley kitchen. Learning how to decorate a galley kitchen can ensure that the kitchen space you spend time in with friends, family and guests will be both functional and attractive.

What to use to brighten a room?

Zames recommends using glossy tile or surfaces to brighten the space. “With materials, you can use things that are a little more reflective,” she says. “Getting as much natural light bouncing around in there as possible is pretty key.”

Can you open a galley kitchen?

You don’t need to demo an entire wall to open up a galley kitchen. “The first thing that I would do is see if there's anyway [to] create some sort of opening to the other spaces from it,” says Zames. “You could open up just the corner of it and add some open shelving to break that hallway feeling.” She recalls a project where even a small opening made a big difference. “We weren't able to open it up to the living room, because there were some pipes in the way, but we opened it up partially and put shelves that hung from the ceiling,” she says. “I thought that was a nice happy medium. It kept the kitchen out of the dining area, and you kept the functional storage, but it was still visually connected to the other space.”

Can you put pendant lights over a galley?

Zames notes that there’s lots that can be done in addition to task lighting in a galley kitchen. “You're not working with pendant lights over an island, but you can do some great decorative fixtures on the ceiling that bring the space together,” she says. “There's an opportunity with a galley kitchen to be a jewel box, so doing some lighting on the ceiling that feels less utilitarian is nice.”

What takes away room from a galley kitchen?

Kitchen islands, breakfast bars, and other similar things only take away room from the galley kitchen.

Why do we need a galley kitchen?

Galley kitchens save space for other rooms in your house.

Why are galley kitchens so tight?

Countertop space is limited in galley kitchens because there are fewer base cabinets. Resale value tends to be lower for galley kitchens than for other kitchen layouts. Atypical sink configurations such as 45-degree angles are not possible.

Why is a galley called a corridor kitchen?

Less often a galley is called a corridor kitchen because its main traffic lane is a long, narrow aisle. The countertops can be interspersed with appliances like fridges, sinks, cabinetry, and other functional items. Since galley kitchens are small, they tend to be less expensive to build or remodel than with other kitchen layouts. ...

Why pull kitchen cabinets down?

If storage isn’t all that important to you, then pull the cabinets down a few inches to give you more breathing room.

What is the backbone of a kitchen?

The aisle or walkway running the length of a galley kitchen is its backbone. But it can become very narrow when several people are moving through the kitchen.

What is the best material for cabinets?

Unstained or lightly stained maple, birch, and bamboo are good materials for cabinets if you want to keep colors brighter and lighter.

Where should the stove be in a galley kitchen?

The stove should also be close to the serving area, and the fridge close to the sink. This gives you a more seamless transition between collecting, prepping, cooking, and serving. In a galley kitchen, a working triangle is still one of the best layout options.

What is the biggest complaint about a galley kitchen?

So what’s the biggest complaint people have about their galley kitchens? “It does depend on the family, but the amount of storage space is the number one complaint ,” Wael says.

Why do people come to him asking him to design a galley kitchen?

When people come to him asking him to design a galley kitchen, it’s because they already have one that doesn’t work. We’re betting that sounds familiar.

Does a galley kitchen have a working triangle?

For people who have a lot of cookware, a galley kitchen often won’t have the room for it. Another complaint Wael has heard a lot is about the working triangle – or rather, the non-functioning triangle. “For many people, the working triangle (the layout of the sink, stove and fridge) doesn’t work.”.

Is a galley kitchen a design choice?

Galley Kitchens Are Not a Design Choice. Not many people choose a galley kitchen on their own. “It’s the architects. Galley kitchens are often built in smaller homes and apartments,” Wael explains. The kitchen works in the space, but not so much for the people who end up living there. When people come to him asking him to design a galley kitchen, ...

Can a galley kitchen be nightmare?

A galley kitchen doesn’t have to be your nightmare kitchen. With proper workflow and the right design, it could become the kitchen of your dreams. We talked to our designer Wael Bakr about design solutions for your galley kitchens.

Do you have a galley kitchen in a city?

When you live in a city, galley kitchens are a reality. They’re everywhere. If you don’t have one, one of your friends probably does.