The galley kitchen layout has long received a bad rap. Originally used in ships, it is famed for its narrow working space, usually a thin hallway that one has to walk to and fro in while preparing meals.
But that’s not how the galley kitchen should be.
Thanks to better design, galley kitchens are becoming more efficient in space usage and highly functional – the main reason why ships and restaurants still use them.
As far as your home is concerned, experimenting with a galley layout kitchen is not entirely a bad idea.
Why?
Besides being highly functional, galley-style kitchens are among the cheapest to renovate compared to the more modern kitchen designs with glaring kitchen islands.
Galley Kitchen Designs You Can Try For Your Next Kitchen Remodel
Well, how many design options can I explore? A ton.
Unlike common myths, there’s a lot of room for play when designing a galley kitchen. You can experiment with patterns, colors, and even cabinetry that most people avoid because it will squeeze their already claustrophobic space.
So, in this piece, we’ll showcase some stylish galley kitchen designs that you can try in your current or next kitchen remodeling.
1. Monochrome Layout
If you’re not a fan of pops of color or deeply contrasting tones, then a monochrome layout should be a viable design option for your galley kitchen.
A monochrome layout, especially in white, helps create a feeling of space and airiness in your galley kitchen design. You can experiment with glass wall units or a wall of windows that bring in some light.
Alternatively, instead of a pure white color scheme, you can add subtle shades of black on a few kitchen appliances, such as the stove, to break the color monotony. Doing this helps further reduce the hallway feeling and thus makes the kitchen feel more spacious.
2. Terracotta Design
If white is too bright for you, experimenting with darker colors is still a viable design option.
Yes, dark colors are known to make a room feel squeezed and constricted. Thus, going for a shade like terracotta for your galley kitchen design makes no sense.
Well, that’s not true. Interestingly, a terracotta galley kitchen is a very viable option.
When dark cabinetry is painted in darker tones, like dark gray, terracotta ceilings, and walls, it breaks the dull color monotony without adding too much contrast.
With such a design, you must focus on minimalism to give the kitchen an even more airy feel. Thus, the countertops should be clutter-free, and all appliances should be stored inside the cabinetry.
You can even experiment with a nice shade of orange on the countertop to create a stunning three-tone design.
3. Contrasting Colors
White and dull colors are not that contemporary. In most kitchens today, designers are exploring bold shades of color with great contrast to add interest to the kitchen design. So why not try that with the galley kitchen?
One way to do this is to have the ceiling, walls, backsplash, and piping all be different but contrasting color shades. For instance, you can have a painted ceiling and floor with varnished piping in pale pink.
The kitchen hardware, such as cabinet knobs, can be in jewel tones that, put together, add a vibrant feel to the entire kitchen design.
You can use the same theme in the rooms adjacent to the kitchen so that these areas have a unified look.
4. Open Concept Galley Kitchen
Open Concept Galley Kitchen Design
Who said the galley kitchen has to be a closed hallway? With a modern design, an open-plan concept can be used with the galley kitchen design.
Functionally, this design helps reduce smoke and heat in the kitchen by adding ventilation in the small hallway.
As far as aesthetics go, an open-concept galley kitchen connects the kitchen to the dining and living areas, making the entire house feel like one. More importantly, it makes the kitchen feel more spacious.
To fully explore the open concept, you should also go for a minimalist design. This means using flat-panel kitchen cabinets, open shelving at the top, and open wood cubbies between the top and bottom drawers for the bottom cabinetry.
You should also try contrasting darker tones with lighter colors to make the kitchen airy and spacious.
5. Separated Wet and Dry Areas
Separate Wet and Dry Kitchen Areas
This is one galley kitchen design that fully explores the functionality of this kitchen layout. Instead of mixing the wet and dry areas, this design separates the two.
The wet area thus holds the sink, dishwasher, and laminated modular cabinets that mostly hold utensils and other appliances that are cleaned regularly.
On the other side are the stove, fridge, range hood, and laminated modular cabinets that hold items used mostly for cooking.
This design neatly organizes your kitchen, making it easier to work in. Laminated modular cabinets and stainless steel fixtures give this kitchen a contemporary look.
6. Modern Galley with Windows
Modern Galley Kitchen Layout with Windows
Nothing beats natural lighting when it comes to visually expanding a room. If you want to make your galley kitchen look big, you should try this design option.
Fixing a window on the yard-facing side of the kitchen helps add much-needed natural light. It also adds ventilation, making it easier to cool the kitchen off when the cooking intensifies.
You can use bright colors, such as white, on the kitchen cabinetry and backsplash to bounce off the natural light. The countertops can be made from white quartz. The goal is to ensure you bounce back as much natural light as possible around the kitchen.
7. Wall Units and Mini Breakfast Bars
Visually expanding your kitchen might not be enough. In most galley kitchen designs, you also want to add physical space around the kitchen. That’s where wall units and mini breakfast bars come in.
On one side of the kitchen, you can install full-size wall units that will add extra storage space. This will help reduce clutter on the surface, which will not only add physical but also visual space.
You can also fix the half-width wall and base units on the other side of the kitchen to fully utilize the available space. And on this same side, you can use the extra space left to fit a mini breakfast bar. Instead of chairs, you can use stools to add extra room in the galley hallway.
As much as the focus is on the physical space, don’t forget to add some visual space, too. Invest in light colors to expand the kitchen and make it look spacious.
8. DIY Paint and Artwork
SourceGalley kitchen designs are mainly focused on increasing not just physical space, but the sense of it. However, this design is more inclined towards personalization instead of space and utility.
With this design, your DIY skills are let open to the wild. Thus, any crazy idea goes. This stretches from the paint job to the artwork displayed in the kitchen.
For instance, you can use happiness-inducing bright shades on the cabinetry and walls of the kitchen. Then, on either side of the wall, you can place a monochromatic artwork that not only blends with the paint but also conveys a very personal message.
This design is most popular among millennials who’re not shy about expressing themselves. Besides, this design just needs a lick of paint, not an entire architectural alteration. Thus, you can do it in your rented house too.
