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Love them or hate them, galley kitchens offer unmatched efficiency. So if you’re short on space, a galley kitchen floor plan is likely the best option.

Unfortunately, despite their sheer functionality, galley kitchens are often maligned among the design-conscious.

While it’s true that the unique size and shape require a different approach than your average open-concept kitchen, there’s no reason for a galley kitchen to be a curse upon your home’s aesthetic!

Keep reading for our top small galley kitchen ideas and how to implement them within your own culinary workspace.

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1. Free Up Storage With Wall Shelves & Cabinets

Even the most cramped galley kitchens can be transformed into beautiful, cozy spaces with thoughtful storage solutions. Installing floating wall shelves gives the illusion of more space while offering a spot to neatly organize cookware and dinnerware.

Mug racks and floating plant holders create additional room for decorations and essential pantry items with minimal space lost. With a few collection pieces, a small galley kitchen can become an inviting space to hang out, cook delicious meals, or grab breakfast on the go.

2. Create A Cozy Boho Kitchen

With its rattan furniture and Persian rug, a boho small galley kitchen creates a chic and cozy atmosphere. Fill the space with dried flowers to bring in color while giving off that subtle bohemian vibe. Keep the rattan furniture minimal to maintain a clutter-free look, but add bold style with vibrant wall hangings to make the room feel inviting.

Wooden cutting boards, open shelving and rattan woven baskets complete the look; achieve a soft and balanced contrast by combining light rattan against darker woods for an eclectic touch with a bold yet homey feel.

3. Keep It Minimal But Stylish

Go modern and minimalist with your small galley kitchen! Sleek minimalist cabinets keep everything tucked away, while a pristine white countertop allows any decor to pop.

Featuring efficient cabinets, sleek white countertops, and well-placed recessed lighting, this inviting kitchen area can transform even the most mundane dishes into something extraordinary. The perfect touch is recessed lighting which adds the right amount of glimmer to the room no matter whether you prefer the day or night look.

With space-saving storage solutions that streamline cooking and entertaining alike, it’s no wonder why a modern small galley kitchen is an essential part of any home.

4. Install Gold Fixtures

A small galley kitchen can be a charming and inviting living space, no matter how limited the square footage is. Add gold fixtures to catch the light and create an air of sophistication, then contrast these with an earthy interior – be it white counters, mahogany cabinets, or perhaps even a tiled backsplash.

Install bright spotlights in strategic positions for a modern touch and top off the look by opting for unique hardware that stands out from the crowd. With a few unexpectedly luxurious touches here and there, you’ll be left with your very own exquisite galley kitchen.

4. Make It French Countryhouse Style

Crafting the French country house interior of your dreams starts in the small galley kitchen! This quaint room can be transformed with white shiplap walls, shelves designed with storage in mind, and chic tile flooring. What could feel cramped and cluttered instead feels fresh and elegant when thoughtfully designed.

To complete the look, add a vase of fresh flowers to bring character and warmth to the room. With a little bit of creativity and ingenuity, you can create a French-inspired sanctuary within your small galley kitchen!

5. Opt For Sleek, Dark Walls

A small galley kitchen can be dreamy and creative, especially with dark walls and black fixtures that give the space a cozy and modern feel. The dark walls are perfectly complemented by wood countertops and cabinets, creating a natural contrast that invokes a sense of balance and unity in the kitchen.

With its contemporary style, a small galley kitchen is sure to leave you inspired for years to come.

6. Introduce Plants Into Your Kitchen

A small galley kitchen doesn’t need to be boring – potted plants are the perfect way to bring your space to life!

Hang macrame hangers from the ceiling and fill them with potted stock seedlings, ivy, or pothos for a boho look. Place smaller potted plants on windowsills, counters, or cupboards for a soft pop of color. Herbs can also be potted and placed around the kitchen – and you’ll have ingredients always at hand!

Elevate your potted plant display by creating your own vertical herb wall – it looks simply gorgeous while taking up barely any room in the galley kitchen. Bring some green friends into your space today and enjoy watching your small galley kitchen come alive!

7. Keep It Warm With A Rustic Interior

A rustic small galley kitchen can be a welcoming space with the right touches. With white and wooden cabinets and shelves, you can bring some rustic charm while also providing plenty of storage space. Keeping the wood flooring light will also help to make the room a brighter place to hang out in.

Add some rustic accents, like antique utensils or galvanized pails as decor, and you’ll have plenty to entertain guests in your rustic small galley kitchen.

8. Install Black Fixtures

Bring a touch of modern nostalgia to your home with a small galley kitchen. Create an aesthetic that is at once classic and contemporary by combining sleek black fixtures with a traditional Belfast sink, set atop a dark wood countertop. This timeless combination will provide you with the perfect backdrop to create wonderful meals from the comfort of your own kitchen.

With these elements, your small galley kitchen can feel bold yet cozy at once—a unique space to manifest your creative dreams!

9. Make It Raw For An Industrial Look

Industrial small galley kitchens offer a unique blend of exposed brick walls and spot lights, making them perfect for tapping into a trendy loft apartment vibe. To add the finishing touches of ambiance, consider incorporating some copper fixtures.

A large industrial range is the perfect calling card to make this kitchen stand out from all the rest! Not only will it draw in the eye and make you feel like a top chef, but it will also leave your guests in awe of your creativity and style. Ready for an industrial kitchen adventure? Let this small galley be your gateway!

10. White With A Pop Of Color

A white small galley kitchen is the perfect spot to create culinary inspiration! With white walls, white cabinetry, and white appliances, this space exudes a light and airy atmosphere. A splash of color can be added to the room in interesting ways.

For example, hang a bold red clock on one of the white walls, or swap out an existing window treatment for solid orange window blinds. These subtle touches will bring life to the white kitchen without overwhelming it. Now you can start dreaming about all your future delicious meals!

11. Go For Wooden Countertops

Making use of a small galley kitchen can be an enjoyable experience – if done correctly. To maximize space, wooden countertops are ideal for providing adequate work surfaces without feeling cramped. When it comes to cupboards and cabinets, black or white colors are both sleek and contemporary options for creating the illusion of extra room and preventing the area from looking too cluttered.

A few sprigs of plants or herbs add a touch of green that livens up the entire kitchen, while also being helpful in boosting air quality indoors. Starting out with these enchanting features will no doubt give your galley kitchen true personality!

12. Feel Chic With Terrazzo Vinyl Flooring

A small galley kitchen is a charming space to work with. Even in limited square footage, there are plenty of ways to make the room feel bigger and brighter than it is. Terrazzo flooring could be used to give the room some life and additional character by reflecting light off its multifaceted surface.

To keep the overall aesthetic minimal, white cabinets help open up the space – and pairing it with terrazzo keeps it from feeling too sterile. To soften the look even further, consider adding some potted plants for greenery. A small galley kitchen can still have a big impact!

13. Add Dramatic Lighting

A small galley kitchen can be transformed into a showstopping space with some creative lighting! Drop lights at different heights give an interesting look and create unique shapes and shadows. For an even more dramatic effect, dark flooring should be used to really make the shadows stand out.

A small galley kitchen can still have all of the style and drama of any large kitchen simply through the use of drop lights and dark flooring, allowing you to get a truly breathtaking result in even the smallest of spaces.

14. Create An Accent With Beveled Tiles

There’s something about a small galley kitchen with countertop walls tiled in beveled tiles that is irrefutably charming. The interior usually painted white reflects the natural light pouring from the windows, adding a sparkle to the countertops as if they were little jewels scattered around.

The mixture of warm wood cabinets and countertops, with the cool glaze from the counter wall, is mesmerizing. Every inch of the kitchen oozes character and personality which adds to its charm and warmth.

Having beveled tile countertop walls create an eclectic aesthetic that can transform any small galley kitchen into a luxurious space.

15. Keep It Bright & White

An all-white galley kitchen often appears crisper and brighter than most kitchens, making it ideal for those looking to recreate that bright atmosphere in their own home. But with a little bit of creative flair and well-thought-out design, this small cozy kitchen can become much more. Installing wooden flooring gives the all-white interior a hint of warmth and richness while plants scattered around can inject some life into this little area.

Not only do plants regulate air quality, but they also add captivating color to the all-white environment. With all these elements combined, you will be able to create a bright small galley kitchen that brings out your personality in all its glory!

Adding a kitchen island is a great way to gain extra counter space and storage space in your kitchen. But perhaps an island’s greatest power is how it invariably becomes the preferred gathering spot for your family and friends.

Depending on what elements you include in your island design, it can serve as a cooking, cleaning, dining, and/or prep space. If you don’t want to commit to a full kitchen remodel, you can still enjoy some of the benefits of an island by purchasing a movable kitchen island. Check out our collection of best kitchen island ideas and you’ll likely find one that’s perfect for your home.

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1. Contemporary Kitchen Island Elegance

A contemporary kitchen benefits from a kitchen island that reflects modern kitchen design’s clean lines and surfaces. A pure white marble or quartz countertop is ideal in a contemporary kitchen, but darker marble or stainless steel work equally well. A grey or other neutral color palette allows your contemporary texture and design to stand out.

Even so, color is definitely at home in contemporary kitchen design. Try a clear glass countertop on a brightly painted minimalist kitchen island. Go with hot pink, bright turquoise, or another favorite color to create a dramatic rectangular kitchen island. A bold metal pendant light fixture completes the look.

2. Choosing the Perfect Countertop

Since counter space is one of the benefits of having a kitchen island, put some serious thought into the type of countertop you choose. Not only does the material matter, the design plays a big part in the overall appearance of your island. Waterfall countertops are currently popular, where the marble or quartz surface “falls” over the corners to extend to the floor in one smooth line.

A cantilevered countertop is one that creates bar seating beneath the surface. It doesn’t have legs supporting it. There may be no additional support required, or it may be supported by corbels or brackets beneath. Marble, granite, or butcher block countertops are good choices when cantilevering is desired.

3. DIY Kitchen Island Inspirations

If you’re a relatively good woodworker, a DIY kitchen island may be a fun project to tackle. When you do it yourself, you can save money by using reclaimed wood or countertops. Hundreds of DIY kitchen island idea plans can be found online, including this one that features an under-counter microwave, seating, storage, and a marble quartz countertop:

A portable kitchen island can also be a good DIY project for a smaller kitchen. This small kitchen island on wheels has a clean, basic style that will fit into any type of home decor:

4. Design Your Island to Complement Your Kitchen

For a cohesive appearance, design your kitchen island ideas around the existing countertops and materials already present in your kitchen. For example, if you have a white marble countertop, put that on the island, too. If you have brass fixtures on the kitchen sink, use brass drawer pulls on your island cabinetry.

This isn’t a hard-and-fast rule, however. Sometimes the best kitchen island ideas are those that completely contrast the rest of the room. Paint your kitchen island an entirely different color from the rest of your cabinetry. Any shade of blue adds a swath of peace and calm to your kitchen, while yellow or red amplify the vibration of a busy home kitchen.

5. Discover Farmhouse Kitchen Island Ideas

A farmhouse kitchen is a great space to include a wood island, especially if it’s covered in white shiplap. Remember that farmhouse design includes lots of white paired with warm wood and dark metal accents. Any combination of these features will result in a great farmhouse kitchen island design.

With farmhouse decor, it’s especially popular to make your island look like a freestanding piece of furniture. Adding short legs to the bottom of your kitchen island is a simple way to achieve this look. A wooden, copper or galvanized steel range hood adds farmhouse style over an island stove.

6. Illuminating Your Island: Lighting Choices

Adequate island lighting is a must, especially if it’s where you most frequently use your knives. Pendant lights are a popular choice over kitchen islands, and can be found in modern, rustic, whimsical, or traditional designs.

Long, narrow chandeliers are another good island lighting option. If your ceilings are low, recessed lighting might be the best way to illuminate your island. If you have a small kitchen or a movable kitchen island, you may not need additional lighting over the island.

7. Extend Your Kitchen Outdoor with Island Design

Outdoor kitchens benefit from islands, too. Counter space may be limited in an outdoor kitchen, making the addition of an island necessary to accomplish serious cooking tasks.

If you only have room on the patio for a dining table or an island, go with the kitchen island. Include a cantilevered surface and use bar stools for seating. Be sure to construct your outdoor island with weatherproofed materials, even if your outdoor kitchen is in a covered location.

8. Add Warmth with Rustic Kitchen Island

Since warm wood finishes are a mainstay of rustic decor, a butcher block island is the perfect kitchen island idea in a rustic space. Extend the island countertop to create a seating area and park rustic barstools beneath it.

Dark marble or granite countertop surfaces may also fit well into a rustic kitchen design. A concrete countertop is ideal if your rustic tastes trend toward an industrial vibe. Mix it up by incorporating concrete, stainless steel, and butcher block surfaces on your island.

9. Design the Perfect Seating Arrangement for Your Island

If you have a small kitchen that has no room for a breakfast nook or dining table, island seating can be a great alternative. Choose a bar stool design that works well with your decor and enjoy comfortable, casual dining.

Upholstered island seats are more comfortable than hard surfaces, but you should spray them with fabric protectant for easier cleaning. Choose a fabric that ties together the different colors and overall style your kitchen represents.

10. Incorporate a Sink into Your Kitchen Island

If your kitchen space allows it, a kitchen island can be a great place to include a sink. Whether it’s your main kitchen sink, an apron-front farmhouse sink, or a small secondary sink, it will multiply your island’s usefulness.

Of course, installing new plumbing will greatly increase the cost of adding a new kitchen island. However, you may find the expense well worth it in exchange for more useful work space. A secondary sink is also a great spot to introduce copper or another unique finish into your kitchen design.

11. Maximize Storage with Kitchen Islands

A need for more storage is a common reason homeowners add an island to their kitchen floor plan. Include as many shelves, drawers, and cabinets as the space allows. If extra storage space is your primary reason for adding a kitchen island, don’t waste space by relocating a microwave or other appliance there.

Hang a decorative pot rack over your island to further expand its storage options. A wine rack is a nice addition to the end of a permanent kitchen island. Have an electrician add outlets to your island so you can use your mixer and other small appliances in the same area they’re stored.

12. Embrace the Beauty of Traditional Kitchen Islands

Although kitchen islands haven’t always been part of American kitchen design, they still work well in traditional home interiors. The colors and details you use are what gives your island a traditional look and makes it seem that it was included in the original construction.

Marble, granite, and other natural stone surfaces are traditional countertop materials. If you love to bake, marble is a must even if you don’t want it covering the entire countertop. Marble stays cool longer than other materials, making it the perfect counter space surface for rolling out dough or fondant.