I’ve been renovating kitchens for over two decades now, and let me tell you, small kitchens hold a special place in my heart. There’s something so satisfying about transforming a cramped cooking space into something that feels twice its size without moving a single wall.
Last year, I renovated my sister’s tiny Manhattan kitchen that was barely 8×10 feet, and watching her face light up when she saw the finished space made all the challenges worth it. Small kitchens aren’t limitations – they’re puzzles waiting to be solved with the right approach.
According to a recent housing survey, the average American kitchen has shrunk by almost 30 square feet over the last decade. Yet we’re demanding more functionality than ever before. So how do we make these smaller spaces work harder without feeling cramped? That’s exactly what I’m going to share with you today.
How To Plan Kitchen Renovation For Small Spaces?
Planning is where most small kitchen renovations go right or wrong. I’ve seen people jump straight into buying appliances only to realize they don’t fit the workflow they need.
First thing you need to do is live in your kitchen for a while. And I mean really pay attention. Where do you bump into things? Where do you wish you had more counter space? Which cabinets are a pain to access?
Grab a notebook and track your movements for a week. You might be surprised at what you discover. When I did this in my own kitchen, I realized I was walking back and forth between the fridge and sink about 20 times while making dinner. Not ideal!
Measure everything. And then measure again. In small kitchens, every inch counts. I carry a laser measure everywhere now after an embarrassing incident where I ordered a refrigerator that was one inch too wide. The delivery guys and I had a good laugh, but my client didn’t find it quite as amusing.
Your budget matters too. The average small kitchen renovation runs between $10,000 to $15,000, but I’ve seen amazing transformations for as little as $5,000 when homeowners get creative and do some work themselves.
Remember this rule: spend money where it counts most. In a small kitchen, that usually means storage solutions and quality countertops, not the $2,000 light fixture that looks amazing but doesn’t help you store your pots and pans.
Small Kitchen Renovation Ideas
When tackling a small kitchen, you need strategies that multiply your space without requiring a sledgehammer to knock down walls. Each of these ideas can stand alone or work together as part of a comprehensive renovation.
What works for your kitchen depends on your specific space constraints, budget, and lifestyle needs. The good news? Even implementing just one or two of these ideas can dramatically improve your kitchen’s functionality.
Choose the right layout
The right layout is your kitchen’s backbone. In small spaces, you’re typically looking at one of three options: galley, L-shaped, or U-shaped layouts.
I’m a huge fan of galley kitchens for really tight spaces. They’re super efficient for cooking since everything is within a step or two. My client Janet had a 7×9 kitchen in her brownstone, and the galley layout gave her 40% more usable counter space than her previous awkward arrangement.
L-shaped kitchens work wonders for corner spaces and can often accommodate a small peninsula for extra prep space or casual dining. I implemented this in my own weekend cabin, adding a 30-inch peninsula that doubles as a breakfast bar.
Whatever layout you choose, aim for the classic work triangle between your sink, stove, and refrigerator. When these are positioned within a few steps of each other, cooking becomes so much more efficient.
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Go for open shelving
Open shelving changed my entire approach to small kitchens about ten years ago. Removing upper cabinet doors instantly makes a space feel more open.
When I redid my daughter’s first apartment kitchen on a shoestring budget, we simply removed the doors from her existing cabinets, filled the hardware holes, and painted everything white. Total cost? About $50 in supplies and a weekend of work. The kitchen suddenly felt twice as large.
The trick with open shelving is curating what goes on them. It’s not for hiding your mismatched plastic containers. Think of it as both storage and display. Group similar items together, use attractive containers for staples, and leave some breathing room.
A client in Chicago worried about dust on open shelves. My solution? Put daily-use items there. Things you use every day don’t have time to collect dust!
Create corner cabinets
Corners are the wild frontier of kitchen storage. They’re often wasted or frustratingly inaccessible.
After seeing too many clients struggle with forgotten items in deep corner cabinets, I’ve become a devoted fan of corner solutions like lazy susans and pull-out shelving systems.
My favorite recent discovery is diagonal corner drawers. Instead of a traditional cabinet door, these drawers pull straight out at a 45-degree angle. I installed them in a tiny vacation rental kitchen last summer, and they store an impressive amount of cookware without any awkward reaching.
If custom solutions aren’t in your budget, try adding a tension rod diagonally across corner cabinets to create a space for baking sheets and cutting boards. A $5 solution that makes a huge difference!
Use Wall-mounted racks and magnetic strips
Wall space is gold in a small kitchen. I practically begged my husband to let me install a wall-mounted pot rack in our kitchen five years ago. He was skeptical until he realized how much cabinet space it freed up.
Magnetic knife strips are another game-changer. They keep your knives accessible, free up drawer space, and look pretty darn professional. Just mount them away from high-traffic areas if you have kids running around.
A wall grid system costs about $30-$100 depending on size and can hold everything from utensils to small plants. I installed one above a client’s stove last month, and she texted me yesterday saying it’s her favorite part of the whole renovation.
Choose the right lighting
Lighting might not seem like it affects space, but poor lighting makes small kitchens feel like caves.
Under-cabinet lighting is non-negotiable in my book. LED strip lights cost as little as $20 and make countertops so much more usable. I installed some in my mother-in-law’s kitchen, and she called the next day to tell me she could finally see what she was chopping!
Pendant lights can draw the eye up, making ceilings feel higher. Just make sure they’re proportional to your space. Those gorgeous oversized pendants you see in magazines would overwhelm most small kitchens.
Natural light is worth fighting for. If you’re doing a bigger renovation and can add or enlarge a window, it’s money well spent. My own kitchen has a small window that I expanded during our renovation, and it transformed the entire room.
Go for minimalist
I wasn’t always a minimalist. My first kitchen had every gadget known to mankind crammed into it. Then I visited a chef friend whose tiny kitchen produced amazing meals with about a quarter of the stuff.
Small kitchens demand discipline. Do you really need 12 mugs when you only use two? That pasta maker you’ve used exactly once in five years? Be brutal.
When I help clients downsize their kitchen contents, we follow a simple rule: if you haven’t used it in a year and it’s not a holiday-specific item, it goes. One client freed up an entire cabinet just by following this rule.
Choose appliances that earn their keep. Toaster ovens that can air fry, convection bake, and toast take the place of three separate appliances. My combination microwave-convection oven saved me from needing a second full-size oven for holiday cooking.
Install under sink storage system
The cabinet under your sink is probably the most disorganized space in your kitchen right now. Most people just toss cleaning supplies in there and hope for the best.
After water damage from a leaky pipe ruined the cabinet under my own sink, I installed a custom pull-out system with adjustable shelves around the plumbing. It doubled my storage and made everything accessible.
If custom solutions aren’t in your budget, try tension rods to hang spray bottles, small shelves that work around pipes, or simple bins to categorize items. I did this in my beach rental property for under $40, and the maintenance person actually called to thank me.
Check for leaks before organizing this space! About 20% of homes have some type of leak under the sink they don’t know about. A simple drip pan can save you hundreds in potential water damage.
Small kitchens don’t have to feel small. With thoughtful planning and smart storage solutions, even the tiniest cooking space can function beautifully. The key is maximizing every inch while keeping the space open and organized.
What small kitchen challenges are you facing? I’d love to hear what’s worked for you or answer any questions about your specific situation!
