This was a complete kitchen renovation. Original, golden oak cabinets were replaced with an open, airy, pale gray Shaker style cabinet. Subway tile in carrara marble keeps the palette soft, while letting the signature Big Chill range stand out. Photo: Jennifer Hughes

Lemar Kitchen

WM FERDINAND DESIGN + BUILD

Designer: William Ferdinand— General Contractor: William Ferdinand— Photography: James Caulfield
Inspiration for a small contemporary galley light wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Chicago with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, brown backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Modern Ranch Home

Destination Eichler, LLC

John Shum
Open concept kitchen - small 1950s l-shaped porcelain tile and white floor open concept kitchen idea in San Francisco with medium tone wood cabinets, soapstone countertops, multicolored backsplash, ceramic backsplash, a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, stainless steel appliances and an island

Libertyville First Floor Renovation

Great Rooms Building Group

Inspiration for a small transitional u-shaped light wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen remodel in Chicago with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula and white countertops

Madison Avenue Minimal

Gregory Hitchcock Design

This is a high floor condo with amazing 180 degree views of central park and beyond. white lacquer cabinets with Miele appliances. White Caeserstone countertops with waterfall ends. Another nice detail is, no hood. there is a retractable downdraft hood behind the cooktop. You can see the architectural grille in the toe kick. This is to allow for the vent to recirculate back into the room.

E 85th Street, New York, NY

User

Example of a small transitional galley dark wood floor eat-in kitchen design in New York with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, quartz countertops, metallic backsplash and paneled appliances

Modern Kitchen Remodel | Lansdale, PA

Ryann Reed Design Build

Kitchen featuring white shaker cabinets, blue glass tile, stainless steel appliances, waterproof luxury vinyl tile flooring, and quartz countertops.
Small minimalist l-shaped vinyl floor and beige floor enclosed kitchen photo in Philadelphia with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, blue backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Wedgwood Kitchen Remodel

Kimberlee Gorsline

When my clients purchased this charming 1940's home in the Seattle neighborhood of Wedgwood, they were amazed by how intact the original kitchen was. It was like a perfect time capsule. The color palette was avocado green and buttercream yellow. The highlights were an original retro built-in banquette and vintage oven! The challenge we faced (besides the awesome but dated finishes) was the closed floor plan typical in this era of homes and the lack of storage. So, we opened the kitchen to the adjacent dining and living room, bringing it up to speed with modern-day living. In opening it up, we also walled off a doorway that went from the kitchen to the hallway, but it was completely unnecessary and allowed us to gain an entire wall of cabinets that didn't exist previously. For the finishes, we kept it classic with mostly gray and white but brought in a little flare and interest with the herringbone backsplash and brushed brass finishes because who doesn't love a little gold? Also, we added color with the finishing details like the rug and countertop decor because those things are a great way to add interest and warmth to a space and can be easily changed when it's time for a fresh new look.

Shadelands

Leegwater Building & Development

Example of a small transitional galley medium tone wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen design in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula, white countertops and gray cabinets

Indigo Tiny Home

Driftwood Homes USA

Tom Jenkins
Small transitional single-wall dark wood floor kitchen photo in Atlanta with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, wood countertops, stainless steel appliances and no island

Wilmette Kitchen

Ryder Homes LLC

Small transitional medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen photo in Chicago with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, quartzite countertops, gray backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, no island and white countertops

Lake Shore Drive Kitchen

Halvorsen Design

Example of a small classic galley dark wood floor enclosed kitchen design in Chicago with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and no island

Kitchen Range Wall - Modern Glam Apartment Renovation

Paula McDonald Design Build & Interiors

Small kitchens are such a challenge, but sometimes those special space dilemmas create the opportunity for an even more optimal solution! The original walls were very thin at 3" in this modern kitchen renovation. You cannot put plumbing in that! So we built out the kitchen wall out in order to run wires and pipes behind the wall. Then we used gem-like green glass mosaic tile to tie it in visually. It's a perfect pairing with Okite's beautiful Frosty Carrara Quartz Countertop and our custom Shaker style island and cabinets in a white satin finish. Stainless steel appliances finish off this urban dream kitchen, like the the Liebherr Refrigerator, but it required a 10 inch clearance to open the door. The answer was to create a great custom pantry next to it. In the end it is a much better use of space! In order to accommodate plumbing on the window side wall, we designed the pantry door to open over the window sill.

The Fancy Green Kitchen

Fraley and Company

Seating for 2 allows for company in the kitchen, as well as a functional perch while meal prepping.
Small elegant l-shaped light wood floor eat-in kitchen photo in Portland with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, quartzite countertops, stone slab backsplash, stainless steel appliances and no island

NE Portland Bungalow Remodel

Right Arm Construction

Small transitional galley light wood floor and beige floor enclosed kitchen photo in Portland with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz countertops, green backsplash, subway tile backsplash, paneled appliances, no island and white countertops

An Elegantly Functional Kitchen in Durham

emma delon

Maximizing the functionality of this space, and coordinating the new kitchen with the beautiful remodel completed previously by the client were the two most important aspects of this project. The existing spaces are elegantly decorated with an open plan, dark hardwood floors, and natural stone accents. The new, lighter, more open kitchen flows beautifully into the client’s existing dining room space. Satin nickel hardware blends with the stainless steel appliances and matches the satin nickel details throughout the home. The fully integrated refrigerator next to the narrow pull-out pantry cabinet, take up less visual weight than a traditional stainless steel appliance and the two combine to provide fantastic storage. The glass cabinet doors and decorative lighting beautifully highlight the client’s glassware and dishes. Finished with white subway tile, Dreamy Marfil quartz countertops, and a warm natural wood blind; the space warm, inviting, elegant, and extremely functional. copyright 2013 marilyn peryer photography

Aloha + Ohayo House

Cathie Hong Interiors

We were tasked with transforming a modest ranch home into a house full of personality that reflected the owner's Asian roots and Hawaiian upbringing.

Sleek Condo

American Cabinet Suppliers

Kitchen - small modern u-shaped light wood floor and gray floor kitchen idea in Seattle with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, a single-bowl sink and a peninsula

White Kitchen Collection By Darash

By Darash - Kitchen Cabinets, Vanities & Closets

Enclosed kitchen - small modern u-shaped porcelain tile and white floor enclosed kitchen idea in Austin with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stone tile backsplash, paneled appliances, an island and white countertops

Cosmopolitan Condo

Black Lacquer Design

Mary Costa
Example of a small trendy kitchen design in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, stainless steel appliances and a peninsula

Small Kitchen Ideas & Designs

At their worst, small kitchens can be a headache for home cooks. But with a little organization and creativity, they can be efficient, delightful spaces. Whether you need small kitchen flooring or remodeling ideas or simply a bit of design inspiration, you’ll find plenty of photos here to guide your project. As you browse small kitchen ideas, take note of the sorts of storage tricks and decor ideas that you find inspiring — and perhaps you’ll be able to create quite a lot out of your little space.

1. Make Use of Wall Space and Smart Organizers

One of the biggest challenges of a small kitchen is fitting all of your cooking tools within limited cupboard space. On top of that, you’ll want to avoid keeping too many appliances on your already small counters. While you browse small kitchen ideas for storage, consider how other kitchens use wall space and efficient vertical organization to save space. To work with a small kitchen pantry, make use of cabinet organizers. Magnetic knife racks, pegboards for hanging pans and portable kitchen islands are all useful tools for organizing a small kitchen. In the best small kitchens, cooking should feel easy and convenient, with all of your tools easily reachable and ready to go.

2. Go Bold With One or Two Decorative Accents

In compact spaces, any stylistic choices you make will have a big impact. If you’re looking for small kitchen decor ideas, pay attention to the colors, materials and patterns that other small kitchens use to their benefit. One of the biggest upsides of taking on a small kitchen remodel is that your material costs will be much lower than for larger spaces. Depending on your budget, this may mean you can splurge on luxurious materials like quartz or granite, or funnel your money towards a high-end stovetop. (Just because you have a tiny kitchen doesn’t mean your food has to be any less gourmet!) When you’re decorating a small kitchen, it can be wise to focus on one or two accents that will guide the rest of the room. Add a vibrant plant to a small modern kitchen, or a colorful rug to a more traditional space. Bold backsplashes can also go a long way in a little kitchen.

3. Be Creative With Your Space

Whether you’re looking for small kitchen ideas for apartments or starting from scratch with a remodel, there are a number of ways to handle tight floor plans. From galley kitchens to L-shaped spaces, the features you decide to include and forego are key. If you’re looking for small kitchen ideas with an island, consider using a roll-away version that can be pushed to the side when not in use. For apartment dwellers in need of a small kitchen table, consider a fold-out table connected to the wall, or a round table placed in the corner. When changing the layout of your kitchen simply isn’t an option, there are also small updates you can make so the space works for you. If you’re looking for small kitchen space ideas on a budget, consider repurposing your countertop as a breakfast bar or adding standing shelves where needed.

Whether you want inspiration for planning a small kitchen renovation or are building a designer kitchen from scratch, Houzz has 68,111 images from the best designers, decorators, and architects in the country, including Great Rooms Building Group and Fraley and Company. Look through kitchen pictures in different colors and styles and when you find a small kitchen design that inspires you, save it to an Ideabook or contact the Pro who made it happen to see what kind of design ideas they have for your home. Explore the beautiful small kitchen photo gallery and find out exactly why Houzz is the best experience for home renovation and design.