Beautiful Virgin Islands

Wednesday, Sep 17, 2025

Small kitchen ideas on a budget - how to go big on style

Small kitchen ideas on a budget - how to go big on style

Small kitchen ideas on a budget don't need to scrimp on style - and they needn't cost a fortune

Think small kitchen ideas on a budget don't exist, and can't be stylish unless you spend a fortune? Think again.

Tighter spaces lend themselves to mini statement features such as colourful splashbacks and boldly patterned flooring, and small kitchen ideas can be among some of the most daring and creative. Even installing a trendy tap can bring your bijou kitchen bang up to date.

From choosing stream-lined, handleless cabinets and savvy storage solutions, to keeping colours light on top and illuminating dingy corners, there's a host of simple - and affordable - interiors tricks to draw upon to make the most of your space.

Below are some of our favourite examples of diminutive kitchens that pack a design punch.

Hide functionality behind flair


            

This London pied-à-terre is a masterclass in compact open-plan living. Floating glass shelves above the base cabinets allow for a touch of character in the form of plants and decorative objects, while a hanging rail retains that coveted open feel while keeping kitchen paraphernalia close to hand.

"Just because a kitchen is bijou, it doesn't mean it can't be big on style," says bespoke kitchen designer Charlie Smallbone of Ledbury Studio. "Here, we have hidden much of the functionality behind closed, pewter-fronted doors, meaning all you see is a collection of handmade pieces of furniture. Whether you are dining at the table or lounging in the living area, you will always have a beautiful view."

Go handleless for clean-lined cabinets


            

Small kitchens can quickly look cluttered, so keep detailing to a minimum and avoid the shaker style. Handleless cabinets create a contemporary, clean-lined effect that doesn't confuse or overwhelm the eye. There's a wide range of finishes to choose from, including the modern glossy white of these units, recently chosen by interior designer Gillian Segal for a sleek new apartment in Vancouver.

Light up dark corners and spotlight hidden features


            

When it comes to lighting your small kitchen, Rohan Blacker, founder of Pooky, suggests installing downlights or LED strip lighting in the recesses of your cabinets.

"They're great at highlighting darker corners and will really open up your space," he says. "Use lighting to highlight certain features in your kitchen that may be hidden in the shadows of overhanging cabinets, be it your new red toaster or a statement tiled splashback."

Play with blurred lines


            

"Light and muted worktops work brilliantly in smaller kitchens as they naturally reflect light back into the room," says Julia Trendell, design expert at Benchmarx Kitchen and Joinery.

"Blurring the lines of where the worktop ends and the wall starts is another great trick for making a kitchen feel larger. Continue a granite or quartz worktop up the wall as a splashback or upstand to give the illusion of more space with minimum hassle."

Get playful with a colourful splashback


            

It's easy to make a feature of a splashback in a small space. Even if it's the only thing you change, it'll make an impact and give your whole kitchen a lift. Tiles ooze elegance, or look to glass and metallic splashbacks if you need to bounce more light around the place.

Make a bijou floor statement


            

Statement patterned kitchen tiles help draw the eye away from the dimensions of a room. They look really cool in bijou spaces, if you're on a budget, the good news is that you don't need many! Floor tiling doesn't tend to overpower a space, adding instant personality that you might not be able to fit in elsewhere. Look to Harvey Maria for this easy-clean luxury vinyl tiling (LVT) that looks like the real deal but won't break the bank.

Give tired units a fresh lick of paint


            

To liven up an uninspiring kitchen without starting from scratch, give tired kitchen cabinet doors, radiators and even some fridges a fresh lick of paint. Even wall and floor tiles can be painted on a budget. Choose a hard-wearing paint that can be applied directly to your kitchen surfaces. Look for a smooth, stain-resistant finish that quickly wipes clean in the event of spills and splashes. Shown here is Anthracite from V33 at just £18 per litre.

Use flooring to help a broken layout flow


            

Not got an open-plan kitchen? Flooring can be used to connect your space to the rest of your home. For creating the perception of space, David Snazel, hard flooring buyer at Carpetright, recommends a light wood finish floor with a single plank design.

"Carry the same flooring from the kitchen to conjoining areas to create a consistent flow between the rooms," he says. "Chevron wood flooring can be especially effective running from a narrow kitchen into a separate dining or living space, making these areas feel harmonious."

Nab a designer ex-display bargain


            

Did you know that you could snap up kitchens that were formerly used in showrooms? There are brilliant bargains to be found, such as this designer ex-display kitchen from Used Kitchen Exchange. Given the confined space of most showrooms, these kitchens are often packed with smart storage solutions. What's more, buying 'used' helps offset your carbon footprint in the name of sustainability, and what could be cooler than that?

Don't be afraid of the dark


            

"It is not strictly necessary to stick to a bright palette in small kitchens," says Ben Burbridge, managing director at Kitchen Makers. "If you'd prefer to use dark, rich tones, try to create consistency through the textures and materials so as not to overwhelm the space."

Go lighter on top and darker down below


            

Overhead cabinets can make an already tight kitchen feel even more cramped, but if you need the storage, detract from their bulk by painting them a lighter shade than your base units.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Hong Kong Industry Group Calls for HK$20 Billion Support Fund to Ease Property Market Stress
Joe Biden’s Post-Presidency Speaking Fees Face Weak Demand amid Corporate Reluctance
Charlie Kirk's murder will break the left's hateful cancel tactics
Kash Patel erupts at ‘buffoon’ Sen. Adam Schiff over Russiagate: ‘You are the biggest fraud’
Homeland Security says Emmy speech ‘fanning the flames of hatred’ after Einbinder’s ‘F— ICE’ remark
Charlie Kirk’s Alleged Assassin Tyler Robinson Faces Death Penalty as Charges Formally Announced
Actor, director, environmentalist Robert Redford dies at 89
The conservative right spreads westward: a huge achievement for 'Alternative for Germany' in local elections
JD Vance Says There Is “No Unity” with Those Who Celebrate Charlie Kirk’s Killing, and he is right!
Trump sues the 'New York Times' for an astronomical sum of 15 billion dollars
Florida Hospital Welcomes Its Largest-Ever Baby: Annan, Nearly Fourteen Pounds at Birth
U.S. and Britain Poised to Finalize Over $10 Billion in High-Tech, Nuclear and Defense Deals During Trump State Visit
China Finds Nvidia Violated Antitrust Laws in Mellanox Deal, Deepens Trade Tensions with US
US Air Force Begins Modifications on Qatar-Donated Jet Amid Plans to Use It as Air Force One
Pope Leo Warns of Societal Crisis Over Mega-CEO Pay, Citing Tesla’s Proposed Trillion-Dollar Package
Poland Green-Lights NATO Deployment in Response to Major Russian Drone Incursion
Elon Musk Retakes Lead as World’s Richest After Brief Ellison Surge
U.S. and China Agree on Framework to Shift TikTok to American Ownership
London Daily Podcast: London Massive Pro Democracy Rally, Musk Support, UK Economic Data and Premier League Results Mark Eventful Weekend
This Week in AI: Meta’s Superintelligence Push, xAI’s Ten Billion-Dollar Raise, Genesis AI’s Robotics Ambitions, Microsoft Restructuring, Amazon’s Million-Robot Milestone, and Google’s AlphaGenome Update
Le Pen Tightens the Pressure on Macron as France Edges Toward Political Breakdown
Musk calls for new UK government at huge pro-democracy rally in London, but Britons have been brainwashed to obey instead of fighting for their human rights
Elon Musk responds to post calling for the murder of Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk: 'Either we fight back or they will kill us'
Czech Republic signs €1.34 billion contract for Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks with delivery from 2028
USA: Office Depot Employees Refused to Print Poster in Memory of Charlie Kirk – and Were Fired
Proposed U.S. Bill Would Allow Civil Suits Against Judges Who Release Repeat Violent Offenders
Penske Media Sues Google Over “AI Overviews,” Claiming It Uses Journalism Without Consent and Destroys Traffic
Indian Student Engineers Propose “Project REBIRTH” to Protect Aircraft from Crashes Using AI, Airbags and Smart Materials
French Debt Downgrade Piles Pressure on Macron’s New Prime Minister
US and UK Near Tech, Nuclear and Whisky Deals Ahead of Trump Trip
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
Anesthesiologist Left Operation Mid-Surgery to Have Sex with Nurse
Tens of Thousands of Young Chinese Get Up Every Morning and Go to Work Where They Do Nothing
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
The German Owner of Politico Mathias Döpfner Eyes Further U.S. Media Expansion After Axel Springer Restructuring
Suspect Arrested: Utah Man in Custody for Charlie Kirk’s Fatal Shooting
In a politically motivated trial: Bolsonaro Sentenced to 27 Years for Plotting Coup After 2022 Defeat
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Turkish authorities seize leading broadcaster amid fraud and tax investigation
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
ChatGPT CEO signals policy to alert authorities over suicidal youth after teen’s death
The British legal mafia hit back: Banksy mural of judge beating protester is scrubbed from London court
Surpassing Musk: Larry Ellison becomes the richest man in the world
Embarrassment for Starmer: He fired the ambassador photographed on Epstein’s 'pedophile island'
Manhunt after 'skilled sniper' shot Charlie Kirk. Footage: Suspect running on rooftop during panic
Effective Protest Results: Nepal’s Prime Minister Resigns as Youth-Led Unrest Shakes the Nation
Qatari prime minister says Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages
King Charles and Prince Harry Share First In-Person Moment in 19 Months
×