56 Small Kitchen Ideas With Big Style

Small kitchens may be short on square footage, but they don’t have to skimp on style. From clever storage solutions and hardworking layouts to bold colors, statement lighting and space-enhancing design tricks, these small kitchen ideas will help you turn a compact space into one of the most stylish rooms in the house.

Case in point: This 1930s bungalow kitchen that's packed with storage — and charm. The designers at Copper Sky Design + Remodel were tasked with creating an updated and stylish space that also had plenty of room for storage and modern amenities. To make it happen, they installed floor-to-ceiling cabinetry with a rolling library ladder for easy access. Read on for more stylish and practical ideas to upgrade your tiny kitchen.

Designers Jenny and Dave Marrs replaced an obstructive vertical beam with a modern, exposed ceiling beam to give this small kitchen better flow. The result is a space that feels airy and open, even though the limited floor space is filled with a wood island and a dining table.

Designer Barbie Palomino squeezed a sweet corner dining area at one end of this galley kitchen. The burnt orange banquette provides a cozy spot for quick meals and extends the cabinets' striking color throughout the space.

One of the pros of having a small kitchen: It doesn't cost as much to use high-end finishes. This kitchen's beautiful marbled backsplash immediately catches the eye and elevates the whole space. In a larger kitchen with more area to cover, you may need to consider a most cost-effective (but still beautiful) option like ceramic tile.

This cottage kitchen has a small footprint, but every inch is maxed out on charm. Eggplant-colored cabinets and millwork, an Old World-inspired range and furniture-style wood island match the home's cottage roots and make the space feel cozy and curated.

This adorable kitchen doesn't sacrifice style due to its small size. A stunning marble counter and subtle gray backsplash joins white Shaker-style cabinetry and black stainless steel appliances. The range hood surround is painted in the wall color — a delicate pink — a so it disappears into the background.

There's no formal dining room in this petite cottage, so designer Kate Marker tucked a cushy banquette and a tulip table into this sunny nook off the kitchen. The deep teal hue contrasts with the peach, retro-style fridge giving the space playful personality, too.

If you think you can't have a luxury cooking space in a galley kitchen, think again. This charming galley design features a full set of high-end stainless steel appliances, and it even has warming drawers built into the cabinetry. The butterfly-print wallpaper from Cole & Son brings a touch of whimsy to the space.

A palette of teal and lime green makes this petite kitchen feel larger than life. An oversized midcentury-inspired light fixture brightens the whole space, while a pair of acrylic stools provide seating without adding visual clutter. Take a cue from this loft space, and never let square footage limit your color scheme or creativity.

A hanging rack is a clever — and attractive — way to store pots and pans when you're short on cabinet space. This kitchen brings additional visual interest via its checkerboard floor, a nice contrast with the all-white cabinets and countertops.

When Jasmine Roth designed the kitchen in this California cabin, she maxed out the rustic elements to tie in with the mountain locale. Natural hickory cabinets are the star of this compact cook space, but the stone veneer walls and quartzite counters are just as stunning.

The formerly all-white galley kitchen used to be cramped and uninspiring. Pink cabinets brightened the space right up, and graphic porcelain tiles add balance. Open shelves make the tight spot feel even more airy.

If you have a small house, not just a small kitchen, it's important to think about giving each space multiple uses. The team at Terracotta Design Build added a small but functional desk area to one end of this galley kitchen. It's the ideal spot to jot down grocery lists, make budgets or send emails.

This petite, carriage house kitchen was lacking in architectural details (and floor space), so designer Shannon Roberts made up for it with color and pattern everywhere you look. Blue hollyhock wallpaper from Schumacher coats the small space in cottage charm, and sky blue cabinetry gives the room a playful feel.

To pack in as much storage space as possible while keeping costs down, designer Susannah Watts filled one wall of the kitchen with floor-to-ceiling IKEA cabinetry. The pop of mint on the island base adds loads of charm, along with the eye-catching chandelier from Etsy.

This kitchen isn't huge, but it has tons of personality and functionality. The base of the petite island is Eucalyptus wood, and the designers tucked a cafe table into one corner for casual meals. White paint brightens the compact space, and vibrant details like the zippy pink rug and the gray geometric pattern on the floor add energy. Even the ceiling gets in on the action with an octagon painted bright pink!

This open-plan kitchen epitomizes laid-back, beachy style with a bright backsplash, reclaimed wood ceilings and open shelving. A mirror above the sink reflects light and makes the space look bigger than it is.

In a small kitchen like this one, every inch of countertop and storage space is essential. To make more of both, the peninsula was extended and the soffits removed. White cabinets, backsplash and counters brighten up the look. Extending the peninsula countertop in the small kitchen's makeover allowed for seating.

Make this historic kitchen your muse and opt for white cabinets, walls and subway tile to make a small space feel light and bright. Here, blue-and-white encaustic tile on the floor nods to the home's history and adds a pop of pattern for visual interest.

An island bisects this petite kitchen, dedicating one side to prep and the other side to casual dining and pretty storage. Unified cabinetry integrates the appliances, making the small room feel bigger. The countertop extends well beyond the island's base to make an eating bar, and a counter-height butcher block table offers even more space for mealtime prep.

Despite its size, this small apartment boasts a sophisticated galley kitchen packed with top-of-the-line amenities. Glass-front doors keep the cabinetry from weighing down the space, while a teal runner points to the eclectic living room just beyond the fridge.

The main design goal for this kitchen? Make it feel wide and open. Designers succeeded by removing boundary walls and lightening the palette. A column clad in mirrors does the neat visual trick of making this small condo kitchen appear much larger.

In this townhouse renovation, a more efficient kitchen with updated appliances and wider work surfaces was a must. A Spanish-style tile backsplash does double duty punching up the white cabinets and tricking the eye to make the ceiling look higher.

Designer Lindsay Chambers sought to update a classic kitchen with an industrial-country approach. The chevron patterned backsplash adds drama and depth to the small space, while white and gray cabinets give the room a rural vibe. Wrought iron and reclaimed wood stools offer a spot to sit and eat.

To make maneuvering around this tight kitchen easy as pie, designer Carol Sundstrom set up zones. There's a food storage zone with the refrigerator, a pull-out pantry and beverage fridge. Around the corners is a cleaning zone with the sink and dishwasher. Cooking is centered on one side of the kitchen with the stove and more storage for cooking supplies.

Designer Tyler Karu added bands of bright white paint on the wall so the exposed brick wouldn't overwhelm this teeny-tiny kitchen. She left the middle section natural to preserve the character of this eclectic loft.

To max out the functionality of this small space, designer Joanna Gaines included a custom ladder from the kitchen to the loft area. The ladder is compact and matches the railing of the loft, making it a functional piece of the space's design.

This U-shaped kitchen offers a huge amount of storage below and some white upper cabinets that blend into the wall space. To keep the space clean and sleek, the ventilation hood was tucked behind a false cabinet panel. A thick, site poured concrete counter with waterfall edge was poured on site. Brass pendants and sconces complement the navy blue lower cabinets for that modern feel.

This kitchen is full of fun with its cheeky faux deer head, copper accents and pops of lemon yellow. The smart layout packs in a lot in a little amount of space, with plenty of storage and countertops.

This tiny kitchen is only nine feet wide! Designer Kim Lewis included apartment-sized appliances and a clever folding peninsula to make the most of the available space. Choosing black subway tiles and black paneling on the ceiling give the tight spot plenty of edge.

Designer Gen Sohr kept this small space feeling bright and open by starting with white walls. She installed slender paneling to add texture, while L-shaped cabinets with butcher block counters add storage and prep space. A streamlined island with counter stools provides additional functionality.

To open up the kitchen to the rest of the living area meant losing a wall of cabinets. But the team at Lauren Rubin Architecture added lots of hidden storage to make up for it: A microwave is tucked inside the peninsula, a glass storage cabinet is built into one wall and there is a huge pull-out pantry next to the fridge.

The homeowners wanted a tiny home that didn't feel so tiny, so designers used high pitched ceilings and plenty of windows to make the space feel bigger. A functional kitchen with full sized appliances and a breakfast bar gives the homeowners a space to eat, while the adjoining living room adds entertaining space. For an even larger feeling, the rear wall is constructed of glass panels that can be rolled back to incorporate the outdoor patio into the home's entertaining space.

A muted color palette provides a simple backdrop that allows a boldly patterned wallpaper — an affordable alternative to similar looking cement tile — to pop in this compact kitchen. Oversized light pendants add additional visual interest to the chic space.

This modern cottage kitchen may be tiny, but there's still room for a small island to add much-needed space for meal prep. Painting the base a striking shade of navy makes it a focal point.

Designers painted a built-in hutch black to ground this open-plan kitchen. It smartens up the shelf and helps gives the space a defining identity.

Space is at a premium in this converted barn, so a small eat-in kitchen was added directly under the sleeping loft. Double wall ovens and a stovetop built into the island countertop further maximize the room available.

This kitchen takes an industrial turn, showcasing designer Naomi Stein's fondness for metallics. The island is topped with an oxidized, steel countertop, which will patina over time. Its rough-hewn texture is also a pleasing contrast to the stainless steel refrigerator and brass elements. Naomi discovered the pair of vintage bar stools and painted the legs gold for a finishing metallic touch.

White marble tile beautifully blends the white details with the gray lower cabinets in this small, modern kitchen. Floating shelves fit the sleek style and provide space for dishes and decor. The hardwood floor grounds the bright, cool-toned room.

The vintage feel of this compact kitchen was preserved thanks in large part to the '50s style refrigerator. Mediterranean tiles line the walls, giving the room an earthy feel. Mercury-glass mirrors were added to the upper cabinet doors to brighten up the tiny space.

Designer Jennifer Stoner chose an antique, mirrored tile backsplash with white floating shelves to add dimension to this diminutive kitchen. The silvery tone of the tiles help the stainless steel appliances disappear into the space.

This kitchen performs double duty as a cooking space and dining area. Sleek vintage swivel counter stools provide seating along the counter. Small red details create an accent throughout the room agains the charcoal gray walls and cool-toned design.

This small kitchen maximizes storage by building cabinets that stretch all the way up to the ceiling. The simple wood island provides extra space for prep and a spot to sit and eat.

At under 1,000 square feet, this beach bungalow didn't have much floor space for the kitchen. Bright white paint and vaulted ceilings make the cook space feel larger than it is, while a petite center island adds function.

The layers of neutral colors in this kitchen give the space a polished, sophisticated look. The pair of pendant lights over the sink is a little unusual, but the stylish duo makes the space standout.

Clean lines and touches of rich wood create depth in this small kitchen. Plus, the wood waterfall counter extends the island to create a laid-back dining space.

Sleek white cabinets combine with smooth gray countertops and a chic tile backsplash in this micro house's kitchen. The light hues and clean lines visually expand the space.

Designer Sarah Richardson gave this small yet open kitchen a cheery feeling with pops of sunny yellow. Gray stone floors ground the space.

You can never have too much storage space — especially in the kitchen. While it's true that white makes a small kitchen appear larger, cleverly working in storage like this shallow under-cabinet shelf will make the most of the space you have.

This small kitchen is packed with personality, from the striped subway tile backsplash and metal industrial stools, to the green cabinets.

A vaulted ceiling, clean white walls and a front door with large glass panels help make this small kitchen and living area feel bright and open. White Shaker cabinetry conceals a small refrigerator, full-sized dishwasher, microwave and toaster oven. A farmhouse sink and barn-style pendant lights speak to a modern farmhouse aesthetic — as does the open shelving with beadboard backing.

An all-white color palette makes this small kitchen feel bright, fresh and breezy. Open shelving pairs with a white tile backsplash for a stylish yet timeless design.

The espresso color of this kitchen's cabinetry spills over into the living space through its use in sophisticated bar seating and geometric bookshelf. Details like marble counter top, chic modern faucet and intriguing glass pendant lights create a high-end luxury within the small space.

A custom island is number one on many kitchen renovators’ wishlists, but it doesn’t always fit the budget or the space. Freestanding islands, like this one, perform the same functions, adding prep space and storage, but usually require less floor space and cash. Floral wallpaper adds charm to the contrasting black-and-white palette here.

Chip and Joanna Gaines completely transformed this kitchen by removing the wall to the dining room and creating a more open flow. They decided to keep the original cabinets but to paint them snowy white and add new hardware.