Renovating a small kitchen can be a tricky endeavour. When you only have limited space, you want to make the most of every square centimetre you have to work with without having to sacrifice style or functionality.

The good news is, there’s no need to fret—we’ve got 10 winning ideas we’d like to share with you that will help you pack more into your small kitchen renovation.

1. Use glass-fronted cabinets

Glass-fronted cabinet doors add another dimension of depth to a small kitchen. Allowing natural light to pass through, glass-fronted cabinet doors can help create an illusion of a larger, less enclosed space. While we don’t usually recommend opting for glass-fronted doors for all cabinets, adding one or two glass feature doors can make a big impact.

2. Choose drawers over cupboards

Drawers are always the smarter option when space is limited. It’s easy for things to get lost in the back of cupboard cabinets and finding that one item you only use every so often can be a nightmare. Drawers on the other hand make it really easy to store and access all of your kitchen wares while fully utilising all the available space.

3. Say goodbye to small appliances

Small appliances can consume a large amount of bench and storage space, but you can significantly reduce the number of small appliances you need by adopting some innovative technology.

Opt for an on-tap hot and cold water dispenser in place of a kettle, replace your water carbonator by choosing a fridge with an in-built dispenser (yes, they exist), or replace your rice cooker, slow cooker, coffee grinder, mixer and blender with an all-in-one cooking appliance that can do it all. You can even opt for a multi-function oven that doubles as a microwave or air fryer!

4. Use vertical space

A great way to get more out of your kitchen is to better utilise vertical wall space. Consider if you could run your cabinetry right up to the ceiling to add space to store items you only use occasionally, or you may even like to incorporate floating shelves that draw the eye up while also adding extra storage and display space.

5. Disguise extra storage underneath seating areas

Adding cupboards or shelving underneath your kitchen benchtop in front of a seating area or breakfast bar is one of the most effective ways to expand storage in a small kitchen. Doing so will allow you to free up storage in other areas of your kitchen for more regularly used items.

6. Integrate your dining table

While you may not think you have a lot of space to work with, if you currently have a separate dining table, consider if you could rework the layout to incorporate an integrated dining table in your kitchen. It’s a great way to maximise floor space while still being able to enjoy dining together.

7. Add natural light

Nothing adds to a sense of space more than natural light, so see if there’s a way you can draw more natural light from outside into your kitchen. From skylights to servery and clerestory windows, it’s well worth investigating which options could work in your kitchen.

8. Consider a mirrored splashback

A mirrored splashback is a great way to create the illusion of more space. Reflecting light around the room, mirrored surfaces can make a kitchen feel bigger and brighter even when space is limited. Extra points if you can position the splashback in a location where it will reflect an impressive view or outlook. 

9. Incorporate extra storage in kickboards

When you build a custom kitchen, everything really can be customised—and that even includes the kickboards! A great way to unlock some extra storage space is to convert a fixed kickboard into an openable cavity, giving you some extra space to store flat pans and trays.

10. Seek advice from the experts

Our final word of wisdom is not to try to do it all yourself—ask for help from the experts. At Mint Kitchens, we’ve transformed kitchens on every scale and can help you discover some interesting and innovative ways to get more out of your kitchen, even if you only have limited space to work with.

Take a look at some of our previous work across Melbourne or book a consultation to chat with one of our experienced kitchen designers.