Expert design advice for compact kitchens

Country homes often have low ceilings and small windows, especially in kitchens, and this clever kitchen from British Standard Cupboards uses a few design tricks, including small pendant lights, open shelving, miniature accessories and vibrant whites, to make the room feel brighter and more spacious.

Photo: Bespoke kitchen by British Standard Cupboards

This example is a little hidden money saver. If your kitchen is small and the dimensions are inconvenient, you might have to spend a lot of money on custom built-in storage. But try measuring a freestanding cupboard, vintage sideboard or antique chest of drawers first. You might find one that fits without the added expense of buying something custom made.

Read more: 22 of the best online stores for antique and vintage furniture

Storage, especially hidden storage, is a lifesaver in small kitchens. “Use all the available space to make the most of your kitchen,” says Al. To store cookware and utilize otherwise wasted space, install magnetic strips between the wall and base cabinets. Or add spice racks to the back of cabinet doors and use storage baskets and containers to utilize storage both under the sink and in cupboards.”

Photo: Homebase Country Living Whitstable Kitchen

Curtains are part of a recent resurgence in old-school areas of kitchen design. The classic pantry is back, with pan rails lined with vintage copper pots and pretty, frilly curtains under the sink or unit. Curtains are great for separating rows of cupboards that can look intimidating in small spaces.

Photo: Bespoke kitchen by British Standard

“No matter how small your kitchen is, there's always a way to take advantage of a dedicated pantry – you just have to think vertically,” says Al. “By creating a narrow floor-to-ceiling pantry and adding vertical shelves spaced well apart, you can maximise your storage space. Jars, bottles, bread machines, vases, cereal boxes – you'll have plenty of room for them without taking up too much space in your kitchen.”

Small kitchens always require a lot of planning, but a one-wall kitchen is truly an exercise in ingenuity. This small layout requires a true balance between storage, functionality and flow. It may be tempting to line a one-wall kitchen with cabinets in a row, but that can be intimidating. Open shelving adds a bit of visual variety and adds décor opportunities, which are important elements for a functional space.

Photo: Homebase's House Beautiful Finsbury kitchen

For small kitchens, one of the best solutions is to use butcher block as a makeshift kitchen island. You can buy some really amazing vintage and refurbished pieces, which are incredibly sturdy and durable, suitable for even the most demanding family kitchens.

Read more: Best Kitchen Island Ideas

If your kitchen is narrow in width or length but has a high ceiling, you can highlight it with an impact wall. This can be achieved by using a light colour, but the most practical solution is to use a large tile that covers the entire wall.

Photo: Nina Campbell Tile for Fired Earth

If you have plenty of natural light or a large window, these shutters can become a focal point in a small kitchen. These shutters make a beautiful frame even if you don't use them, and the seating underneath is even more functional, as it's softly finished with cushions rather than ornate upholstery.

Read more: How to increase natural light in your kitchen

“We need to make our homes feel bigger, lighter and brighter, and a white kitchen achieves this perfectly – they invigorate any space, impart a transformative aesthetic, master the art of illusion and make a small room feel much larger,” says Tom Howley, design director at the eponymous kitchen company.

Photo: Plain English custom kitchen

It's sometimes surprising what you can incorporate into your kitchen cupboards – we love a hidden cat door here, dog bowls can also be placed at the bottom of the cupboard, and incorporating larger appliances like a microwave or coffee maker will free up valuable work surface.

Photo: Neptune's custom kitchen

Gloss or eggshell finish paints are effective at reflecting natural light to make a space appear brighter and larger. This paint isn't suitable for every surface — it's not suitable for walls unless they're clad in wood, like in this gorgeous green Neptune kitchen — but we've seen it used successfully on ceilings, stairs, and floors. It's equally effective when lacquered on all wooden surfaces, including doors, banisters, and kitchen cabinets.

Photo: Wycombe Bar Stools by Neptune

“In a small kitchen space, everything is within reach, making it easy for designers to create an efficient 'golden triangle' of cookware, fridge and sink,” says Tom. “In a parallel kitchen, it's easy to create rows of cupboards and appliances. This layout is appealing because it's approachable, functional, easy to work in, and looks great when paired with beautiful floor-to-ceiling cabinetry.”

Photo: Bespoke kitchen by British Standard

While a dining table is probably not possible in a small kitchen, a casual breakfast nook with a small bistro table is a great alternative, or perhaps some bar stools underneath the worktop. It's not as relaxed as sipping tea and eating toast on the sofa, but it will create a casual feel in your kitchen without the formality of a dining room.

Photo: Custom kitchen by deVOL

Red is a great color to brighten up a small kitchen that doesn't have much natural light. Combining red cabinets or red walls with natural materials like natural wood or stone reduces the risk of the red appearing too bright or gaudy.

Photo: Plain English custom kitchen

Perfect for a really compact kitchen, this lovely window seat gives you extra seating space. The integrated chair only requires the available space, and the great thing is that it allows for extra storage underneath.

Photo: Hillarys House Beautiful Bamboo Blinds

When planning an overhead cabinet layout, it's natural to line up the cabinets with the work surface below them, but doing so can take away valuable storage space. In this example, the cabinets extend beyond the limits of the work surface into space that may otherwise go unused or be merely decorative.

Photo: Bespoke kitchen by British Standard

Ceiling drying racks are becoming increasingly popular and are perfect for small kitchens where floor space is at a premium. We love this natural wood design, which has a vintage and country feel to it rather than being purely functional.

Photo: Quinta Marron Tile for Bert & May

If you go for furniture and appliances that are a little smaller than standard, like tiny shelves, dainty accessories, a cute miniature Aga or even a tiny stool, you won't notice the difference.

Photo: Farrow & Ball Buncher painted wall

While the natural inclination in a small kitchen is to include as much storage as possible, including overhead cabinets, opening up the space at or above eye level can make the space seem larger. Plus, open shelves can hold lots of decorative items that warm up an otherwise drab space.

Photo: Home Base Country Living Artisan White Ceramic Tile