While the expansive realm of elegant kitchen design ideas includes plenty of fabulous galley kitchen ideas, few prospective buyers walk into a dwelling featuring the narrow layout and think: Yay! A galley kitchen! As Lisa Nakamura, cofounder of Spec + Sage interior design firm in Los Angeles, is the first to admit, galley kitchens don’t have the best reputation in the age of open floor plans. But the pint-size spaces, distinguished by their thin footprint and parallel counters, are an inescapable fact of life for plenty of urban dwellers. And they may be getting more popular.
“As we move away from that open concept design and are now giving each room its own due, galley kitchens are a great way to personalize the aesthetic,” says Nakamura. “A galley kitchen can be quite functional as everything you need is close by.” Another bright side: you often don’t have to maneuver around an island. Galley kitchens are also a great way to maximize wall space for cabinet storage, the designer adds.
Ahead, design pros share their tips on how to enhance your galley kitchen, whether you’re doing a full renovation, minor kitchen remodel project, or just trying to clear a little counter space.
How do I maximize space in a galley kitchen?
With some savvy kitchen layout planning and smart storage solutions, you may be surprised by how much you can pack into tight culinary quarters.
“Maximizing space in a galley kitchen is all about intention,” says Laure Nell Interiors principal Laetitia Laurent, an AD PRO Directory member based in Boca Raton, Florida. Laurent advises clients to “think vertically”—for example, consider cabinetry that stretches all the way to the ceiling. Remember that every detail matters, from integrating appliances to choosing finishes that add depth, like contrasting light cabinetry with a darker countertop.
Along those lines, LA-based designer Manuella Moreira, of Manuella Moreira Interiors, advocates for features like a built-in refrigerator and full-wall kitchen pantry with roll-out shelves to “optimize space and maintain a clean, streamlined look.”
However you decide to design your galley kitchen, the key, per Laurent, is making sure everything has a place, so the kitchen feels clean and organized without sacrificing personality or warmth—even if you’re working with tight square footage.
What is the best layout for a galley kitchen?
A functional layout is key in a galley kitchen design. “Typically, the sink and the cooktop or range are on opposite sides to allow for a separation in prep versus cooking zones,” says AD PRO Directory member Sarah Snouffer of Third Street Architecture in Washington, DC. When it comes to refrigerator placement, Snouffer suggests tucking it into a corner to bookend a run of cabinetry.
AD PRO Directory member Dan Mazzarini, principal and creative director at Mazzarini and Co, likes a staggered layout, “so there’s a countertop wherever you turn,” he says. “Just as important, though, is to make sure you have enough storage (think: cabinets all the way to the ceiling) and the finishes: panel-front appliances are a must, and a mix of materials and sheens helps a small space feel layered and luxe.”
Should you add an island to a galley kitchen?
In small galley kitchens, an island is likely going to be an awkward and cumbersome addition to the floor plan. That said, Laurent believes that a kitchen island can be a beautiful addition to a larger galley kitchen, but only if it works for your particular space.
If your galley kitchen layout is big enough to accommodate an island, Laurent stresses that it’s important to maintain enough clearance for movement on both sides. Otherwise, the space can feel cramped. To ensure your island is doing double duty, go for a kitchen island that has built-in drawers for storage, or even one that can accommodate your microwave or dishwasher. For instance, consider Crate & Barrel’s Terra 78" marble kitchen island, which features five drawers, two cabinets on one side, and open space on the other, which leaves room for counter stools.
What are some storage tips for a galley kitchen?
Remember our tip about using every inch of vertical space? In a compact galley kitchen, the more shelves, the merrier. Upper cabinets, lower cabinets, hidden cabinets, white cabinets, blue cabinets, floating shelves, open shelves…We love ’em all.
To that point, Emma Montgomery, founder of Emma Montgomery Design in Brooklyn, recommends that those seeking kitchen storage ideas for galley kitchens look into custom cabinetry, high-quality hardware, and interior organizers to maximize storage space and keep things in order. “Working with a millworker who enjoys the granular details and relishes finding organizational solutions is often the key to creating a highly engineered kitchen with functionality and beauty hand in hand at the forefront of the design,” she says.
If you’re embarking on a DIY kitchen renovation or doing some light updates to your galley kitchen, a few of our favorite storage solutions for galley kitchens include modular cookware, kitchen organization racks, compact dish racks, wall-mounted pot racks, and under-sink organizers.
Read on for 23 elegant galley kitchen ideas to help your tight kitchen footprint deliver big on style.
Blend the classic with the unexpected
Because this galley kitchen is on the narrower side, Nakamura and her Spec + Sage cofounder, Celestin McGlynn, ensured the custom penny tile floor design was laid out in a manner that visually stretched the room’s width. The designers share they were lucky enough to have clients who trusted them with a bolder, more unconventional color (Brick Red by Benjamin Moore) for the cabinetry, which they balanced out by incorporating lighter neutral tones, like the quartz countertop, Zia white square tile backsplash, and the contemporary stainless steel hood wrapped in drywall. Rounding out the mix, Spec + Sage opted for a leather Lostine pendant light above the sink and unlacquered brass fixtures and hardware. They chose to keep the original cabinetry, playing into their thesis for this project that “things get better with age.”
Squeeze in seating
You may not be able to incorporate a full dining area into a small kitchen, but with some clever space planning, you can create the perfect spot for intimate meals or morning coffee. When renovating a row house’s galley kitchen, Snouffer maintained the formal division between the kitchen and dining room, but still wanted to give her clients a small seating area. “We had to make the portion of the kitchen towards the front of the house a workhorse in terms of storage,” Snouffer says. “We squeezed out every eighth of an inch of storage that we possibly could in order to allow space for seating in the back of the kitchen.”
Add a wall of mirrors
Skipping upper kitchen cabinets and replacing them with a wall of mirrors creates the illusion of a much larger space—not to mention it saves a ton of money on cabinetry, says Troy Spurlin of Troy Spurlin Interiors in Jacksonville, Florida. “Bonus points if the mirrored wall faces windows outside the kitchen, as this not only enhances the sense of space but also maximizes natural light,” he explains, adding that instead of an island, a breakfast bar on the outer counter is a great way to incorporate a small space dining area in the room.
Make sure there’s room for two
When designing a galley kitchen, Amie Sachs, principal of the New York–based Amie Sachs Architect, recommends staggering the sink, range/cooktop, and refrigerator to facilitate two people working simultaneously. (Even if you live alone, when you’re entertaining, you may have more cooks in the kitchen!) “It’s important to ensure that the refrigerator door swing does not obstruct the kitchen passageway,” Sachs warns. Accordingly, she suggests an aisle width of at least 42", but no more than 48" to maintain both efficiency and aesthetics. Here, the cabinet design is modern and straightforward to maximize storage, while the use of marble adds a design statement and visual interest.
Add a pass-through
Montgomery readily concedes that galley kitchens can feel quite claustrophobic when there’s no natural light. That’s why she’s a fan of a pass-through window or a large opening to make the kitchen more inviting. “When renovating this galley kitchen, we transformed a small existing window between the kitchen and living room into a much larger pass-through,” she says of this smartly placed window that serves as a breakfast nook (or place to eat any meal, for that matter). “The accent lighting of the sconces and picture light add a much-needed layer of warmth,” Montgomery explains.
Create an interior window
If you’re not able to open up the layout of your kitchen, you can make the space feel more connected to adjacent rooms with an interior window. Designer Nikki Dalrymple of Acquire added a steel-and-glass wall between the kitchen and living room of a client’s pied-à-terre. “The glass allowed the natural light from the living room’s floor-to-ceiling windows to flow into the kitchen, keeping it bright and connected to the rest of the home,” says Dalrymple. “It also allowed the clients to keep a view of the city (and to their art collection) from the kitchen space.”
Choose a statement hood
Every element in a compact space offers a chance to make an impact. San Francisco-based IDF Studio elevated a Mill Valley galley kitchen with a striking metallic hood. “We started with the earthy blue-green ceramic backsplash tiles and timeless Lostine pendant lights in white maple, then added this hood above,” says Kassin Adelman, founder and CEO of IDF Studio. “In execution, it’s a very simple design that lets the material speak for itself. But to get there, each layer of patina was painstakingly monitored with a local vendor, as once you added a layer, you couldn’t go back!”
Befriend a modern aesthetic
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If you’re racking your brain for galley kitchen ideas, drawing inspiration from modern kitchen design is never a bad call. “This kitchen embodies the idea that modern design doesn’t have to feel sterile,” Laurent says. Instead, the kitchen layout balances form and function to meet the needs of a big, busy family, per Laurent. The firm used slab-front doors with no visible hardware to create a sleek, uninterrupted flow. They also selected custom cabinetry to conceal appliances and maintain an open look that reads almost minimalist. Laurent is a big proponent of using hardware-free finishes for a streamlined appearance, as well as investing in custom cabinetry for practicality and a clean aesthetic.
Lean into design details
Make the most of the space in a galley kitchen by having fun with joyful design details. For the kitchen of a 1842 townhouse on Boston’s Beacon Hill, architect and Zephyr + Ore cofounder Meghan McNamara collaborated with builders Modern Heritage to give the clients a space that would surprise and delight. “Rustic zellige tile, playful wallpapers, saturated cabinet colors, and unique hardware create a dynamic yet cohesive aesthetic,” says McNamara. “We selected a timeless checkerboard marble floor, scaled appropriately for the proportions of the space.” The firm also added details that nod to the historic location. “Modern Heritage made the glass-fronted, Chippendale-style wall cabinet as an homage to the 18th-century furniture makers of Boston, as well as another point of pattern play and intersection between organic and geometric forms,” she says.
Keep your color palette light
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Who says a long and relatively narrow galley kitchen can’t feel airy and spacious? “This galley kitchen maximizes its narrow footprint by focusing on clean, uninterrupted lines,” Laurent points out. Light wood cabinetry and white kitchen walls to make for an inviting flow through the space, and open shelving breaks up the cabinetry, softening the design while keeping it functional. Even if your galley kitchen isn’t nearly this roomy (it's fair to say most don’t come complete with an eat-in kitchen table), you can still implement one of Laurent’s savviest galley kitchen ideas for small kitchens: Use light tones and natural materials coupled with open shelving to make a narrow galley layout feel open and welcoming.
…Or go bold with a dramatic color
On the flip side of an airy white kitchen, consider going for a bold color choice in your galley kitchen, like blue. Here, Moreira chose Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy for the kitchen cabinets, accented with brass pulls for an “elevated” galley kitchen space. “To add warmth and texture, we incorporated open shelves in a light maple finish, providing a beautiful contrast against the rich navy cabinetry,” she says of this handsome kitchen on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
Brighten up
If you’re faced with a lack of natural light in a galley kitchen, your first instinct might be to choose a pale hue, but why not go bold? Matthew Boland of MMB Studio chose a vibrant orange for a formerly dark Palm Beach galley kitchen. “My main goal was to make the space feel bright, sunny, and inviting,” he says. “Part of that was accomplished with lighting, but the majority was accomplished with the selection of the color.” The eye-catching color also felt fitting with the overall design, which features hot pink, chartreuse, lapis, and chrome yellow. The introduction of orange felt familiar and in keeping with the cheerful vibe,” Boland says.
Tap into a charming statement feature
How delightful are these checkerboard floor tiles? “In a galley kitchen, your design power lies in elevating the details,” says Suzanne Hall, vice president of design at Alice Lane Interior Design, based in Draper, Utah. “The key is to transform a potentially utilitarian space into a charming, character-filled environment.” In this design, the Alice Lane team chose contrasting floor tiles instead of classic hardwood flooring, which not only makes the space feel larger, but also sets a timeless, design-forward atmosphere that makes it feel more special. Layered lighting helps the space “beautifully transition from morning light to late-night ambiance” with ease, per Hall. “In a galley kitchen, every design choice is an opportunity to infuse personality.”
Diversify your storage
Instead of a wall of matching cabinetry, consider incorporating a mix of cabinet doors, as AD PRO Directory member Dan Mazzarini did in his Greenwich Village apartment. “Aesthetically, I wanted something that felt a little dressed up—cue the high-gloss mahogany,” says Mazzarini. “I used it on lower cabinets and to frame the view as you look in. I chose to add these reeded glass doors to baffle the cabinet’s contents, while allowing for a warm, ambient glow when the lights inside the cabinet are lit.”
Bring in additional lighting
When it comes to lighting, think beyond overhead pendants and under-cabinet lighting. London-based designer Christian Bense says that he and his studio approach lighting as an accessory. “To reinforce the right-hand orientation of the sink and taps, we chose a midcentury-style articulating wall light to create a unique focal point,” says Bense. “It’s a conversation piece and brings a beautiful glow in the evening. It’s really important to have a layered lighting scheme so you can change the mood of the space.”
Open it up (but just a little bit)
You don’t need to demo an entire wall to open up a galley kitchen. “The first thing that I would do is see if there’s any way [to] create some sort of opening to the other spaces from it,” says Sarah Zames, founder of the Brooklyn-based firm General Assembly. “You could open up just the corner of it and add some open shelving to break that hallway feeling.” She recalls a project where even a small opening made a big difference. “We weren't able to open it up to the living room, because there were some pipes in the way, but we opened it up partially and put shelves that hung from the ceiling,” she says. “I thought that was a nice happy medium. It kept the kitchen out of the dining area, and you kept the functional storage, but it was still visually connected to the other space.”
Ditch the upper cabinets
“The goal when designing a galley kitchen is to make it feel the least cavernous as possible,” Zames advises. “Reduce the number of tall cabinets that you're going to use, or consolidate your tall storage into one place. She recommends putting the refrigerator and pantry in one area and keeping storage focused in that space, then doing open shelving or limited upper cabinetry.
Mix light and dark
“Another way to reduce that feeling that you’re in a hallway is to break up the materials,” Zames says. “Keep the base cabinets in a heavier, darker material and then do the upper cabinets in a lighter colors to connect it more towards the ceiling.”
Go glossy
Zames recommends using glossy tile or surfaces to brighten the space. “You can use [materials] that are a little more reflective,” she says. “Getting as much natural light bouncing around in there as possible is pretty key.”
Work in wood
Another option is to bring in wood to make the kitchen feel more connected to the rest of the apartment. "In that case, I would do wood-base cabinets that would feel a little more grounded and more like furniture than cabinets,” Zames says. “For upper shelving, I would do something neutral and light and cool-toned.”
Light it up
Zames notes that there’s lots that can be done in addition to task lighting in a galley kitchen. “You’re not working with pendant lights over an island, but you can do some great decorative fixtures on the ceiling that bring the space together,” she says. “There’s an opportunity with a galley kitchen to be a jewel box, so doing some lighting on the ceiling that feels less utilitarian is nice.”
Keep things off the counter
“It's all about maximizing the space,” says Zames. “Do as many built-in items as you can and maximize the counter space—so do a microwave drawer, rather than a microwave on the counter, and have tall storage so you can put away things you don't use on a daily basis or are bulky.”
Downsize and customize appliances
Zames emphasizes the importance of keeping materials consistent and introducing as few lines, or breaks in materials, as possible. “I would always do a cooktop with a wall oven below it—something that's built into the cabinets, rather than a slide-in range,” she says. “I would do as many panel-ready appliances as possible, keeping it feeling as much like furniture as you can.” The designer also suggests choosing smaller appliances. “Going down to even a 24-inch fridge—which a lot of people gasp at—is very livable and will save you a lot of space,” says Zames. ”You may want to consider doing something that has French doors so that you don't have to leave a lot of space for a big fridge door.”
