10 Of Our Favourite (Perfectly Styled) Small Kitchens

Invest in wall-to-wall cabinetry 

When it comes to maximising space in a small kitchen, cabinetry is key. Investing in custom joinery means you’ll be making use of every square inch, including above and below benchtops.

The impeccable oak veneer joinery of interior designer Jamie Vella’s kitchen turns a whole wall into functional storage and cohesively conceals everything, including the appliances, to create an illusion of more room. Something like the wall-to-wall joinery in this Darlinghurst terrace also helps create a serene and organised atmosphere, setting the tone for the rest of the home’s Japanese-inspired interiors.

Embrace light (in many forms)

If you have a small space, light is going to be your best friend. Having a nice sunny view from the window over the kitchen sink is ideal, but even simple updates like a cute table lamp (like this paper lantern on the benchtop of Sasha Gattermayr’s Melbourne apartment) can go a long way in making a space feel more inviting.

The renovated 1960s Avalon Beach apartment of Knot Studio interior designer Alex Johnson and Joel Taylor is full of inspiration, and their kitchen is especially clever — equipped with a mirrored splashback that reflects sunlight all around the room!

Style open shelves to perfection

An open shelf is a convenient spot to keep your everyday items, but it’s also a place in your kitchen where you can inject some personality into the space.

We love the way designer Leigh Ellwood styled the shelves of her tiny galley-style kitchen (inside Melbourne’s famous Beverley Hills apartments!) with her favourite patterned tableware, or how artist Yolande Gray’s Bronte terrace features a nook in her kitchen to showcase little artworks and objects collected all over the world. Plywood is a great affordable material if you’re looking to create your own, just like this pint-sized Melbourne apartment renovated by the owner!

Use colour to make a statement

Some of our favourite small kitchens of all time are the ones that aren’t afraid to use colour in a big way. The once unliveable Melbourne apartment of Nina Siska has been transformed into a playful home packed with personality, and that’s mostly because of how boldly the kitchen mixes and matches different tones, textures and materials; the walls are painted in an eye-catching peach; stone benchtops feature green terrazzo; and even the IKEA cabinetry has been customised in a green shade.

In contrast, the kitchen of a sustainably retrofitted apartment (designed by architects Kennedy Nolan) uses a singular, rich red colour scheme to make a splash without becoming overwhelming in a ‘very limited floorplan’ of just 30 square metres.

Custom detailing makes a difference

It will cost you, but working with a great cabinet maker to create custom joinery can be totally transformative. Someone who has experience designing and building kitchen cabinetry will unlock untapped potential in your kitchen, with solutions like double-layered drawers, hidden storage and bespoke design details.

These smart storage solutions have made a world of difference in the kitchen renovation of our very own TDF office! Focusing the functional storage on the bottom half of the kitchen maximised the bench space, while also leaving room for the beautiful pink tiles to line the walls as the hero feature.