See the photo review of kitchen furniture for small kitchens: the best options and pro tips on how to choose the right set for a small kitchen.
Quick navigation through the article:
- Layout of furniture in a small kitchen
- Smart solutions for upper cabinets
- The best solutions for floor standing cabinets
- Which facades to choose for a small kitchen?
- Which handles are suitable for a small headset?
- Railings in a small kitchen - yes or no?
Catalog of kitchen furniture manufacturers
Russian, Belarusian, Italian, German, Czech and Scandinavian factories: description of the range and photos of popular models... View
Dimensions
In order to choose a set, you first need to think about the size of the kitchen. Manufacturers offer a large number of sizes; there are special programs with which you can determine the required footage.
Here is a convenient online planner that can easily cope with this task - a kitchen designer.
Depending on the total area, we estimate successful options.
And so, for a kitchen of 6 sq. m:
For a kitchen 9 sq m:
Proper lighting in the kitchen
The issue of arranging light sources in a small kitchen is especially relevant. During the daytime, natural light is sufficient for a small room. Light tulle with lambrequins will be appropriate when decorating in a classic style.
In other cases, roller blinds or Roman blinds, as well as blinds, are more suitable for the window. They can be fully assembled during the day and sunlight will penetrate as much as possible into the room, and lowered at night, protecting them from prying eyes.
Artificial kitchen lighting can be:
- general;
- local.
There is an opinion that one light source is enough for a small room. However, in practice, the work area will remain in the shade, since the chandelier will only illuminate the center. The problem is solved by elongated fluorescent lamps mounted in the lower part of wall cabinets.
Another option is to provide a cornice with built-in spotlights along the entire working area on the ceiling. This can be a structure made of plasterboard or a headset element.
A bright accent of the kitchen will be a lampshade placed above the dining area. For a modern style, a ceiling soffit on a rail paired with wall sconces is suitable.
Also, adherents of minimalism will appreciate the lighting of the base. If you wish, you can even implement it yourself: an LED strip is fixed at the bottom of the headset, which is covered with a special profile. With this lighting, the boundaries blur, and the kitchen seems to float in the air.
Where should the sink be located?
When choosing to install a sink, you need to consider:
- its dimensions;
- how much space will be left for the work area;
- how it will fit into the overall interior.
And so, popular placement methods:
A corner sink is a great space saver. Looks stylish and modern. The only caveat is that everything must be clearly calculated so that installing such a structure does not waste a lot of nerves.
You can install the sink near the window. A unique solution that will make a small space interesting, comfortable and functional.
It also makes sense to pay attention to the standard location, in the center of the headset or against the wall. This will help save time and simplify the task.
Is there room for a kitchen corner in a small kitchen?
The kitchen corner by its very presence gives the room a cozy and homely atmosphere. However, what if the kitchen is very small? There is no need to give up a soft sofa. If the family is large, it will even help save space, no matter how surprising it may sound. A corner sofa will take up less space than a large number of chairs. And, naturally, it will be much more convenient for household members.
The kitchen corner is an excellent alternative to chairs for a large family.
10 photo ideas on how to use a corner beautifully and functionally
Flowers and a living corner will bring freshness to a small, faceless kitchen
Corner sink is an excellent solution for filling empty space in a corner set
Kitchen utensils that are always at hand
The railing system, hooks, and shelves will simplify the cooking process.
Microwave and other household appliances that are used daily.
Didn't find it in the store? – can be made to order.
You can make kitchen furniture yourself. Making a sofa, armchair and other complex furniture is not easy. But the kitchen set is easy. The material is wood, the coating is varnish or senezh, the facades do not have to be the usual natural color, use colors, create an indescribable image of your, albeit small, kitchen.
A small kitchen does not have to be boring if you take a creative approach to its planning and arrangement.
Action plan
- Draw a plan for the headset.
- Measure the required dimensions.
- Order suitable materials.
- Assemble the elements together with self-tapping screws.
Modern storage systems greatly increase the functionality of the kitchen.
If the room is small, then the size of the set will not scare the craftsman. Assembling a corner set will take more time and effort, but the principle is the same.
This is one approach. The second one is simpler, but its cost will be higher. This is an offer for non-standard kitchens or for non-standard approaches. If you were unable to choose the right option, do not despair, because manufacturers should offer a customized solution to order.
Be sure to check out the latest slide-out, roll-out, rail and carousel designs, dividers and other gadgets that save space in your cabinets, make it easier to reach every corner of the kitchen and keep you perfectly organized.
You can often find a designer in studios. Such a person will offer a headset based on the sizes you mentioned. If the kitchen has a complex shape and there is a measurer before the final order.
Among the additional functions there is an assembler that assembles everything with your own hands. It will perfectly adjust the nuances of the furniture and your set will fit like a glove. This applies not only to kitchen furniture or the corner set itself.
Give preference to tall cabinets that reach to the ceiling.
You can choose the material, color and shape. The cost of such an offer is not always higher than those offered in the studio.
What end should I make?
You can leave it open, make shelves and fill it with beautiful dishes and accessories.
Or choose a closed type and install doors that match the overall design of the kitchen.
Summing up
It is clear from the article that a set for a small kitchen does not have to be ugly or poorly functional. You can choose the desired color, optimal shape or desired material. The cost depends on the material and design, size and complexity of execution.
By the way, open shelves can be a reason to exchange your old dishes for beautiful new ones - why not?
Moreover, you can make a kitchen set yourself, add color and assemble it yourself. And having such experience behind you, assembling other furniture will not be difficult. Give your preference to bright colors and unusual designs, then any furniture will delight you.
A radical option for expanding a small kitchen is to combine the kitchen with the living room, leaving a partition that serves as a table or bar counter.
Photo projects of a small corner kitchen with a bar counter
Bar counter, a convenient, practical solution for a small space. Plays an important role and can:
- Replace the dining table.
- Be a mini stand for items that are always at hand.
- Increase the working area.
- Play the role of a space partition.
- Act as a transformer, replacing the role of a tabletop.
Which facades to choose for a small kitchen?
A small kitchen is not a death sentence! Approach wisely the organization of space (described above) and the design of the headset from the point of view of the design solution, the result will surprise you.
Facades should be as glossy as possible. The reflection of light will visually increase the space, so this option is optimal for any small room, not to mention the kitchen. The technique is relevant not only for facades. Choose glossy ceilings or work surface apron material.
Extend the window sill and turn it into a table, this is especially effective for a narrow kitchen.
From a design point of view, not every style can accept “gloss”, and not all materials accept this approach. For example, natural wood is prettier if it maintains its structure. You can varnish it, but this is not always pleasing with its style and appearance.
With an original layout, you can do kitchen chores while in the living room.
On the other hand, for a small kitchen, a set made of natural materials is unreasonably expensive and cumbersome: natural stone, wood or metal are a great option, but for a room it’s more to emphasize style and luxury.
If you are the happy owner of a loggia, consider combining it with a kitchen.
What color is best for a kitchen set in a small room? This is a matter of taste, not style. If the design of your room is hi-tech or loft, choose cool shades. It is possible to use black or white in its pure form, do not reject bright colors: light green, orange, purple.
Classic style, shabby chic, Provence imply pastel colors, warm shades: cocoa, beige, gray.
Instead of a large dining table, you can install a folding or folding table, or maybe a narrow bar counter.
Bright gloss will become an accent and make a small room bright, beautiful, and spacious at first glance, and a competent layout will make it convenient to use.
Color and design play a big role in the perception of a kitchen.
Photos and prices of corner kitchen units for a small kitchen from popular manufacturers
Many companies offer a large number of different corner sets. We will look at the most popular of them.
Ikea kitchens have affordable prices. The final cost of the headset consists of items, accessories, and selected facades. Modules of different models can be interconnected. Approximately, a small corner set will cost 50 thousand rubles.
Leroy Merlin. They produce inexpensive corner kitchens. They provide convenient assembly and delivery services. Below are examples of projects that can be ordered.
Cappuccino. Corner, left corner, 1.4x2.4 m, 46,860 rub.
Corner, left corner, 1.4×2.4 m. Price - 37,400 rub.
Fens mint. Corner, left corner, 1.4x2.4 m, price - 39,700 rub.
Right corner, 1.4x2.4 m, 40,300 rub.
The frame is dark. Corner, right corner, 1.4x2.4 m. Price - 35,614
The frame is dark. Corner, left corner, 1.4x2.4 m. Price - 37800
Photo examples of corner kitchens from less popular brands:
PM - Space. Agave U 170 x 140 cm. 23800 rub.
Corner kitchen set PM Kitchen Palermo 1.65x1.35 m Arabica. 29700 rub.
HOFF. Loft 1.6x1.0 m modular kitchen set. Price 32152 rub.
Corner layout in small kitchens
Direct options are much more common because they allow you to use the available space more efficiently.
A popular location for a sink is a corner with a beveled countertop. To make the most of the space, some owners create a small shelf behind the sink that is easier to reach.
The design of a small-sized kitchen can be made similar to the interiors of larger premises, while the costs will be incomparably lower. A good example of this is in the photo. The apron and walls are finished with special wood-look panels, so the design looks more harmonious.
But curtains in a small kitchen can get in the way: too fluffy ones run the risk of getting in the way when working and getting dirty quite quickly. When installing a corner kitchen from an area of 6 sq.m. nothing remains at all.
Design of a corner kitchen 6 sq.m. for $2700. Surprisingly, there was even room for an aquarium - such a design move.
Often corner sets are continued by a window sill. The place next to it almost always remains empty, so the solution is more than rational, and has been tested by more than one housewife.
If at the renovation stage the budget is not enough to purchase a hood, be sure to leave room for it. In a small kitchen, odors, steam and other side effects of cooking accumulate instantly. The hood will be a good salvation.
It often turns out that small-sized kitchens do not provide space for creativity in terms of furniture arrangement. The table has to be placed close to the refrigerator, resulting in a dark dining area. The solution is proper organization of lighting in the kitchen. Read about this in the article at the link.
If the corner of the headset is located near the entrance, it makes sense to make it rounded. Not everyone likes this design, but at least it will be easier to avoid people in your household and without unnecessary bruises.
This photo shows another example of an L-shaped set using a window sill. The space near the window should also be used, for example, by hanging a cabinet.
An inclined hood, as in this photo, copes with steam more efficiently than horizontal hidden analogues, but this way one additional wall cabinet is lost. What is more necessary is up to you to decide.
In small-sized kitchens in Khrushchev-era buildings, the area of which is 5-6 sq.m. (there are also instances 4 meters long!), a popular solution is in which part of the corridor is combined with the kitchen, and the entrance to the room is moved. This creates a niche for the refrigerator.
If desired, you can even fit a pencil case for built-in appliances into the interior of a small-sized kitchen (if prices don’t bother you). Design should be approached as responsibly as possible: if colors and textures are chosen incorrectly, the room risks looking overloaded.
Beige kitchen 6 sq.m. priced at $3200 with a built-in refrigerator. Don’t be sorry about bringing out additional sockets - it won’t be superfluous for sure.
If there is no great need for storage space, open shelves will help lighten the interior, where you can place both functional things and decorative items.
In a small corner kitchen up to 6 meters, you can even fit a small TV! How? It’s very simple: leave a suitable niche in the headset.
When installing a refrigerator, it is necessary to leave a little space between the pencil case and the hob to make cooking more convenient and to prevent the pencil case from becoming covered with a layer of fat. Cargo, in other words, a retractable bottle holder, fits perfectly into the resulting niche.
It is better to choose a folding table for a small-sized kitchen, which folds out only when necessary. True, this advice is relevant for a family of no more than 3 people.
Bar pipes will allow you to free up some space on your work surface. Pay attention to the pencil case in the photo: there is a magnetic knife holder on it.
And this is a kitchen of 5.5 sq.m. in Khrushchev. As in the examples above, the refrigerator is hidden in a niche, and the window sill has become an extension of the kitchen.
But you should think about moving gas pipes at the very beginning of the repair. Hiding a gas pipe, or at least camouflaging it, in a finished interior will be problematic.
The same rule is also true for geysers. Agree, it does not stand out very nicely from the overall interior.
And don't be afraid of bright colors! In addition, gloss will allow you to expand the space of a small-sized kitchen, at least a little.
U-shaped kitchens are especially chic. True, for this you will have to move the dining area to the living room. If you are already used to eating in front of the computer or TV, this will not be a big problem.
By the way, a refrigerator can perfectly hide a gas meter. The disadvantage of this solution is that its level will exceed the size of the headset and block the light.
A small kitchen remodel is in full swing. Admit it, have you already wanted to renovate your home? 
10 successful examples of corner sets in a small area
How to make a small kitchen more spacious and spacious
Even the tiniest kitchen can be decorated with dignity if you follow the advice of professional designers. Some tricks will help make the room more spacious, comfortable and functional.
A dining table with chairs takes up a lot of space in the kitchen. It is not always possible to completely abandon it, but there is a way to solve this problem - instead of a table, you can use a bar counter, which, thanks to its compact size, will easily fit into any space. This stand can be retractable or stationary.
Tall cabinets will make the kitchen set more spacious. Inside you can equip shelves, drawers and compartments for storing all used kitchen utensils.
Metal roof rails also help solve the problem of a small kitchen. You can install them directly on the kitchen apron. The rails are highly functional, they take up virtually no space and help keep all the necessary kitchen accessories at hand - oven mitts, ladles, spatulas, paper towels, jars of spices, and much more.
A compact refrigerator instead of a heavy and large unit. It can be built-in, making the space saving in the kitchen even more significant. Modern manufacturers have long established the production of such refrigerators, which are ideal for installation in small apartments.
Household appliances in a small kitchen should be built-in. This means that all devices that can be hidden behind facades must be hidden behind them. A microwave oven, an electric stove with an oven, a refrigerator, a dishwasher, a food processor - all this must be properly built into the set. You may have to give up some household appliances - for example, install either an oven or a microwave in the kitchen.
The color scheme of the kitchen is of great importance. Every designer will confirm that light colors help to visually enlarge even the smallest room, while dark shades make it even cramped and gloomy.
In a small kitchen, light colors should prevail in everything - this applies to furniture, ceilings, walls, and even the floor.
The textiles on the windows should be light, or you can avoid using them completely by installing light blinds. All elements of the decor should be kept in the same key.
To make the kitchen look larger, it must always have enough light.
You can hang a large chandelier above the dining table; in a small room you cannot do without spotlights installed above the work surface.
A small kitchen should always have free access to daylight.
To make the kitchen seem larger, you should not use ceramic tiles in its decoration, since this material creates the effect of a closed box in small rooms. It is best to use washable wallpaper or decorative plaster.
Mirror, glass and glossy surfaces used in furniture facades, kitchen aprons and even countertops will help to visually increase the space.
If family members like to watch TV while eating dinner, choose a small flat-screen model. It is best to hang this TV on the wall.
All “architectural excesses” (for example, a geyser) should be disguised as a wall cabinet, not forgetting to carefully insulate the walls inside it first.
When arranging a small kitchen, the main thing is not to overdo it and not turn the compact room into a sterile and snow-white doctor’s office, in which there is no place for beauty and decor. It is possible and necessary to decorate such a kitchen with decorative elements, you just need to do it correctly.
Some accessories that do not take up much space will help to revive the kitchen and give it personality - a ceramic candlestick and a porcelain napkin holder on the table, small photographs of family members on the walls, pots of herbs on the windowsill, cute curtains on the windows.
The main thing is that all this matches the chosen style of the room and emphasizes it.
Corner kitchens for a small kitchen: what are their advantages?
You can benefit from any situation. A small room can be furnished in a fashionable and modern way by turning to a professional designer for help. Due to the fact that the area is small, you don’t have to save on furniture, allowing yourself a higher-quality set that will last for many years.
Corner kitchens for small kitchens, made to order, allow you to realize any wishes of the hostess.
In such headsets, the corner zone is interestingly played out using:
- unusual retractable mechanisms;
- carousel shelves;
- withdrawable systems;
- "accordion" type facades;
- lifting mechanisms.
Consider lighting carefully. It should be multi-level and accentuated. Skip the large chandelier—spot lighting on a glossy ceiling will add volume and height to the room. In the eating area above the table, you can place a lamp on a long cord. This will highlight the dining area.
Let the curtains be small, made of light flowing fabric. If your style allows, then avoid them completely. That's how it is here. You see, this doesn’t make the kitchen any less cozy.
Types of kitchen units
Since not all modern housing and old buildings have spacious kitchens, domestic and foreign manufacturers offer many options for kitchen mini-sets, standard models or with the possibility of custom-designed ones.
4 types of layout
L-shaped kitchen
An L-shaped kitchen is ideal for medium and small spaces: the sink is in the corner of the unit, the stove and refrigerator are to the right and left of it.
With a peninsula
This arrangement of furniture is optimal in a studio apartment or a large rectangular kitchen.
With an island
The island layout will be appreciated by owners of a spacious kitchen in the house or a kitchen combined with a living room. In a small apartment, give preference to a peninsula or buy a mobile island table - they take up less space.
Corner kitchens with bar counter
A bar counter is an additional work surface, but more often it is a place where you can drink coffee and have a snack. In a small apartment it can completely replace the dining table.
- A cabinet with drawers, a minibar, and a wine refrigerator can be built into the base of the counter.
Right angle
Choose this option if there is little space in the kitchen or the renovation budget is strictly limited. A serious disadvantage is difficult access to the contents of the corner cabinet. You can install roll-out, pull-out or rotating shelves, which will make your life much easier, but they are not cheap.
And if there is a sink in the corner, you will no longer be able to use the fittings.
With beveled corner (trapezoid cabinet)
This design is good when you have a corner sink, no dishwasher and often have back pain. It’s easier to get something out of a slanted cabinet, you won’t have to reach for the sink, and you’ll spend less effort washing dishes.
The disadvantage is obvious: a cut corner is larger than a straight corner (standard sizes of pentagonal cabinets are 850 by 850 and 900 by 900 mm) and often looks bulky. Therefore, this solution is not suitable for owners of a tiny kitchen.
With a sink in the corner
A kitchen with a sink in the corner is the most common type of layout, especially in Khrushchev. A corner sink model is usually built into a trapezoid cabinet. In a kitchen with a right angle, the best choice is a miniature round sink or a compact rectangular sink with one or two bowls.
See the photos for examples:
With ventilation box/protrusion
In both old houses and new buildings, there may be an air duct in the corner, which spoils the design of the kitchen and complicates the arrangement of furniture.
When the ventilation duct is small, the obstacle is easy to get around: the furniture manufacturer will simply reduce the depth of the floor cabinets:
When the box protrudes forward, the most reasonable thing is to divide the set into two parts, as in the examples in the photo:
With work surface
You can place here a tabletop dish drainer, a jug or water filter, a coffee maker, a toaster, or a microwave.
With stove
A stove is rarely placed in a corner, but sometimes this layout option is the only possible one. It is more convenient to install the hob into a trapezoid-shaped cabinet. This is what it looks like in real interiors:
With drawers
A non-standard item that is made only to order.
With open shelves
