Women standing in a u-shaped white kitchen. Has a modern handleless design and includes white quartz worktops.

Kitchen Advice

How To Design A Minimal Kitchen

When planning her renovation, interior blogger Jen Guest wanted something completely different to the traditional shaker style of their previous design and found that a minimal look offered a more calming backdrop for their open-plan diner. Knowing a minimal kitchen design would stand the test of time, she found it easy to apply within her period property and knew it would make her small space feel less busy. Jen has gathered her top tips on how to design a minimal kitchen to help you get off to the best start on your next project.

Women leaning against the sink in a white handleless kitchen with super matt cupboard doors and wooden shelving.

About Jen

A lover all things interiors, content creator, Jen, lives in Liverpool with her partner Paul and her two, young sons. She has been steadily renovating her Victorian end terrace home since 2015, by adding subtle modern touches that update the space and complement the original features of the property.

See more @thehousethatjenbuilt_

1. Choose a simple door design

Adopting an approach where less is more is key to this look, which is why slab-style doors offers the ultimate minimal aesthetic. I chose the Hockley Super Matt White due to its simplicity and clean look. I also switched to handleless to further accentuate that minimal feel creating clean unbroken lines that is easy to keep clean.

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A white handleless kitchen in a u-shaped layout. Includes white trims, wooden flooring, and quartz worktops.

2. Go for neutral colours

When I think of minimal design my thoughts turn to light colours, especially white and pale greys. I chose a white design as I wanted to keep the space as light and bright as possible, especially with the space we had available. It also creates a blank canvas to build upon with other elements, such as wood and concrete, that can add texture.

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3. Switch to muted finishes

I went with a matt finish for our cupboards to build upon the pared back feel of a minimal design. I also wanted to avoid the glare of gloss as it can show up sticky marks and fingerprints. The Hockley Super Matt has anti-fingerprint technology, which has proved invaluable with two young children. They are super easy to clean too.

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A white appliance tower which includes a black built-in double oven.

4. Craft architectural features

When researching how to design a minimal kitchen, I often saw large rooms with long banks of cupboards. Living in a Victorian terrace means our kitchen is on the small side. Where we lack on floor space, we make up in ceiling height, so we chose towers to adopt this architectural look. These units draw the eye upwards, making our room feel more spacious.

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5. Mix in modern materials

I wanted the new space to feel clean and modern, so we decided to upgrade to quartz. This manmade material is incredibly hardwearing and requires very little maintenance - offering a timeless fit which is ideal for minimal designs. White also created an uninterrupted look with our cabinetry, which made the space feel much bigger.

Upgrade to quartz worktops

6. High tech

I have always had a gas hob, and when designing my layout, I quickly realised it did not fit with the minimal design. The sleek appearance of induction was exactly what I wanted, and after much research, I found they were as responsive as gas. Highly functional to mirror the ethos of minimal design it is also a lot safer for young families as they heat the pan rather than the hob itself.

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A compact white kitchen with two pan drawers and cutlery tray fitted beneath a black induction hob.

7. Human centred

I wanted this kitchen to become the centre of our home where we could all spend time as a family. It was also important that is was accessible for my two young boys - now and as they grow. The two large pan drawers we added are perfect for this, as they create a lot of accessible storage space, which means they can help with cooking and clearing away in the future.

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a white handleless kitchen at Christmas with a built in oven and microwave.

8. Easy clean

I dislike cleaning the oven, especially using harsh chemicals and plastic bags, which are not good for the environment. With minimal design, it needs to look the part and act the part, minimising upkeep and maintenance. As a result, I chose a pyrolytic oven, which uses heat to burn grease to ash, which dramatically reduces the time spent cleaning, and the chemicals required too.

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9. Design inside

When designing a minimalist kitchen, making use of all the available internal space is key to keeping it simple externally. That is why I opted for an internal drawer. Great for smaller areas, where you might not have room for extra drawers, it keeps cutlery organised and out of sight. This is actually one of my favourite features in the new design.

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10. Cut back on clutter

Minimal design is all about making life simpler in everyday tasks. Initially, I chose the Franke 4 in 1 hot water tap, so there was no need for a kettle to clutter my counters. Since having it, I have found it useful when cooking. Now, there is no need to fill or wait for a kettle to boil, instead I can fill pans up straight from the tap, so dinner is served faster.

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