While small kitchen dinner ideas can undoubtedly face their design challenges, they can also be both beautiful and practical as a space twice the size of it. The main thing to focus on is that there is enough space for the practical element of cooking, there are plenty of storage solutions so that at least the chaos is, and there is also space for eating comfortably with friends and family. The starting point when designing a small kitchen diner is the floor plan, says Daniel Bowler, director of Eggersmann UK.
The floor plan is an important part of the design process for any kitchen, from the largest to the smallest. This is the best way to define the layout and make the most of all available space, which of course becomes even more important in compact situations where every inch must be maximized and used in the best possible way.
There are many design tricks that can be used in a small kitchen to ensure that it is big on luxury. In terms of color schemes, the lighter the better in small spaces; Daniel says keeping things neutral can be visually interesting even though raw, natural materials like wood, metal, and stone can be used.
Here, we’ve rounded up 10 kitchen design ideas to improve the look of your smallest diner kitchen. Proof that you can have the kitchen of your dreams, no matter its size.
1. Incorporating banquet seats into the island
(Photo credit: Roundhouse/Mary Wadsorth)
This apartment kitchen was created in an old mansion building by Roundhousean and was essential to include soft seating, dining and a kitchen in an open living space. The customer already had a gorgeous Saarinen oval marble table and was very keen on using it. “But we quickly discovered that the table was too big for the space,” says Sam Hart, designer of Roundhouse.
However, by incorporating the banquette into the kitchen island, it was allowed to sit on one side of the table. This frees up a lot of space in the room allowing plenty of room for sofas and a coffee table. We designed a deeper island to create banquette seating and to accommodate storage on both sides. The addition of subtle colors creates a backdrop for soft furnishings.
2. Choose an L-shaped kitchen for more flexibility
(Image credit: British Standard)
Kitchen Kitchen Layout When you have two parallel sets of base cabinets, wall cabinets, and worktops on either side of a central hallway, it is often the preferred choice for a small kitchen. But there are other powerful options so it is important to consider other small kitchen layouts. says Adrian Bergman, design director at British Standard through Plain English.
It allows direct access between key elements although the mileage can be greater than other layouts. It’s usually best to put the refrigerator, sink, and dishwasher together and then move on to the stove and oven for the second round.
3. Paint the walls dark to create an intimate and lively feel
(Photo credit: Heidi Keeler)
In a small or north-facing space, it’s always tempting to opt for neutral kitchen color ideas just to try and improve the lighting, but going for a darker shade can be more dramatic and create a relaxed feel that works perfectly for intimate dining.
In this dining nook by interior designer Heidi Keeler, she painted wood walls and placed a warm charcoal that not only cocoons but brings all the other elements of the space together.
4. Build layers of texture and color
(Photo credit: Salvesen Graham)
When it comes to creating a small dining space, the focus should not be solely on the furniture alone. Interior designer Salvesen Graham’s studio used a banquette as a great space-saving option that helps with a sense of customization but also heightened interest in this nook built in with colour, art, cushions and lighting. The cushions cleverly mirror each other in terms of shapes and placement and all shades are captured in the art on the wall. The result is a mood-elevating corner full of character.
“Adding decorative pieces to the kitchen space like a lamp and decorative pillows will help prevent the kitchen from feeling utilitarian and ensure it’s another beautiful room in your home.” Nicole Salvisen says:
5. Take advantage of the wall with a foldable table
(Image credit: British Standard Plain English)
Once the floor space is exhausted when designing a small kitchen dinner, get more mileage by making full use of a blank wall. This kitchen has a foldable table that’s perfect for a small family and can be tucked away between meals so it doesn’t take up space.
“If there isn’t enough space for a kitchen island, consider choosing a smaller chef’s table, perhaps even on wheels, which makes this a portable and practical solution,” adds Daniel Buller, Director of Eggersmann UK. “Other ideas include swapping a dining table with a breakfast bar in an open-plan setting to help achieve a multifunctional design.”
6. Insert a curved island to add contrast
(Image credit: Studio Enass)
A kitchen island is not necessarily left out when you have a small kitchen as you can see from this kitchen island idea. A curved island can be a great option because not only does it require less space, but it also provides an element of softness that can be missing in many kitchen designs.
“Depending on the size of your kitchen, a curved worktop is an ideal way to add a bit of contrast,” says Inas Mahmoud, creative director of Studio Enass in London.
There are a lot of linear elements when it comes to kitchens, and sometimes, adding a curved structure can help break up the space and give the impression that the kitchen is larger because it creates movement and draws the eye around the room. A curved worktop or breakfast bar can be the main feature in your kitchen, especially if you decorate it with brightly colored stools. Here, red quilted stools bring liveliness and visual excitement to the kitchen’s color scheme.
7. Match your countertops with your dining chairs for a cohesive look
(Image credit: Blakes London)
“If relaxed seating and casual entertaining are your taste, a kitchen island that doubles as a banquet seat is a great way to save space in a small kitchen,” says Annie Ebenston, lead designer, Blakes London.
Matching the colors of both creates a harmonious look but playing with different textures as in this case, keeps the eye interested. “By combining the island with a dining table set up in this way, you can save about 1.5m of space while still retaining the functionality and drama of a much sought-after kitchen island,” adds Annie. Furthermore, if you are pushed for storage space, you can design a lift-up banquette stool to serve as additional storage space.
8. Offer three-in-one countertop, island and table hybrid design
(Image credit: Future)
In a small kitchen dinner, it is important to make sure that all the elements work as hard as possible. Two great jobs, but the dream is more. An island is the perfect piece that can maximize its potential and there are plenty of smart ideas for installing an island in a small kitchen.
In this kitchen, a peninsula can have a range of uses, and keeping material wood, like a countertop, keeps a cohesive look.
“If you have limited space in the kitchen or dining room, you can consider making a multifunctional island and using it not only for countertop space but for your table as well.” says Katie Thompson, chief designer, Naked Kitchens.
9. Paint the seats the same color as the kitchen cabinet
(Image credit: Davonport)
Painting is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to transform a small kitchen, and there are many clever and simple tricks that can be used to improve the space.
“The hand-painted banquette seating the same color as the kitchen cabinet helps make the room appear taller, while providing space-saving seating around the large family dining room,” says Richard Davonport, managing director at Davonport.
10. Match the table with the kitchen cabinet
(Image credit: Superfront)
In addition to matching the stools to the kitchen cabinets, matching the table to the cabinets is another way to make the most of a small kitchen dinner. This can be done with paint or the same material, in both cases adding continuity to the look of the kitchen and making the space appear larger. In this kitchen from Superfront, the table and cabinet keep the same soft gray that unifies the design.
How can you make the most of a small kitchen dinner?
There are many elements to think about when trying to get the most out of a kitchen dinner. It’s easy to say storage is the most important component, as keeping things organized is critical when space is at a premium, says Daniel Bowler, Director of Eggersmann UK. Regardless, the process of designing a small kitchen is not much different from a larger room, in terms of the importance of elements such as design, materials and colors.
In any space, the work triangle for kitchen design is a good practice to follow to make the finished space truly workable and comfortable. This connects the stove, fridge freezer and sink to make food preparation as simple as possible. The smaller the space, the fewer steps needed between them no matter where they are, of course, but when more than one person uses the room at once, it makes life a lot easier.
What is the best design for a small kitchen?
Kitchen kitchen is the best small kitchen design. It’s two parallel tracks of base cabinets, wall cabinets, and worktops located on either side of a central corridor. Most prominent designers suggest keeping tall cabinets and wall cabinets in one path with base cabinets and open shelves in the other to avoid feeling claustrophobic or a “tunnel” effect.