Hockley super matt dove grey galley kitchen

Kitchen Layout Ideas

Galley Kitchen Ideas

Making the best use of space has become crucial to homeowners, which is why many households are looking for galley kitchen ideas to create a small and efficient layout. Named after cooking areas aboard a ship, the hallmark of galley kitchen designs is two parallel runs of cabinetry with a narrow corridor in between. Explore this galley kitchen inspiration to understand the best use of colours, cupboard doors, and accessories to create a practical and stylish scheme.

Antique white shaker kitchen with an island unit with incorporated breakfast bar and hob. Open shelving and wall units.

1. Select stately shaker

Banish thoughts of having limited style when planning a small galley kitchen by choosing shaker units. These classic cupboards have a framed design and a grained finish that creates a decorative, stately look without overpowering your scheme. Opt for a pale tone, like cream or antique white, to keep everything feeling light, bright, and inviting.

View Shaker Galley Fitted Kitchens

Contemporary grey super matt kitchen with mirror chip kitchen worktop, built in breakfast bar and appliance tower.

2. Integrate sleek style

Reducing visual distractions is a sure way to make a narrow layout appear wider, so go for integrated handle doors, which have a built-in handgrip that creates a streamlined feel. The handpull along the top also creates a horizontal line, which mirrors the architecture of the parallel units and lends well to linear-inspired designs.

Discover Integrated Handle Galley Fitted Kitchens

Hockley Super Matt Dove Grey Handleless Door Cameo

3. Strip-back with slab

To create an understated scheme, select slab doors, which have a single-piece construction. Without fussy features, this design works well in most interiors, making it a versatile choice that will suit any home. Look for slimmer styles, like our Greenwich doors, which are lightweight, easy to use, and affordable – great for a cheap galley kitchen idea.

Explore Slab Galley Fitted Kitchens

4. Welcome white

Classic, neutral, and brightening, white is an obvious choice for a slender space, as it will make the most of natural light, so the room appears larger and brighter. This tone will match any decor making it a versatile option that can also be adapted to suit changing trends, enuring your design will look good for years to come.

See White Galley Fitted Kitchens

Galley kitchen with dark shaker cupboards and white worktops.

5. Be bold with black

Be a rule breaker like, @leytonrenovation, and go for darker tones, such as navy or charcoal, in your layout. These hues deliver maximum impact, no matter what square footage you have, making them great for creating a striking design. Balance this look by opting for light colours on other features, like counters and floors.

Browse Black Galley Kitchens

Scandinavian blue kitchen idea in galley layout with shaker cupboard doors, white worktops, open shelving and wood flooring.

6. Bring in bold colours

Foregoing wall cabinetry in favour of open shelving is a great way to free up space and make a room feel less crowded. This trick will also allow you to be more adventurous with cupboard door shades. Go for a bright pop of colour, like blue, which is on-trend and can be used to create a stylish, Scandi-inspired design full of cool character.

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Hockley Super Matt Dove Grey - Alternative Angle

7. Sway to grey

For a smart small galley kitchen idea, switch out white cabinetry for grey. This hue has all the brightening benefits of white, and will provide enough depth to keep the space feeling welcoming. This modern neutral will also instantly update an interior, whilst complementing surrounding features, like silver cooking devices, for a cohesive look.

Look at Grey Galley Fitted Kitchens

Use a timeless Shaker door in on-trend slate grey to give a kitchen a contemporary twist.

8. Try towers

Having a galley kitchen with an island may seem out of reach, however, it can be achieved with careful planning. Including tall cabinetry, like tower cupboards, will save floor space and provide ample room to organise essentials. This means your island unit will not require as much storage, so you can scale down on the size for a slimline centrepiece.

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Cream glossy slab kitchen in a galley layout. Has a black single bowl sink and tap, a black inductive hob, and a wine rack.

9. Clean and contemporary

@tashbxx has made her design look bright and inviting by using glossy cupboard doors to maximise the light flowing from her windows, skylights, and glazed doorway. This finish also has a modern appearance, and provides a hygienic surface that lends well to the clean aesthetic of contemporary interiors.

Explore Gloss Galley Fitted Kitchens

10. Go for grained

Draw in the senses by adding grained cupboards to your scheme, which offer the distinctive pattern of natural timber to create visual and textural interest. This organic and characterful finish has a timeless look, and also gives a nod to the seafaring roots of galley floorplans, which used natural materials in their designs.

Peruse Grain Galley Fitted Kitchens

Slate grey shaker kitchen with island style sink and overhanging breakfast bar. Open shelving and exposed white brickwork.

11. Build a breakfast area

If you have a bit more room to play with, take advantage of the extra space and include a breakfast counter. This will transform your layout into a multifunctional area, making it easier to keep an eye on the kids or entertain guests. Turn this into a real feature by adding custom shelving on the end, where you can store bigger pots and pans.

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12. Shed light on shadows

With cabinetry bordering both sides of the room, a galley design can easily block out natural light and harbour lots of dark areas, making a space appear cramped. Adding lights to kickboards can keep shadows at bay and create the illusion of a roomier layout. It will also create a cosy ambience that is especially welcoming in the cold winter months.

Explore kitchen plinth lighting

White and navy galley kitchen with shaker cupboard doors and silver cup handles. Has glass wall units and wooden worktops.

13. Create a glazed display

Make your room look open while maximising storage by including glazed wall units. They will let light flow through to break up banks of cupboards that are commonly found in galley layouts. @my_cosy_terrace have placed their glass cupboard next to their cooking area, which offers easy access to crockery to make plating up at mealtimes simple.

See glass kitchen doors

14. Tap out on clutter

Keeping counters clutter-free will reduce visual distractions and make a small area feel roomier. A hot water faucet is a smart solution, as it offers near-boiling water in an instant, so there is no need for a kettle. This saves valuable counter space that can be in short supply in galley designs, and also reduces the time spent waiting for the water to heat up – great for those early morning brews.

Discover instant hot water kitchen taps

15. Make it multifunctional

Galley layouts often mean you have to fit all the essentials into a smaller area, so it is important to make every inch count. A simple way to do this is to choose multi-functional equipment, like a washer-dryer. This handy device performs both washing and drying tasks, so you only need to make room for one machine, saving both space and money on additional equipment.

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