30 Inspirational Small Kitchen Design Ideas for 2022

There are few rooms in the house more important than the kitchen. It’s where many of us start the day, catch up with loved ones over a cup of tea or go about the daily chores. Such an important space deserves a design that speaks true to your style and personality.

A small kitchen may present challenges when it comes to design, but there are also plenty of opportunities once you know where to start. Even small changes like incorporating certain colours or industrial kitchen lighting can make a huge difference!

Get inspired by some of our favourite design ideas for small kitchens.

1. Maximise Natural Lighting

Ensure you maximise your kitchen's natural light through the strategic placement of mirrors or reflective colours and materials to get that light and airy feel.

2. Practical Task Lighting

Wall sconces and pendants that hang over islands are great for illuminating kitchen worktops and creating a layer of task lighting that offers practicality, style and warmth.

3. Over-Sink Lighting

If you like cooking at home, you’ll likely spend a fair amount of time washing up at the sink. Make sure you give this area an inviting ambience with an over-sink spotlight or row of stylish wall lights.

4. Statement Lighting

Don’t be afraid to make a statement, even in small spaces. Large dome pendants or other sleek fixtures can be great additions to your kitchen without making it feel cluttered.

5. Row of Pendants

There’s no getting away from this classic look, even if your kitchen is on the smaller size. A row of two or three pendants works particularly well, drawing the eye up and creating a sense of dimension.

6. Metallic Finishes

Metallic lights are incredibly diverse and can be incorporated into any style of kitchen, offering a bright highlight that ties the room together.

7. Glass Pendants

Elegant glass pendants will help create a feeling of lightness as they allow light to refract through them for a delicate and ethereal effect.

8. Mix & Match Lighting

Combine different styles of lights for a more dynamic space. Play with shapes and sizes as well as fixtures that will create different layers of light to hone in on the right ambience.

9. Farmhouse & Traditional Features

Showcase any rustic features or bring more wooden elements into your kitchen for a cosy feel. Other natural materials like raw metals or stone flooring will also help create those country kitchen vibes.

10. Minimalism

Minimalism is all about using a few features to create maximum impact. Strip your kitchen back to the essentials before adding back hints of colour and style for a sleek and refined look that doesn’t sacrifice utility.

11. Declutter & Keep Surfaces Clear

If you want the ultimate sleek look, clear surfaces and unblemished cabinets are a must. If you have enough storage, hide away crockery and cookware to boost the sense of minimalism.

12. Use Colour for Cohesion

Using the same accent colour for your cabinets and chairs or feature wall will create a visual flow for a cohesive and professionally-styled look no matter how big your kitchen is.

13. Bright Accent Colours

If you’re daunted by using lots of colour in your kitchen, opt for just a few pieces that pop with colour. Brightly coloured kitchen appliances or other highlights offer a great opportunity to add some cheerful spots to the space.

14. Dark Cabinets

For a more luxurious look, how about some dark coloured cabinets? This design will add a depth that plays wonderfully with any natural light, creating an opulent atmosphere.

15. Pale Monochromes

For those that want to stay away from darker colours, a pastel monochrome palette is a wonderful choice. This scheme will give a cohesive feel with a refreshing sense of lightness.

16. Glossy Finishes

Another option is to go for sleek, glossy cabinets and surfaces with a mirror-like finish. The lacquered effect is great for reflecting light around a room.

17. Black & White Kitchens

For a super sophisticated look, you can’t go wrong with a black and white colour scheme. The contrast between light and dark creates a minimal, modern feel.

18. Patterned Backsplash

Infuse your kitchen with a bit of fun and flair with a patterned backsplash. This is another great way to incorporate accent colours and patterns into smaller spaces.

9. Herringbone Flooring

For a sleek and classic look for your kitchen, there is no better option than a herringbone-style floor pattern. This look creates a sense of symmetry and precision, adding to that carefully-curated feel.

20. Tiled Flooring

Tiled flooring offers a diverse look for your kitchen, with countless colours and patterns available. This will add interest to your room without overwhelming the space.

21. Bar Carts

If your space is too small for the kitchen island of your dreams, a bar cart or rolling butcher’s block can be the ideal solution. They don’t intrude into the space, offer more storage options and can be moved around easily.

22. Make Use of Vertical Space

Storage is incredibly important for smaller kitchens, so don’t let any inch of space go to waste! Floating shelves above kitchen counters will ensure that every inch of vertical space is being utilised.

23. Double Up on Storage & Display

Incorporate your utensils, cookware and other kitchen items into your design by displaying them in interesting ways. You could hang pots and mugs from rails or use open shelves below island cabinets.

24. Recessed Shelves

Make use of every inch of space by installing shelving units into awkward recesses or between your kitchen cabinets.

25. Kitchen Stools

Slim stools for breakfast bars or kitchen islands are great for narrow spaces as they can tuck neatly underneath surfaces and will take up less room than dining chairs.

26. Kitchen Benches

Benches that slot under dining tables or windows are also brilliant for narrow kitchens and will work excellently in farmhouse-style spaces.

27. Incorporate Exposed Bricks

Even if you don’t have an authentic brick wall in your kitchen, this feature can be mimicked easily with faux brick panels to add that sought-after industrial edge.

28. Embrace Nature

If you want to add life and vibrancy to your kitchen, this is one of the best ways. Hanging plants are becoming increasingly popular and are perfect for rooms with limited floor or counter space.

29. Add a Rug

Rugs are fairly uncommon features in most kitchens, but they are ideal for adding additional texture, colour and warmth to kitchens with more restrictions when it comes to space.

30. Mirrors

Find the perfectly sized and shaped mirror for your kitchen to create the illusion of more space. Light will bounce around the room more effectively and you’ll open up more views.

If any of the lights showcased here have caught your eye, be sure to check out our complete range of stunning industrial lights to find the perfect design for you!

For further inspiration and insight into the latest design trends, head over to our Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest pages. Tag us @Industville or use #Industville to share your interiors with us – we’d love to see if you incorporate any of these kitchen ideas.

Header image credit: @juliatomsphotography and @brhdesign