What are some simple kitchen design ideas I can use?

Keep the layout simple to make the small kitchen appear less cramped. An L-shaped layout is an excellent solution in simple kitchen design as it allows sufficient space for storage, accessibility and movement within the area. When it comes to other alternatives for a tiny kitchen, simple design such as the galley layout, wherein two sets of counters are arranged parallel to each other, or the linear kitchen, which has everything – the stove, sink and the refrigerator – arranged along a single wall work well.

Illumination is an important element for small kitchens as it eliminates shadows and darkness to make the room appear larger. If you have big windows in the kitchen, make the most of the natural light that they invite into the area. When designing a new kitchen, try to incorporate large windows or skylights to keep the space well-lit during the day and supplement with bright LED lighting for the night time.

The golden triangle is a popular technique used by kitchen planners and interior designers when planning a kitchen. It involves the placement of the stove, sink and refrigerator in a triangular layout to maximise the efficiency of work flow in the kitchen. It can be incorporated into any simple kitchen layout.

Consult a professional if you need help with planning where to install your stove, sink and refrigerator.

An open-plan layout is a favourite in small homes as it combines spaces to make them multifunctional and gives them an airier look in the process. Opening out your kitchen to connect it with the living or dining room tricks the eyes into believing that the room is larger than it is. This can be achieved by knocking down one or two interior walls in your home.

Find ideas from these design inspirations for small kitchens.

While open plans are a clever solution for making a small home look more spacious, sometimes the rooms within the area lose their identity as they are merged into a large hall. Instead of using partitions or walls to divide the areas in the tiny space, an ingenuous idea is to create a subtle visual divider by using a different colour scheme in the kitchen.

If you want to create an interesting element in your small home, picking bright appliances, such as a yellow refrigerator or a red oven, is one of the best simple kitchen ideas. It creates a stunning contrast against the light or neutral shades in the rest of the space.

Small spaces tend to feel cramped when they are cluttered. Minimize when it comes to choosing appliances, utensils and other accessories. Essential appliances such as the stove and refrigerator can be chosen in smaller sizes that are perfect for your kitchen. Keep the counters clutter-free to make the room look airy and spacious.

When you want to make your kitchen unique, one of the most effective simple kitchen ideas for small spaces is to brighten up the room with colours and patterns. Instead of boring white or neutral floor and backsplash tiles, choose patterned tiles and match them with similar shades on the cabinets to put together a well-coordinated and memorable kitchen design.

Knobs, handles and even appliances on the countertops interfere with the visual amplitude of a small kitchen as they create breaks in the surface. If you have modern flat-panel cabinets, do away with knobs and handles. Instead, install push and lock mechanisms for operating the cabinet doors. This will keep the cabinet surfaces smooth and make the area seem larger. Another simple kitchen design trick is to hide appliances, such as the refrigerator, washing machine or dishwasher, behind cabinet doors. Smaller appliances can be arranged on customised shelves behind a roll-down shutter door.

Find design ideas from these inspiring options for built-in refrigerators in small kitchens.

You can find solutions for simple kitchen design even if you choose the classic or colonial design style for your home. For kitchens, opting for wood cabinets is an easy way to achieve this, but if you choose a darker shade of wood, make sure that you provide relief by using white or lighter tones on the walls and floors so that the room doesn’t look cramped.

Like we mentioned earlier, choose smaller appliances that don’t occupy too much space in your tiny kitchen. Swap the large side-by-side refrigerator for a slimmer two-door model. Instead of separate stove and oven units, get a range that includes both, so you can optimize the space in the area. Think small for every appliance you get for a tiny kitchen, whether it’s a water purifier or a coffee machine.

You don’t need a large kitchen to have an island counter. In a small kitchen with an open layout, a simple kitchen island can serve as a counter for preparing meals or as a dining table. Depending on your requirements, you can modify this to include a bar or a makeshift study table.

All small rooms benefit from the use of light shades as they bring an airiness to the space, when compared with darker tones, which give a sense that the walls are crowding in. White or other neutral shades such as beige and grey or even pastel tones like powder blue, cream or mint are ideal for simple kitchen design. However, if you have a kitchen that has ample natural light you can also choose trendy modern shades such as midnight blue or charcoal grey. Remember to balance these dark shades with neutral tones so that they don’t overpower the space.

Just because light or neutral shades are the recommended options for small kitchens, it doesn’t mean that you have to stick to them. Infuse brightness into the kitchen with a bold tone on the backsplash tiles or on a few cabinet doors to break the monotony and bring an interesting feature to your simple kitchen design.

The challenge of having a small space is to come up with a simple kitchen design that incorporates all the essential elements and features without making the space look crowded. We recommend that you consult a professional kitchen planner or an interior designer to create the kitchen of your dreams. From advising you about the most suitable layout for your space to helping you choose an effective colour scheme, lighting options, cabinet design and appliances, working with a professional can make the difference between an ordinary kitchen and a stunning one.

This galley-style simple kitchen design is all about straight lines, smooth surfaces and minimalist cabinets. The colour scheme is also neutral, elegant and uncomplicated. The state-of-the-art appliances have their niches, and the false ceiling features bright white lights. But, what steals the show is the sliding glass door that leads to an airy and sunny balcony. It adds much pizzazz to the simple modular kitchen design by bringing in as much natural light as possible. Consult professionals to make this design your own.

Here is another simple modular kitchen design in white and blue. The open kitchen is well-lit and comes with neat, glossy cabinets to accommodate all essentials. The delicately patterned backsplash tiles offer visual interest here. But what we love the most is the neat and slim wooden shelf with boxy planters. Not only does it add a bit of green to the contemporary simple kitchen design, but it also acts as a partition, hinting at privacy.