Can’t seem to bring the perfect small apartment kitchen design to life? Here are 13 inspiring small kitchen design ideas that are guaranteed to transform your space!
You might feel like creating your dream kitchen in your small apartment is just impossible. There’s not enough space for you to get creative & experiment with colors, patterns, layout or materials.
But I’m here to tell you that it shouldn’t be this way! With the right resources that are specifically tailored to small spaces, it shouldn’t be a problem to create something magical from what you’ve got!
If you’d like to get to know 13 of the most inspiring small apartment kitchen design ideas out there on all things, color scheme, recommended materials, layouts & furniture placement ideas for a highly decorative space, keep reading!
SMALL APARTMENT KITCHEN DESIGN : HOW TO DO IT RIGHT
01. Use natural materials
Natural materials are the way to go in small spaces! I’m talking rattan, wood, bamboo, seagrass, linen & cotton.
Incorporating these materials into your small kitchen is essential, if you’d love to achieve an airy, cohesive design that makes sure your space is not looking cramped!
So if you can, definitely prioritize wooden cabinets, rattan bar stools & bamboo pendant lights among others for your small apartment kitchen!
02. Work with light colors
When you have constraints on space, it’s super easy to ruin your whole design with the wrong color palette. So if you want the best for yourself, you’ll develop a color scheme full of light colors – neutrals are great too!
A simple set of white cabinets, with a light brown breakfast bar & beige tiles will take you so much further than a harsher color combo!
Why? Simply because if you only with more intense colors for your kitchen design, you’ll more than likely be left with an overcrowded finish that’s only going to make your space look even smaller!
03. Alternate open & closed shelving options
Kitchen cabinets are the most effective ways of adding more storage into your small apartment kitchen design. But if you only work with such closed shelving options, you won’t ever be able to create the perfect kitchen!
If you’d like to keep things looking proportional in your small apartment, try alternating open & closed shelving options! This simple idea will instantly transform an otherwise pretty functional space into a highly aesthetic one!
So don’t hesitate to install some floating shelves between your cabinets! Preferably on multiple levels too! Decorate them nicely with framed printables, your favourite decorative plates, cookbooks & vases, and you’re good to go!
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04. Paint your cabinets a captivating color
I’ve already mentioned the importance of working with light colors. But who said a small space has to be boring? Definitely not me!
If you’re really strategic with the color you choose, painting your kitchen cabinets a different, more captivating color is totally allowed – advised, even!
Silver grey, black, teal, baby blue & pastel greens are all great options that can help you bring a little excitement into your design without doing any damage! Sometimes this slight pop of color is what you need to make your kitchen feel more expansive, so go ahead & paint your cabinets!
05. Glossy accents are made for small kitchens
Reflective surfaces are real game changers in smaller size apartments! If you incorporate them into your kitchen in a very discrete, yet eye-catching way, you’ll be able to create the illusion of a much larger space!
Of course, since natural materials are the ultimate best way to go, you should definitely not consider installing a mirrored backsplash, or getting a set of high gloss cabinets for your kitchen. Let’s forget that here & now!
You’ll want to be very considerate! Focus on creating reflective accents through the details: get a glossy tile backsplash or a shiny peel & stick contact paper for your countertops.
You can achieve the same -if not better- results with these more discrete, elegant ways of creating high-gloss accents!
06. An all-white & wood combo never dissapoints
If there’s one jolly joker for your small apartment kitchen design, it’s the evergreen white-wood combo, that’s for sure!
A set of white kitchen cabinets with a wooden countertop, white & wood bar stools, or an oak breakfast bar have never failed anyone! This light, natural combination will enhance your tiny kitchen like no other combination can!
Hues of white & light colored woods are not only super soothing, but because of their simplicity, they’ll contribute to an airy, expansive space.
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07. Opt for an L-shaped layout
For an effective small kitchen design, you also have to take into account how different layouts can impact the visual & funtional properties of your kitchen.
The one layout you should avoid in small size apartment is undoubtedly a linear one, that features a wall of cabinets & nothing else. That’s just a waste of precious space!
However, an L-shaped layout is highly recommended! Not only because it can divide your areas nicely, helping you establish a structured home, but out of functional considerations as well! Not to mention that very much needed extra workspace they provide you with!
See, when you’re that short on space, it’s not guaranteed that you’ll have a designated dining area. But with an L-shaped layout, this problem never even emerges: you can easily turn that L into a breakfast bar, or use a kitchen island with a fold-out (or pull-out) table! Double win!
08. Illuminate your space well & with style
If you feel like something’s missing from your tiny kitchen to pull together the look, your lighting choices are probably to blame! Regular ceiling lights are so boring, yet nearly all apartments have them.
So if you’d like a little tasteful touch, ditch those basic lights! Opt for glass globe pendant lights, modern sputnik chandeliers, bamboo lamp shades, farmhouse kitchen island lighting & even “black hat” chandeliers!
For proper surface illumination, you’ll also want to install some wall sconces onto your walls, as well as LED light strips to apply under your cabinets.
09. A textured backsplash is a must
It’s always a good idea to add some exciting textures into your home! Unlike colors or patterns, they rarely clash, so you can easily work with a vast array of different materials.
But when it comes to kitchen design, you’ll primarily want to have textures in your kitchen backsplash! Whether it’s stone, concrete, marble, tiles, wood plancks or some rustic brick, you’ll be left with some real eye-candy!
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10. Try patterned flooring
If you’re too afraid to be just a little bold when designing your kitchen, this is your reminder that a small apartment kitchen design doesn’t have to be uneventful!
Instead, bring a little playfulness & excitement into your home through a patterned flooring! Patterned floor tiles can make your kitchen look a thousand times better! And if you go with a colors & shapes that perfectly match the rest of your kitchen, you’ll be able to open up it so nicely!
11. Set up your kitchen next to your windows
Natural light is a key element in designing the perfect small kitchen! Not only because it lets you work more effectively, but also because it’ll make your space feel & seem much airier!
Especially if you have a few reflective surfaces already incorporated! All that light reflecting from your high-gloss surfaces is an instant mood booster & space-enlarger!
So if you can, opt for an arrangement, where your kitchen gets the most windows out of all areas!
12. Use brass to enhance your design
Whenever you have the chance, try to include some brass accents into your tiny kitchen! Switching out your regular faucet, drain stopper, pendant lights or your whole sink to their brass counterparts is such a tiny, yet mighty transformation!
Your new accents will create such an elegant, royal look in probably the most effortless way! And you might already be familiar with the importance of accents in a small space, but if you’re not, just know that accents help draw the eyes in, making your home feel more spacious!
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13. Lenghten your kitchen with a tiled wall
Tiling a whole wall is such a great idea! It extremely easy to do in a renter-friendly way, using peel & stick wallpaper, so your security deposit is not holding you back here!
Since tiles are glossy, reflective surfaces, a tiled wall is going to enlarge your kitchen in a very discrete way. Not only that, but it also lengthens it. So you’ll be feeling like you have the most expansive, yet still proportional home ever!
This post wall all about small apartment kitchen design! Start incorporating these 13 inspiring ideas into your kitchen right now!
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