7 Inspiring Ideas for a Small Kitchen

With OBI experts, we share ideas for small kitchens and showcase products that make these concepts easy to implement.

Create a Chill-Out Zone in the Kitchen

For example, in the P-44T house project, a bay window is planned, and usually owners of apartments don't find functional use for it.

Designers Zi-Dezign organized a chill-out zone there — a space where you can lay pillows directly on the floor and relax.

Design: Zi-Dezign
Successful purchases: Lasselsberger ceramic granite, OBI. Matte ceramic granite imitates parquet boards from aged wood. MW-Light "Gloss" suspended ceiling, OBI. A gray glass diffuser with a slightly ribbed surface beautifully refracts light. Escada pendant lamp, OBI. The fixture and diffuser are made of white metal in a matte finish.

Mix Vintage Elements with Mass-Market

Be inspired by the design of Xenia Yusupova. Xenia made a bet on a minimalist and cozy interior in classical style with vintage notes — here, brass accessories from flea markets coexist with IKEA. This creates an original designer collaboration on a small kitchen in a Stalin-era flat.

Design: Xenia Yusupova
Successful purchases: Maunfeld Derby range hood, OBI, designed for air purification in rooms up to 20 sq. m, its wide working surface captures steam and small fat particles over a large area. The glazed panel "Chester", OBI, is resistant to humidity and temperature changes, offers good thermal insulation and sound absorption. Bela Vista Biselado wall tiles, OBI. Ceramic tiles with a glossy surface that clean easily and maintain their original appearance for a long time.

Match Cabinet Doors to Wall and Floor Colors

For example, designer Vladimir Berezin in a small studio project used this technique to connect all zones of the studio.

Thus, the upper kitchen cabinets were chosen to match the tone of solid wood in the bedroom-living room, and the storage cabinet — to the wall color.

Design: Vladimir Berezin
Successful purchases: OBI's hanging cabinet "Camellia", with one shelf and two doors for storing kitchen utensils, products, and accessories. Kitchen Bathroom paint, OBI. Perfectly white, matte, eco-friendly, acrylic paint for walls and ceilings in all types of rooms. Marvel floor tiles, OBI, made from wear-resistant ceramic, resistant to stains, moisture, rapid temperature fluctuations, and acids.

Upper Cabinets in Multiple Levels

An idea for small apartments with storage problems. The top level can be used not only for kitchen utensils but also for any items.

This kind of kitchen design was created by designers Anna Dobrokovskaya and Olga Buravkova in this studio.

Design: Anna Dobrokovskaya and Olga Buravkova
Successful purchases: Melana single-handle mixer, OBI, made from high-quality stainless steel. The built-in aerator softens the water jet and makes it less noisy. Lasselsberger ceramic granite, OBI. The "Western Wood" matte ceramic granite collection imitates parquet boards from aged wood. OBI Lighting Loconia ceiling spot, OBI. White cylindrical diffuser (with a matte finish) with elements from light wood.

Expand the Kitchen Using Mirrors

See how designer Nadежda Kapper from "Studio 3.14" proposed an idea for a small kitchen in a Khrushchev-era flat.

To visually expand the space in a tiny room, mirror panels were made on the wall behind the table. Their arched pattern echoes the shape of the table.

Successful purchases: Eglo wall sconce, OBI, made of silver-toned fittings with double shades: the outer shade is a spherical glass piece, and the inner one is cylindrical made from matte material. Alba Orchid "Terracotta" floor tiles, OBI, with a glazed surface resistant to aggressive chemical exposure. Arch-shaped mirror, OBI, comes with a special mounting plate for wall installation. Can be equipped with a shelf and other functional decorative items.

Use Compact Appliances

For example, a two-burner stove — this allows more space for the work zone. Or a mini-oven to free up area for storage.

Marina Dadiani came to such a solution while working on a small studio project.

Design: Marina Dadiani
Successful purchases: Four-point OBI Lighting Loconia spot, with movable shades, can be mounted on plastered and painted surfaces, attached to a suspended ceiling. Azori Eclipse floor tiles, OBI, made from high-quality ceramic, covered with glossy glaze, which doesn't leave dirty streaks or fat marks. "Dolomite Wall" interior stone, OBI. Flat back surface simplifies laying and ensures good adhesion to bonding agents.

Extend the Kitchen Counter onto the Window Sill

This technique on small kitchens can fully replace a dining area. For example, designer Anya Sukhaya extended the window sill and created a space for breakfast or lunch there — this is enough for a small family.

Design: Anya Sukhaya

If you want to replicate this idea, keep a few factors in mind:

• placement of the radiator — air should circulate freely in this zone, so leave an empty space directly above the radiator;
  
• stage of renovation — experts from the construction company "Good" recommend mounting the countertop after replacing the window if you're doing this.
  

Successful purchases: Kitchen countertop "Soyuz Mystic", OBI, suitable for kitchen furniture and also for making bar, office, or information desks. Alternative countertop "Naomi", OBI, resistant to wear and high temperatures, offers enhanced protection against moisture. Alternative countertop "Solino", OBI, made from moisture-resistant wood chip board and protected by a special wear-resistant coating called "Corund protection".

On the cover: Vladimir Berezin's design project.