Home Design & Decorating Room Design Kitchen Design

30 Small Galley Kitchen Ideas to Make Any Space Work on a Budget

By
Sarah Lyon
sarah lyon, writer for the spruce
Sarah Lyon
Sarah Lyon is a freelance writer and home decor enthusiast, who enjoys sharing good finds on home items. Since 2018, she has contributed to a variety of lifestyle publications, including Apartment Therapy and Architectural Digest.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 11/07/24
light blue small galley kitchen with pastel gallery wall

@my_best_laid_plans / Instagram

If your home features a galley kitchen, we're here to share plenty of ways to jazz up this small space. Better yet, these tips are extra affordable, and many are renter-friendly as well. Give your cooking space plenty of new life without breaking the bank—you deserve it.

Below, we're sharing small galley kitchen ideas that are affordable and doable.

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    Small Neutral Galley Kitchen

    basic galley kitchen

    @lindyandcohome / Instagram

    This galley kitchen may be small in size but has plenty of useable counter space, thanks to the butcher block that extends throughout the kitchen and is easy to utilize and wipe down. Keep your counters clear of excess so that you have as much room for food prep as possible.

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    Styled Shelves

    galley kitchen with open shelving

    @victorianterrace120 / Instagram

    Make use of your vertical space by installing open shelving, as seen here. These shelves can be equal parts decorative and functional. Use them to house canisters of dried goods, everyday glassware, and the like, while weaving in some small objects like plants and vases.

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    Patterned Runner

    small galley kitchen with runner

    @myhousewokeuplikethis / Instagram

    Warm up your galley kitchen by laying down a runner in the style of your choosing. This will add instant color to your space while also providing you with a soft surface to stand on as you walk around and stand in front of the sink washing dishes.

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    Colored Cabinets

    galley kitchen with green cabinets

    @growingupgowler / Instagram

    Who says that kitchens should be all white? Experiment with a dose of color and opt for cabinets with some extra personality, like these green-blue beauties. Colorful kitchens are majorly in vogue as of late.

    For a small galley kitchen, keep it light and bright with shades of white, cream, or beige. Choose soothing colors like blue and green. Or go bold with bright warm shades of pink, coral, or yellow.

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    Textural Pieces

    galley kitchen with long runner

    @_elizabeth_dalton / Instagram

    On the other hand, if you're more of a neutral lover, that's fair game, too. Keep your space from feeling too flat by weaving in different textural pieces, like this jute runner that covers the floor.

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    Small Bright Galley Kitchen

    galley kitchen with large framed artwork

    @beginninginthemiddle / Instagram

    Draw the eye upward by replacing standard kitchen fixtures with pendant lights that appeal to your style. These glass ones complement the white tones in this galley kitchen wonderfully.

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    Small Galley Kitchen With Shiplap Accent Wall

    galley kitchen with shiplap wall

    @perfectdayprintco / Instagram

    Say hello to shiplap. If you love a farmhouse look, bring a shiplap wall into your galley kitchen. Whether you paint it a fun color or leave it white is entirely up to you.

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    Greenery in Small Galley Kitchen

    galley kitchen with plants

    @onceupona1912 / Instagram

    One easy way to add vibrance to your kitchen without making any major changes (we're looking at you, renters) is through plants. Whether real or faux, green friends add major personality to any room of the home.

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    Small Coastal Galley Kitchen

    blue and white galley kitchen

    @loithai / Instagram

    This calming blue and white galley kitchen is perfectly coastal (with a farmhouse touch in the form of the shiplap walls). Pick a color scheme and commit to it creatively—here, blue and white canisters can be used to house coffee grounds, tea bags, and more.

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    Bold Backsplash

    galley kitchen with bold backsplash

    @alishagwen / Instagram

    If your backsplash just isn't doing it for you, go another route—there are so many peel-and-stick options that can make all of the difference design wise. How cool is this blue honeycomb design?

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    Faux Built-Ins

    galley kitchen with hutch

    @amycwhyte / Instagram

    Adding built-ins to your galley kitchen is going to cost a pretty penny, but you can fake the look—and get more storage—by bringing a wooden hutch like this one into the space. It's perfectly rustic chic and offers tons of room for linens, glassware, plates, and more.

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    Small Organized Galley Kitchen

    neutral galley kitchen

    @ourwildleafranch / Instagram

    Be intentional about what you choose to keep out in a small galley kitchen, particularly if you wish to keep your space as neutral in color as possible. Utilize a utensil crock and knife black to corral everyday basics and keep them within reach.

    Tip

    To maximize vertical space, carry storage cabinets and shelves from floor to ceiling. Install pull-out cabinetry for space efficiency and easy access. Lay out the stove, sink, and fridge in a kitchen triangle to optimize workflow.

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    Gallery Wall

    mint green galley kitchen

    @my_best_laid_plans / Instagram

    If your galley kitchen is shaped like this one, spice up the blank wall at the end with some of your favorite artwork. These prints all complement the soft blue cabinets nicely. Don't feel as though you have to stick to artwork typical of what you might normally see in a kitchen—take cues from the surrounding rooms as well.

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    Classic Tile

    small wood toned galley kitchen

    @michelle_shakallis_interiors / Instagram

    Subway tile is a tried and true backsplash style that's here to stay. Again, you can introduce the look into your space with a peel-and-stick solution that is removable when your lease ends.

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    Small Functional Galley Kitchen

    small galley kitchen with beams

    @pureandsimplestyle / Instagram

    Hang a plate rack above the counters to turn your favorite platters into art instead of keeping them behind closed cabinet doors. They'll act as decor when they're not in use and can be changed out seasonally for a refresh.

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    Wooden Board Wall

    galley kitchen with shelves at end

    @maple.hill.home / Instagram

    If you aren't inclined to hang a gallery wall in the kitchen, take a cue from this approach instead and show off some of your wooden cutting boards. This also means that they aren't taking up precious cabinet space.

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    Chic Hardware

    galley kitchen with warm tones

    @mitchglew / Instagram

    Replace cabinet hardware with pulls that speak to your aesthetic. If you're renting, be sure to keep the originals on hand to reinstall before moving out.

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    Small All-White Galley Kitchen

    modern white galley kitchen

    @theaccountantandroofer / Instagram

    Keep an all-white galley kitchen from feeling too bland by choosing one accent color to bring in, whether that's on your windows or in rug form. Here, a cheerful red adds an instant pep to the room.

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    Small Two-Toned Galley Kitchen

    galley kitchen with two toned walls

    @little_savage_life / Instagram

    Why not opt for a two-toned look in the kitchen? Black and white is always a popular pairing and adds visual interest to this small space.

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    Cutout Shelf

    galley kitchen with floor tiles

    @houseof.lais / Instagram

    A small cutout shelf in this galley kitchen serves as a handy place to put spices and other small items. Make the most of every square inch and get creative with storage solutions.

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    Leaning Frames

    galley kitchen with leaning artwork

    @sweeten_home / Instagram

    If your kitchen walls are all tile but you still wish to display artwork, install a wooden shelf like this one and lean some of your favorite pieces. This makes it easy to swap out art as you wish—and the shelf can also hold cookbooks if it's wide enough, as seen here.

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    Small Minimal Galley Kitchen

    small gray and white galley kitchen

    @taniyanayak / Instagram

    Keeping plates on an open shelf above the sink makes it easy to put away your dried dishes in a snap. Better yet, you know exactly what's clean and ready to use.

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    Small Dining Nook

    galley kitchen with dining nook

    @mollysingerdesign / Instagram

    Don't underestimate the function your galley kitchen can offer. This one even has space for a small dining nook, which is nice and cozy and allows families to gather together while one person is prepping food.

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    Minimalistic Fixtures

    galley kitchen with artful lighting

    @negi.at.home / Instagram

    Artful lighting strikes again in this galley kitchen, where minimalistic fixtures add a contemporary touch.

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    Simple Stool

    galley kitchen with small stool shelf

    @wild.in.the.west / Instagram

    A small stool doubles as a side table in this galley kitchen and can easily be moved around as needed. Use it as a plant stand or to house essentials as you cook.

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    Small Pink Galley Kitchen

    galley kitchen with framed art

    @roshambeauxrosemary / Instagram

    Think pink. If you love soft pinks, work them into the kitchen in the form of rugs and artwork to bring in some charm.

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    Painted Cabinets

    galley kitchen with painted cabinets

    I Spy DIY

    Paint wooden cabinets to give them new life without having to replace them entirely. Here, a beige tone brings a transitional look into this galley kitchen.

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    Metallic Hardware

    galley kitchen with sconces

    The Home Spun Styling Co

    You can also replace your faucet head if your current one looks dated. A gold faucet immediately adds a touch of luxury to this galley kitchen.

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    Small Charming Galley Kitchen

    galley kitchen with storage on door

    @heart_home_vintage / Instagram

    Use the back of your kitchen door as extra storage by installing a few hooks that can hold extra dish towels as well as your apron collection.

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    Small Airy Galley Kitchen

    galley kitchen with small end table

    @patinaville / Instagram

    Keep window coverings to a minimum—or skip them entirely—to make your galley kitchen appear more airy and less busy in style.

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