Small Kitchen Diner Decorating Ideas

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Our small kitchen ideas are perfect for those not blessed with a large and sociable kitchen-diner. Sure, you might not have space for a kitchen island, range cooker and dining table to cram guests around. But diminutive doesn't have to mean drab.

There's a wealth of clever kitchen ideas to make your scheme feel spacious.

Storage is one of the most important elements in a small kitchen. By maximising every spare inch, reorganising areas that don't work as hard as they should and adding extra solutions where necessary, you can turn a tiny room into a Tardis. More and more, kitchen design looks to benefit from minimal clutter and maximum efficiency.

Start by thinking about how you use your kitchen and where everything needs to be as this will help you decide what sort of storage you require. For example, it's best to store items by how often they're used, so make sure that everyday dishes are on an easy-to-reach lower shelf with special-occasion pieces higher up.

Small kitchen ideas

1. Save space with a sliding door

A small blue kitchen with sliding glass door and a wooden dining table

Image credit: Future Plc/ Colin Poole

In a small kitchen where space is tight you may be tempted to remove the door to avoid the feeling of claustrophobia. But a door to a kitchen is a handy tool to be able to contain the smells of cooking from filling the rest of the house.

Consider sliding doors, which are the ultimate space-saving room divider.

In this small dining room idea, the homeowner has used a sliding door that takes up zero space, yet provides separation from the kitchen beyond. Even when it is pulled closed, the reinforced glass design means it doesn't act as a solid barrier from one space to the next.

2. Be mindful of dimensions

A small grey galley kitchen with a narrow island and glass bifold doors

Image credit: Tom Howley, Hartford kitchen in Chicory, from £20,000

'Kitchens need to be as functional as they are beautiful,' says Tom Howley, design director at Tom Howley bespoke kitchens. 'If you take a standard galley kitchen to have a 6ft width and a 12ft length, island and peninsula counters are rarely an option in this sort of space. The importance of walkway space should be a key consideration.'

'When designing your layout, always leave a metre of walkway space either one or two sides of your worktop, island, or peninsula counter. This is a functionally and aesthetically effective dimension to keep in mind.'

3. Make more space with collapsable furniture

A small dining room with a wooden table and white cupboards

Image credit: Norden table, £150, Ikea

Choose collapsable furniture to allow the space freedom in the purpose. This modern kitchen includes an extendable table, which provides an island of sorts. Then, when needed, it extends out to form a sizeable dining table for meal times.

The table could even provide a valuable desk space for working from home. Due to the nature of collapsable furniture the space isn't in any way compromised by the need for a table. It's a highly efficient way to make the space work to its full potential.

4. Get creative with corners

A small white kitchen with corner cupboards and glasses rack next to an orange fridge

Image credit: Future Publishing Plc/ Fiona Walker-Arnott

A tiny kitchen still has to cater for even the most basic of food prep and serving, which requires a lot of 'stuff'. This means it is key to use every last bit of available space by being savvy with the design solutions.

Ensure the units are as tall as physically possible to elongate the space. Making the most of magic corners and other clever mechanisms will also help use every millimetre of space, such as this under cupboard glass rack.

Hanging glasses below the cupboards is a clever kitchen storage idea. It not only uses up space that is otherwise redundant, but more importantly it frees up storage space inside the cabinets.

5. Utilise wall space to create a compact design

A navy kitchen with a narrow island with a white worktop and light flooring

Image credit: Kitchen Makers

When space is at a premium, clever compact kitchen design comes to the rescue. 'When presented with a smaller space it is essential that the layout is carefully considered to make sure every inch of the kitchen is utilised,' says Ben Burbidge, managing director at Kitchen Makers.

'Creating a bank of cabinetry along one wall is a great way of streamlining and opening up the space. Tall wall units are particularly suited to narrow, galley style kitchens, as using this space ensures the area feels less cramped than if filled with larder style dressers.'

6. Pay attention to details

A white Scandi kitchen with wooden worktops

Image credit: David Giles

If you're designing a new kitchen to make your small space more useable, don't overlook the finer details. 'Small details, such as the use of materials, is key when designing a small kitchen,' says Tom Howley. 'Lighter wood finishes and paint colours work well to expand the perceived space of your kitchen.'

'However, whites and creams are less popular at the moment, so a great compromise is a smoky grey scheme, using a smoked oak wood paired with a matte grey paint. Pair these tones with very light coloured countertops, and your kitchen will look spacious and airy.'

7. Open up the space with glass

Neutral kitchen with glass fronted cabinets

Whether planning a new kitchen or carrying out a makeover on existing cabinets, glass is a key material to enhance a small space. 'If you do decide on floor to ceiling cabinets, these should only be fitted with glass door display cabinets. This will open up the space in a way that opaque cabinetry will not in a smaller kitchen,' explains designer Tom Howley.

8. Use fresh mint green to promote calm

Small kitchen with mint green kitchen with island and bar stools

Image credit: Dulux

Kitchens of all sizes can feel chaotic, but by their very nature, small kitchens are particularly vulnerable. Tackle this head on by painting your small kitchen in a colour that promotes rest and relaxation. Green is the ultimate tone when it comes to making us feel collected and calm, due to its abundance in nature.

Mix in different tones in cabinetry, walls and accessories as shown in the green kitchen above. That layering will mimic the green of a garden, woodland or forest glade, exaggerating the effect.

9. Create an optical illusion using colour

A grey painted kitchen with a wooden stool and white tiles

Image credit: Dulux

Painting kitchen cabinets is having a resurgence, as homeowners look for affordable ways to revamp existing kitchens, rather than the expensive task of replacing.

This budget kitchen idea is a great way to revive the surfaces and make your space look brand new with a simple splash of colour. In small spaces, a new colour scheme can do wonders to help the space feel that little bit bigger too.

A neutral on the surrounding walls, such as Dulux's 'Timeless' provides a fresh airy feel for the space. While a stronger, more dominant colour such as Dulux's 'Urban Obsession' can give presence to the kitchen cabinetry. By painting all the base units in a darker shade the room will feel divided, creating the optical illusion of a greater sense of space between floor and ceiling.

10. Opt for a crisp colour scheme

An eggshell blue kitchen with a patterned splashback and green plants

Image credit: Ti-Media.com

Make a small kitchen feel light and airy by opting for a neutral kitchen colour scheme. However, neutral doesn't just mean beige or cream kitchens. Pair white patterned tiles and marble worktops with duck egg blue kitchen cabinets for a crisp colour scheme that will bounce light around, making the kitchen feel spacious.

11. Invest in flexible storage

A close up shot of white kitchen wall shelving with crockery and utensils

Image credit: String

In a small kitchen you need to think creatively when it comes to storage. Instead of investing in ordinary shelves, this wire panel shelving from string maximises storage by adapting to your kitchen's needs.

Add in or take away shelves, hang glasses upside down and even introduce a wine rack. When space is at a premium you need to make sure every inch counts.

12. Distract the eye with bold flooring

A small pale green kitchen with copper accents and white metro tiles

Image credit: Jonathan Jones

In a small kitchen, go all-out with bold tiling. A strong pattern on the floor distracts the eye and makes the room feel bigger. Every inch of this kitchen has been designed to make the most of the small space from the slimline appliances to the hanging pot plant.

Hanging the copper planter is a great way to add some life and decoration in the kitchen without cluttering work surfaces.

13. Hide appliances in a breakfast cupboard

A close up shot of a tea and coffee station with decorative tins

Image credit: Colin Poole

Keep surfaces from looking cluttered by tucking the toaster, kettle and coffee machine away in a breakfast cupboard. As soon as you open the cupboard your favourite gadget is sat ready to use. This is a nifty trick for making use of awkward corners and making sure that none of your kitchen tech gets lost at the back of a cabinet.

14. Swap an extractor hood for a combined extractor induction hob

An induction hob with a whit tiled splashback and grey drawers

Image credit: IKEA

This combined induction extractor hob is a great space saver in a small kitchen. It means you can swap a bulky extractor hood above the hob in favour of extra storage. If you don't require an extra cupboard or set of shelves, consider leaving the area above the hob empty to give the illusion of a more spacious kitchen.

Buy now: FÖRDELAKTIG Induction hob/integrated extractor, £1,150, IKEA

15. Swap a table for a kitchen island

A small kitchen island with exposed brick walls painted white

Image credit: Lizzie Orme

Adding an island might sound like a terrible idea in a small kitchen. However, in a long thin kitchen, a well-thought-out kitchen island idea can be the perfect way to add in extra storage and surface space, whilst keeping the kitchen a sociable space.

Choose an island like the one above with plenty of storage space underneath for stowing away vegetables and linens. A slight overhang from the counter top ensures that the four bar stools fit easily under the island, avoiding any potential trip hazards.

16. Paint kitchen cupboards to match the walls

A small white kitchen with wooden ceiling beams and pendant lights

Image credit: David Parmiter

Create the illusion of more space in a small kitchen by painting the cupboards in the same colour as the walls. The ultimate white kitchen idea, it creates a light and airy space where the units blend into the kitchen walls.

In this rustic kitchen, every spare inch of space is crammed with storage but a uniform wash of white paint keeps the space looking neat and spacious.

17. Turn an awkward corner into clever storage

A close up shot of clever cupboard storage with pots and pans

Image credit: David Parmiter

A small kitchen requires you to make use of every inch of storage space you have. If you have a small boxy kitchen, rather than cramming all your pots and pans into a deep cupboard that is going to become a nightmare when you need to find a particular frying pan, consider swapping a cupboard for a drawer.

This clever pullout drawer maximises space and makes finding your favourite frying pan easy-peasy.

18. Consider compact containers

A close up shot of open grey shelving in a kitchen

Image credit: Simon Scarboro

Put a windowsill, shelf or recess to work by adding a selection of strong baskets and use to stow bottles, packets or even fresh herbs in pots. Baskets are also a great way to store condiments, meaning you can take them all to the dining table in one trip.

This is also an easy way to incorporate accessories inspired by rustic farmhouses or shabby chic decorating ideas, such as vintage canisters or mason jars.

19. Find a new home for the washing machine

A small cupboard with a washing machine inside

Image credit: Caroline Arber

You may think the kitchen is the obvious place to put a washing machine. But in continental Europe, you're more likely to find it in a bathroom. So if you're stuck for space, it might be worth relocating your laundry appliances and incorporating them into your bathroom ideas. If your bathroom is just as teeny, you might be able to squeeze it in a cupboard under the stairs.

Alternatively, if you have a separate washer and dryer, you could consider keeping them in the kitchen but stacking them one on top of the other in an old larder cupboard. It hides them out of sight, saves space and helps streamline laundry days.

20. Supersize the sink

A white sink with a black tap and grey metro wall tiles

Image credit: Georgia Burns

Investing in the best dishwasher is tempting, but your small kitchen might not have space for one. So, it's worth finding room for a double sink instead. Keep one bowl for washing and one bowl for dirty dishes. That way you'll have somewhere to stack mucky prep kit and plates out of sight, and without cluttering up the work surface.

21. Turn every corner into a storage space

A marble effect dining table next to open shelving and below two lamps

Image credit: David Parmiter

If you don't have the budget for a kitchen extension, optimise the space you already have instead. Identify places where there's wasted space, such as the gaps between shelves, at the back of cupboards, below the sink, unused corners and windowsills. Stack wherever you can and have a clear out of kitchenware that's infrequently used or only has one purpose, so you have less to store.

Think also about relocating items that aren't in everyday use, but you don't want to throw out, to elsewhere in your home. Next, think about the space on your walls and doors. Try adding a utensil rail or magnetic knife board, hooks on the sides of your cupboards or racks hung over a door. Extra shelves in corners or across alcoves will also come in handy.

22. Add storage helpers

A colourful kitchen with open shelving and a small freestanding red island

Image credit: Dan Duchars

Your cupboards and drawers are your biggest storage resource but it's likely that they're not being used fully. Internal storage solutions will make the most of them, so think about retrofitting wire racks that pull out of corners or slim cupboards, some plinth drawers, or using drawer dividers for utensils, spices, pans or plates.

The colourful kitchen wall idea shown above uses open shelving to display and store crockery. You can boost your storage further with a mobile solution, such as a trolley or butcher's block on castors, or think about popping baskets or containers on top of your wall cupboards. Just keep a sturdy stool nearby so you can reach them.

23. Clear away the clutter in small kitchens

Grey open shelving with crockery and two vases of flowers

Image credit: David Brittain

Wall cabinets can really encroach on space, so consider doing away with yours. Open kitchen shelving can make a huge impact in a small kitchen, creating an open and airy feel. Just ensure you limit the amount of shelves you use, and what you keep on them.

24. Tidy your work surface

A light kitchen worktop with a black toaster and a bread basket

Image credit: Future PLC/ Lizzie Orme

If there are too many items cluttering up the worktops, consider clever solutions like wall-mounted magnetic knife strips, rails to hang utensils, pans, mugs, spice jars and cutlery bins.

Also think about what you need to have to hand every day, such as chopping boards, wooden spoons, washing-up liquid, and what can be stored away until needed. Look for genius kitchen appliance layout ideas to save even more space.

25. Keep your kitchen scheme simple

A small white kitchen with grey flooring and a tall round table

Image credit: Colin Poole

Nothing makes a room seem larger like simple white walls, so why not take it further with sleek, contemporary details that open up the space.

Light, reflective materials and minimal designs are your friends in a small kitchen, so consider white or frosted glass cabinet doors, white stone or composite, or stainless-steel worktops, and white splashback tiling.

26. Look to portable storage

A kitchen with grey cupboards, red lamps and wooden details

Image credit: Simon Whitmore

Consider a kitchen trolley on casters, which provides an additional prep surface when you need it, tucks away when you don't and also offers extra storage for cookery books, pots and pans. You can even use it as a handy food and drinks trolley when you have guests.

27. Don't let space go to waste

A white kitchen with a large window and a narrow island with a yellow stool

Image credit: Colin Poole

Not every kitchen will have room, but if your heart is set on having an island or peninsula, consider a slimline design. The central workstation shown here may be small, but it provides extra storage space and a useful worktop for food preparation.

28. Neaten up a compact kitchen

A small U-shaped white kitchen with a hanging green plant

Image credit: Lizzie Orme

Not every home is blessed with a vast open-plan kitchen but, if your room is on the small side, there's plenty to feel positive about. For a start, it's easy to keep everything to hand, and you'll find a wealth of storage ideas to get the very best out of your space. To avoid cluttering the worktops, plenty of cupboards have been incorporated into this kitchen design.

Opt for handleless designs for a sleek, streamlined appearance. Don't overdo the materials in a small space. This compact U-shaped kitchen idea features a maximum of three different materials, all in muted colourways.

29. Install floor-to-ceiling cabinetry

A white kitchen with a narrow island, pendant lamps and two bar stools

Image credit: Barbara Egan

Think vertically by continuing your cabinets up to the ceiling but plan carefully to ensure the room feels as open as possible. Store less frequently used items in high cupboards. Add a breakfast bar if you can and smart kitchen lighting ideas like the one shown above.

The amount of storage and workspace it provides makes great use of the footprint and will ensure your kitchen is more sociable.

How do I plan a small kitchen?

As with any kitchen, large or small, you need to think about the journey. How do you use the space? There's a triangle of use within every kitchen, the journey made from fridge to sink to oven – the key elements that need to be considered. Plan your layout around the best way to use the floorspace. Look to use vertical solutions to make the most of every storage space available.

What is the best layout for a small kitchen?

Ben Burbidge, at Kitchen Makers says small kitchens needn't compromise on dream layouts. 'Don't be afraid to include an island or breakfast bar but try not to make the overall dimensions too big, as it may restrict movement around the kitchen. Opting for an open or floating island will keep all areas accessible and provide additional seating opportunities. The area under the island's worktop can offer ample space for storage and kitchen.'

What is the best colour for a small kitchen?

Light is the greatest tool to help a small space feel bigger, brightening the space by bouncing light into shadows and lifting the entire room. Therefore white is a great option. A staple for small spaces, pure brilliant white is devoid of all pigment. This means it reflects back nearly all light that hits it. Conversely, the darker the colour, the more light it absorbs.

Help your chosen colour go even further in a small kitchen by painting the cupboards in the same colour as the walls. An allover colour scheme helps to keep the look light and airy by seamlessly blending the cabinets into the kitchen walls.

Will you be using any of these small kitchen ideas to create your dream space?