Design ideas for your galley-style kitchen

If you’re planning on completely remodeling your small kitchen, you may want to consider a galley-style design. Galley kitchens have two parallel counters and an aisle in between, and they’re perfect for people who love to cook but have a small kitchen space to work with. Take a look at this guide for what you should consider when designing your own galley kitchen:

Layout
The ideal galley kitchen is in the shape of a U, with cabinets and counters lining two parallel walls and a smaller counter or sink space at the end. If you do a lot of cooking then you’ll likely love the design, because galley kitchens have double the counter space and everything is a little bit closer together. For a smaller room, the aisle between the walls simply needs to be wide enough to get around when the cabinets are open. If you have a larger kitchen, most kitchen designers recommend an aisle at least 4 feet wide, especially if there’s often more than one person in the room.

When designing a galley kitchen, consider where you want the appliances to be to make the most efficient space possible. The refrigerator will most likely work best near the doorway instead of tucked all the way inside the room. Try to keep cooking appliances (like your oven and stove) on one side, and cleaning fixtures (like your sink and dishwasher) on the other.

Fixtures
Like all small kitchens, in galley kitchens it’s important to find fixtures that make the most of your space and add to the overall style. Stainless steel kitchen sinks are always a good bet because they can fit in with many styles – plus, they’re practical and will last a long time. Wall-mounted kitchen faucets are great options for small spaces because you can install them at any height on the wall behind the sink, making washing dishes or cleaning produce in a small sink easier.

Lighting
Lighting can create an illusion of spaciousness, so it’s an important aspect of a galley kitchen design because they’re generally smaller and more crowded. Consider installing a window or a pass-through to another room to get some natural light into the area. Pass-throughs are also a great way to open up the space to a dining or living area so the kitchen doesn’t feel as closed off. You can even design one wall to be only bottom cabinets, with the countertop acting as an island, opening the kitchen up to the adjacent room. Make sure the overhead lighting fixture is bright, and think about installing lights under the cabinets if you still need better light for cooking.

Cabinets
Choosing the right cabinets for your galley kitchen can help you add storage and keep the room streamlined and organized. Pull-out shelves and drawers in the bottom cabinets provide easy access to your kitchen items without having to crouch in the small area. Consider shelves without cabinet doors for some of your top cabinets to open up the room a little bit more – too many cabinet doors can make the space seem top-heavy and smaller.