30 Ways to Maximize Space in a Small Kitchen

If your kitchen space is smaller in size, don't worry — we've got 30 ideas that will help you make the most of every square inch. From shelving to seating, the design experts at HGTV have come up with genius small-space hacks.

It doesn’t matter how small your kitchen is — you can always find the space to showcase your art collection. An iconic Slim Aarons print enlivens this glamorous marble-clad kitchen with a flamboyant pop of neon yellow. Incorporate paintings, prints or sculptures throughout your kitchen for a curated space that speaks to your personality.

Skip traditional countertops and install floor-to-ceiling storage cabinets instead. Kerra Michele Huerta installs custom tuxedo-style cabinetry with a chic, built-in alcove in this petite kitchen design. Huerta makes up for lacking counterspace with an impressive waterfall marble island at the center of the room. The spacious island provides ample space for owners to prep and serve meals in the kitchen without sacrificing much-needed storage space to do so.

Follow interior designer Kim Lewis’ lead and install fold-away shelves in your tiny kitchen. Not only do fold-away shelves offer ample open-air storage for everyday essentials, but they tuck away with ease to create an unrestricted workspace in your small room.

Do not underestimate the positive impact a cabinet depth refrigerator will have on your small kitchen design. Cabinet depth fridges are pricey, but worth every penny when working with tight parameters. Not only do these appliances add visual polish, but they open up your kitchen footprint to maximize the space available.

Create the illusion of a larger space by installing a mirrored backsplash in your tiny kitchen. Bonus points if you take a page out of interior designer Sarah Dippold’s book and install your mirror backsplash directly across from a window to reflect natural light into your space.

Visually raise the roof with a strategic stripe placement in your kitchen. Designer Natalie Meyers uses vertical shiplap planks to bring height and grandeur to this narrow galley kitchen. Achieve the same heightened look by incorporating vertical shiplap, millwork or wallpaper in your kitchen design.

Who said small spaces can’t have larger-than-life light fixtures? Crown your small kitchen with a statement-making chandelier or oversized pendant. The juxtaposition brings instant interest to the design and creates a visual focal point sure to earn you plenty of compliments.

When displaying your spoons or spices on the counter is not an option, get creative with storage solutions that provide a home for all those essential products.

Small kitchens are often filled with the wrong lighting, making the space feel dim and enclosed. Using pendant lights on the ceiling and fluorescent lighting below the cabinets will gracefully cast light off the countertops and backsplash, visually expanding the space and uplifting the overall tone and mood.

Keep your modest contemporary or modern kitchen free from visual clutter by forgoing all cabinet hardware. Interior designer Gioi Tran skips cabinet knobs and pulls on these cabinets and the results are dreamy. Best part? You can recreate the look on your cabinets at home without spending a penny.

Small spaces call for statement-making features and floor-to-ceiling tile fits the bill. Give your kitchen a head-turning facelift with classic white subway tile that extends well beyond your backsplash. Not only will the tiles give the space an elevated look, but the horizontally laid tiles will visually expand your walls, making the room appear larger. Pro tip: Lay your subway tiles vertically to make your kitchen ceiling appear taller.

Lacking cabinet storage? Make that your inspiration to create a one-of-a-kind storage setup in your kitchen. Take notes from House of Jade Interiors and flank your range hood with floating shelves to keep your spices and baking ingredients close by while you’re whipping up family meals. Round out your display with cohesive glass jars lining the shelves and a pair of hardwired sconces overhead.

Pack panache into your pint-sized kitchen with prismatic appliances. This coral refrigerator serves as an eye-catching focal point in the design and anchors the space with retro charm. Coral not your color? Get the same look with a mint green fridge, pale pink stove or lacquered turquoise oven. Bonus points if you use all three in the same space.

Forgo a traditional breakfast table and install booth or banquette seating instead. This approach keeps the modest floorplan from becoming crowded and offers the added benefit of stealthy storage. Look for a booth or banquette that comes with hidden drawers or compartments to store table linens and serve ware between meals.

Keep bulky appliances out of sight between use with a built-in appliance garage cabinet. The garage cabinet bridges the gap between the bottom of a traditional upper cabinet and the countertop to create a nook to tuck away your appliances between use. Keeping your mixer, coffee maker and toaster out of sight helps your kitchen look neat and tidy.

Take advantage of your kitchen’s small scale with a slew of splurge-worthy finishes that would be beyond your means in a larger space. Need inspiration? Interior designer Crystal Sinclair delivers in this jaw-dropping luxury design. Movement-rich marble slabs line the lower cabinets and wrap the wall overhead to yield a spectacular display of refinement in this tiny kitchen.

This tiny kitchen gains quite a bit of extra storage space with sky-high cabinets that go all the way up to the ceiling. Even if you're not able to add another row of cabinets, consider using the space on top of your existing cabinetry for extra storage. The mirrors on these cabinet doors also help to make the space feel much larger.

Don't forget the ceiling and floor when planning your space. Small kitchens can really benefit from adding a few extra touches up high or down low. Keep the floor in your design aesthetic by adding a rug or floor covering to provide texture and color. Add dimension to the ceiling with lighting. Besides adding style and personality, it will draw the eye up adding vertical depth. Keep the ceiling white or a light color so the eye will continue moving up.

While extra cabinetry is always a great addition, you can also think a bit smaller — see what we did there? In this kitchen, the addition of two wood floating shelves above the island creates a bit more storage space. This is a great option if you have pretty glassware or dishes to show off, though not such a great idea if you're not super neat (we warned you).

When you're really short on space, you can trick out your tiny kitchen with compact appliances that take up way less room. This cute retro fridge sits snugly under the counter of this small kitchen, allowing additional space for the stove and some lower cabinets. You can find compact refrigerators, stoves, microwaves, dishwashers, microwaves and even washers and dryers.

Make the most of your current cabinets by tacking on open shelving to the exposed side of each end cabinet. This often-overlooked area serves as a stylish spot to store glassware, recipe books, tchotchkes or potted herbs without cluttering up your countertops.

One of the best ways to make your kitchen feels more spacious is by making sure it's well-lit. Avoid dark draperies that will block out natural sunlight and choose plenty of stylish overhead lighting to keep the room feeling bright and open at any hour.

For color, use one neutral hue for the entire space - the cabinets, hardware, appliances, floor coverings. This creates the appearance of a fluid and balanced space that allows the eye to continue to move around the entire space without it feeling heavy.

Hit up your local Container Store or discount store and stock up on some cabinet shelves like these. You can use shelves to strategically double your space in almost every area of your kitchen. They work great here on this open shelving, but you can also use them behind closed doors to increase space for your dishes, glassware, cans of food, or other kitchen essentials. If you have a really tall cabinet, you can even stack them on top of one another.

Tiny kitchens don't often have kitchen islands, but that doesn't mean you can't create the same effect with a handy kitchen cart like this one. If you have enough room, purchase a pre-fab kitchen cart to create much-needed additional storage as well as counter space. Try to find one with wheels so you can easily move it around your house if needed (think buffet space for a holiday dinner or cocktail party).

If you don't have room for a dining room, why not create a dining nook in an unused corner of your kitchen space? This snazzy, tufted dining bench creates a much-needed spot for meals without taking up much space. For added storage space, find a bench that also features storage space under the seats.

Just when you think you don't have any more room in your kitchen for extra shelving, think again. Here's a great example of making the most of the space you have. Open shelving like this doesn't block your view, and adds premium display space without stealing any of the limited counter space. Win-win.

You can also use wall space in your kitchen for extra storage. Adding a magnetic bar, like this, for knife storage allows you to free up counter space and/or drawer space. Wall hooks can work for kitchen towels, oven mitts or even to hang other kitchen tools that might not stick to your magnetic bar.

Even if you don't have room for an island or a kitchen cart, you might have space for some extra storage on another piece of furniture. This cart is out of the way against a wall, but still manages to store bar essentials and other items. Try using a bar cart, small cabinet, or even a petite dresser to store things like linen napkins, serving pieces, or even extra food staples that you might not have room for in your cabinets.