7 Common Mistakes in Small Kitchen Design

A small kitchen is not a death sentence, but rather an opportunity to unleash creativity and innovation. Modern furniture manufacturers offer a wide range of compact solutions for tiny spaces, while designers around the world come up with new and fresh ways to visually expand space.

Previously, we already shared tips for small kitchens and a selection of simple ideas for decorating them. Now, let's talk about mistakes that should never be made when arranging a very cramped space.

Mistake 1. Too Many Open Shelves

Glossy magazines are full of images of kitchens where storage is organized as openly as possible. Various shelves, rails, all kinds of wall hooks and organizers, complete abandonment of hanging cabinets... Forget about it.

What looks beautiful and stylish in a photo will quickly turn into visual noise and create a sense of untidiness in real life, especially in small spaces. A much better solution would be tall hanging cabinets in the color of the walls.

Design: RueTemple

Mistake 2. Pure White Interior

A snow-white kitchen is the dream of many housewives, but it's not the best choice for owners of small apartments with tiny cooking zones. Even if the obvious impracticality of such a solution doesn't bother you, we have another reason.

Contrary to popular belief, a pure white monochromatic interior does not visually expand the boundaries of a small space; instead, it makes the setting flatter and more compressed, drawing attention to the shortcomings of the space configuration. To avoid this, add tints, textures, and contrasting accents to the setting.

Design: Zi Design

Mistake 3. Curtains

On a mini kitchen, especially if it lacks good natural lighting, it's better to forgo heavy drapes and multi-layered draping. Limit yourself to symbolic light curtains or sheer fabric, or even do without window textiles altogether, opting for blinds or roll-down shades.

Mistake 4. Doing Without Necessary Appliances

Trying to save space by doing without essential appliances is a terrible idea. No, you won't get by without an oven if you love to surprise your family with a new culinary masterpiece. And it's unlikely you'll feel comfortable without a coffee machine if you can't imagine waking up in the morning without a steaming cup of coffee.

Design: Alena Yudina, Nadezhda Kireeva

It is also a bad idea to do without a dishwasher. This appliance has long become an integral part of modern housewives' lives and deserves its place in the home. Time and effort savings are evident! Not to mention that a dishwasher reduces water consumption (yes, washing dishes by hand uses much more water).

For small kitchens, compact and narrow models will be suitable – such models can find space even in a small room.

Mistake 5. One Pendant Light in the Center of the Ceiling

Just because your kitchen doesn't have a large area doesn't mean you should ignore the basic principles of lighting design. In addition to general lighting, make sure to provide task lighting for work surfaces. If there's space for a compact dining area on the kitchen, don't forget local lighting for that zone.

Design: Nikita Zub

Mistake 6. Excessive Non-Functional Decor

Unfortunately, the smaller the kitchen area, the less you can afford to have decorative elements that don't serve a functional purpose. Find places for figurines, photo frames, and vases with dried flowers in other corners of the apartment. Don't clutter the already tight space with decorative details.

However, this does not mean that the kitchen must be uncomfortable or lack individuality. Choose stylish textiles (towels, tablecloths, mats for the dining area), pay attention to selecting kitchenware and serving dishes, acquire living greenery in beautiful planters (including hanging ones), and pay attention to hardware.

Remember that there are also decorative techniques that can become the key 'trick' of a kitchen without taking up space. For example, an accent wall (including chalkboard), an attention-grabbing kitchen apron, unusual cabinet fronts (e.g., with a 3D effect), or vibrant household appliances as colorful accents.

Design: Anna Bryukhova

Mistake 7. Excessive Load on the Space

The desire to fit everything into the kitchen at once is understandable. But let's look at things realistically: more doesn't mean better. If neither a full-size dining table nor a foldable variant fits in the space, it might make sense to move the dining area into the living room.

Perhaps a washing machine can fit in the bathroom, a refrigerator might be better placed in the hallway by the kitchen entrance, and small kitchen appliances and rarely used helpers can easily be moved outside the tiny kitchen?