Designed to see you through it all, your galley kitchen is the ideal homely space for intimate occasions, solo self-care cookouts and those cherished family moments as you’re tending the stove. Despite its size, a galley kitchen can achieve it all.  

Some instantly turn their noses up at the mention of a galley kitchen as it is often thought of as lacking space. Yet, more than often, traditional homes in the early 1900s, made their kitchen space work for their children, spouses and extended families. It truly was an idyllic location for loved ones to gather, share stories and spend quality time with one another. In fact, a galley kitchen is still the perfect space. 

With specialist interior designers and stunning kitchen layouts at our fingertips, there’s really no reason for us to scoff at a galley kitchen. According to Newark kitchen specialists, KNB, there are plenty of tricks to evoke a sense of spaciousness within a small kitchen, including the long and narrow feel of a galley kitchen. Through clever lighting placement, illuminating paint choices and careful design, you can turn your space into a functional area that immediately meets your needs.  

How can you make the most of the space? 

Before we start, it’s worth noting the obvious choice here is to knock down a few walls and create an open-plan space. However, to maintain the character of a galley kitchen, you want to avoid this. Instead, you can be far more creative with your space. Here’s how: 

Let the sunshine in 

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For homes pre-dating the war, some had galley kitchens built on as an extension towards the late 20th Century. For renovators, extending the home to include a smaller kitchen area was much cheaper and simpler than redesigning the entire property. In certain period properties, especially quaint countryside cottages, space is limited. With our needs growing, many kitchens located in the heart of the home have been moved to an extension. As a result, you might see older properties sporting a slanted ceiling too. Introducing a skylight, alongside accompanying windows offers excellent light distribution, which naturally evokes a sense of spaciousness, as well as warmth. 

Of course, newer builds with galley kitchen designs may not have the luxury of a skylight, but that shouldn’t stop you from embracing the sunshine. Placing large windows on your external walls allows light to flow and reduces shadow from the surrounding frame and windowsill. Additionally, if you opted for a panoramic-style window, you’d benefit from glorious views as well as a level of brightness that illudes to spaciousness.  

Keep the design simple 

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It’s easy to get carried away with colours and textures when you have a blank canvas in front of you. With a galley kitchen, you’ll need to logically think about how your existing space can boast functionality. The truth is, behind your cupboard doors, there’s a host of solutions to give you the storage space and the access you need. 

Clean, white cupboards and cabinets are the easiest option when it comes to evoking simple design. However, this can also be paired with a sleek marble countertop surface or a no-handle design. You can also explore the angles your cupboard doors open. For example, to boost space you might consider overhead cabinets opening upwards instead of to the side. 

Choose light-reflective colours 

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There’s no need to just stick to white here, you can easily experiment with various shades of your favourite colours to make something work. Pastel shades, like pastel turquoise or pale yellow, offer a soft beauty to your galley kitchen that perfectly harmonises with any sunlight you allow in. Of course, your chosen colour palette must whole-heartedly reflect your personality and work for you. 

What’s more, using illuminated or light reflective colours guarantees a daytime and warming feeling throughout your galley kitchen. Choose wisely here as these can easily affect your mood, so you’ll want to settle for a palette that makes you feel at home and relaxed in your kitchen space. 

Install a small kitchen island or functional space 

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Even in the smallest of kitchens, you’ll continue to find space. A galley kitchen is typically long and narrow in size, so a conventional kitchen island is not likely to work here. However, at the end of the kitchen, you may find you have a little area that enables you to install something functional like a small island or a seating area. 

Including a benched-seating area could be a great way to enjoy some quality family as you’re tending to the dinner or a convenient place for friends to sit as you prepare entrées. A small kitchen island could also offer you more countertop space, which is great for those who love a spot of baking or cooking for lots of people. 

Consider the remaining wall space 

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If you’re planning to use the exterior walls as a panoramic window, why not consider the space on your interior walls too? Where cabinets or overhead cupboards can’t be placed, you could offer some shelving space, which is great for storing those items you always need. Try tying in this space to match the materials used for your countertop surfaces; this looks exceptional if you’ve selected a contrasting colour scheme such as darks on bronze. 

As an avid cook, you might also have bulky pots that are essential for your well-renowned beef stroganoff, but no cupboards deep enough to house them. More than often, these larger items are stored elsewhere in your house, which clutters up other rooms. That’s where clever shelving and storage can really help you out. Your shelf space can either hold your essential cookery equipment or a few house plants to liven up the room. 

How can you get started? 

Before you consider rearranging your galley kitchen or repainting your cabinets, you’ll need to address any changes with a plan in place. Gather inspiration online, look through different brochures and speak to kitchen design specialists; building a picture of what you want will help you to decide the actions you need to take. With a galley kitchen, your aim is to embrace the space you’ve got and be clever with your decorative choices. Done right, it will be the central hub for your family and ready to collect those memories.