Galley kitchen ideas: How to design your perfect galley kitchen | Hammonds
The galley kitchen is a classic kitchen layout with plenty of great design options available. We’ll help you find the best galley kitchen ideas for your home.
Has the time come to revamp your kitchen? If you are the owner of a galley kitchen layout, there are a number of issues to contend with, namely what to do with making the most of a typically smaller space. Our blog will take you through the basics of the layout and offer you a handful of useful galley kitchen designs and suggestions that you can take influence from in your own makeover.
What is a galley kitchen?
If you haven’t heard of a “galley kitchen”, you’ve almost certainly been in one, or perhaps even own one, without knowing its name. Otherwise known as a corridor kitchen, the galley kitchen is a classic kitchen layout – typically long and narrow but truly defined by two sets of counters and base and wall units running parallel to one another in order to form a central corridor. Counter tops are typically interspersed with major appliances such as a fridge, dishwasher and sink.
Galley kitchen layouts are usually found in smaller kitchen spaces due to the nature of their design, but they can be installed into larger layouts.
Benefits of a galley kitchen?
Galley kitchen designs come with a host of benefits:
- Ergonomically sound: The design of a galley kitchen is considered the most practically beneficial option out there. Packing an abundance of storage and key appliances into a small space makes the most of your work area, while having a small kitchen in itself may leave you with more room in other areas of the house. All key services are clustered around each other for easy use and access, while the design concept offers durability and versatility in equal measure.
- Cost efficient: Simply put, the lower surface area of the average galley kitchen equals less money spent on counters and cabinets – the two most expensive elements of a new kitchen. The same goes for the flooring, meaning your costs are considerably minimised against those of a different kitchen build.
- DIY friendly: The smaller nature of narrow galley kitchens also lends itself to DIYers who want to do their own kitchen remodel, which is why you’re here right now!
Symmetrical or Asymmetrical
So, to the design itself. The first thing to consider is your two runs of parallel units. How do you want them to look – symmetrical or asymmetrical? Would you rather have one side featuring taller units and the other base units and appliances, or would you prefer both the same?
To mirror or not to mirror? That decision really comes down to the rest of your house design and whether you’ve encouraged uniformity elsewhere in your interior design. There’s also a practical element to think about – does it make sense for you to have certain features in certain positions? If practicality takes precedence in your day to day life, then your design should follow suit.
Consider the layout carefully
When talking about practicality, narrow galley kitchen designs come with questions about safety for family households. If you have a true corridor kitchen layout with no close-off at either end, you need to think about the potential traffic your kitchen will experience through the day.
Say you have young children running around, or perhaps a dog or cat to throw into the mix, the placement of your appliances becomes more important. For family households, keeping every appliance on one side will keep you on one side when using the kitchen, meaning you’re not wandering around with hot trays or potentially dangerous objects.
Make good use of your closed-off wall
If you do have a closed off wall, make sure to make good use of it to further enhance your super space efficient layout, or to enhance the aesthetic of your kitchen. You can use it as a feature wall decorated with light colour, put up shelves or place hangable items there.
If you wall features a window, you may want to consider covering it with a drywall to create this extra space, if you need it that is. A dry wall can entertain extra cabinets, while a window gives you some natural light – which do you need more?
Final galley kitchen décor tips
Some other ideas and points you might want to consider:
- Know your limits: If you’re dealing with a typical narrow galley kitchen then remember that you have spatial restrictions to contend with. That means choosing suitable appliances i.e. no big sink that’s going to protrude out into the corridor aisle.
- Add a breakfast bar: Just because you don’t have a lot of space doesn’t mean you can’t create a more engaging room. Make a hosting and entertainment space in the form of a breakfast bar, which the slimline countertops lend themselves to nicely.
- Invest in clever space savers: Lazy-susans, handle-free units, reduced sized cabinets – find ways to create a few extra inches here and there around your kitchen. We’ve got some clever storage solutions to offer you, too.
- Use light shades throughout: High-gloss pale colours will help to create the illusion of more space around the kitchen.
Dealing with a narrow galley kitchen doesn’t mean you don’t have options. You can still create the kitchen of your dreams. For more help, you can even book a design visit with us to discuss the best possible galley kitchen designs for your needs.