Galley Kitchen Ideas On A Budget

Galley kitchen layouts involve two narrow rows of cabinets on either side of the room, often found in contemporary apartments. As they’re slim in design and can feel quite tight, knowing how to organise the room can be tricky. InsinkErator has created a list of their top 7 galley kitchen ideas that can work on any budget. 
 

7 budget galley kitchen ideas

1. Add Lighting or Enjoy Natural Light 

Lighting in a small kitchen makes a huge difference to the atmosphere of the room. If you’re lucky enough to have a window in your galley kitchen, make the most of it by letting it fill the room with natural light. Covering it with blinds or curtains can shadow the kitchen, making it feel smaller. 

If you’re looking for artificial lighting, think about the height of your room. Low-hanging pendant lights work well in kitchens with high ceilings – illuminating the room from above. 

For low ceilings, incorporating lights into your kitchen workspace will give a modern feel. Plus, under-cabinet lighting or LED floor lights will brighten the room without taking up additional space. 

2. Make the room multi-functional 

One downfall of galley kitchens is the small space limits your kitchen to just that – a kitchen. Large kitchens often double-up as dining rooms or lounge areas, whereas galley kitchens only have the capacity for cooking. 

Creating a seating area in your kitchen could change this. Simply add a small bar area with some stools to offer a cosy space for breakfast or coffee breaks. 

3. Add a splash of colour 

Colour can really make a galley kitchen pop. Light tones and bright colours will give the room a lift and open up the space. You could lay patterned flooring to clearly define the kitchen space and give it your personal touch. Adding splashbacks is also an effective way to add some colour to a kitchen. 

To fill the room with bold and bright colours on a budget, you could opt to choose colourful kitchen utensils such as knives and chopping boards to liven up your kitchen without renovating.

4. Maximise storage

Implementing clever galley kitchen storage ideas will optimise the space and make the room feel bigger. A few ways to do this include: vertical storage and deep cupboards.

If your galley kitchen doesn’t allow for much storage space, think upwards. Vertical storage and open shelving are great ways to increase storage space with a professional finish and at relatively low-cost. 

Also, opting for a few deep cupboards in your kitchen rather than several smaller cabinets can be beneficial. Large kitchen equipment, such as pots and pans or mixing bowls will fit more easily, meaning clearer countertops for cooking. 

5. Pick appliances carefully

When it comes to choosing which appliances you want in your kitchen, only pick those that are essential to you. If you can avoid buying appliances you’ll only use once or twice, you’ll save money and space. 

Choosing smaller appliances will keep your countertops emptier – these include 2-slot toasters and compact kettles. You can also get built-in appliances to save worktop space such as integrated microwaves. 

Multifunctional appliances are a great option for galley kitchens. For example, investing in a boiling water tap would mean you could remove a kettle from your shopping list and free up an additional kitchen unit.
 

6. Decorate with artwork

So your galley kitchen is small, but that doesn’t mean it has to be bland. Adding decorative artwork or a gallery wall that matches the colour profile of your room will fill the empty space and can be tailored to your taste. 

You can get affordable prints or photo frames online and in-store, so go ahead and give your room some character without having to invest in high-end art-pieces or decorations.
 

7. Extend into room if open space

If your galley kitchen naturally leads to another room in your home, such as an open-planned dining or living room, you can blend the rooms together to make it feel bigger. Try positioning your dining table at the end of your kitchen counters to create the illusion of an elongated kitchen or invest in a portable trolley for a coffee station – this way it’ll look natural in both your kitchen and your living room.

There’s lots of ways to decorate and organise a galley kitchen without a big budget. These affordable ideas are just a few ways you can make your kitchen more functional and aesthetically pleasing.