7 Kitchen Design Ideas for Tiny Homes to Maximize Space

Designing a kitchen is an exciting project — but you may find it a bit challenging if you’re working with the small square footage of a tiny home. Although the space may be a bit smaller, you shouldn’t have to compromise on the quality or features of your kitchen. Instead, you may just need to get a little more creative with your small space kitchen design! If you’re looking for a few out-of-the-box kitchen design ideas for your tiny home, you’ve come to the right place. Follow along as we walk you through a few ways to enhance the look and feel of your tiny home kitchen.

Incorporate a Moveable Island

When you picture a dreamy kitchen, you often picture a functional kitchen island that provides additional prep space or seating. But when you’re working with less square footage, you need to be mindful of the elements taking up precious space. Instead of adding a stationary kitchen island to your tiny cottage kitchen, consider incorporating a moveable island or kitchen cart that can be tucked away and rolled out into the kitchen when additional counter space is required. Along with providing more prep space, it can also provide you with sought-after storage space if you opt for a kitchen cart with drawers or cabinets. By having a kitchen cart on wheels, you’ll reap all the benefits of an island without making the space feel smaller than it already is.

Utilize Wall and Ceiling Space

Even for someone with a minimalist kitchen, it can be difficult to pair down everything you need. From cookware used to create tasty meals to cutlery and cutting boards to prepare them, there are a lot of odds and ends that need to be stored away. While you may be used to storing all your kitchen accessories and appliances in your cabinets, you’re going to need to get a bit creative when working with a tiny kitchen. You’ll likely have fewer kitchen cabinets than you’re used to, which is why it’s a great idea to utilize your wall or ceiling space for additional storage. Install a magnetized backsplash that allows you to keep your cutlery attached to the wall, freeing up counter and drawer space. Hang your pots and pans from the ceiling, creating a visually appealing focal point as well as saving you cabinet space.

Ditch the Traditional Kitchen Cabinets

Although kitchen cabinets are commonly found in larger kitchens, open shelving has become increasingly popular. Bring this trend into your tiny home by installing open shelving that displays your glassware, mugs, dinnerware, and other kitchen accessories. Not only will the floating shelves be aesthetically pleasing, but they’ll help make the kitchen feel lighter and more open without the backdrop of kitchen cabinets.

Opt for Creative Storage

A cluttered kitchen countertop automatically makes a room appear much smaller than it is — and that is the last thing you want for your tiny home’s kitchen. Instead of leaving cookbooks, kitchen utensils, appliances, and other odds and ends on top of the countertops consider different ways you can reduce the visual clutter. Were you thinking of including a basket on your countertop for fruit or vegetables? Use a hanging fruit basket instead to keep them elevated off the counters. Do you usually keep your paper towels on the counters next to the sink? Install an under-cabinet mounted paper towel rack so you don’t reduce your prep space.

Install a Convertable Kitchen Table

One of the best parts about cooking a family meal is sitting around the table while you eat and sharing stories about your day. But in your tiny home, you may decide not to get a kitchen table as a way to save space. There are a few different ways you can have a family meal without taking up valuable floor space with a stationary table. First, you can add counterstools beneath a portion of your countertop for easy seating while still having counterspace. Another option is to install a slide-out kitchen table that is hidden within your cabinets that can be pulled out when it is time for dinner.

Beautify Your Floors with a Pattern

There are plenty of tricks to making a small room appear larger than it is. One of the tricks is opting for an eye-catching patterned floor that creates the illusion of a larger room. Whether you’re a fan of a bohemian style floor tile or chevron patterns hardwood, consider this high-impact design element that can trick the eye into thinking the kitchen in your tiny home is larger than it is.

Liven Up the Room with Greenery

If you’ve opted for open shelving in your tiny home’s kitchen design, you’re going to need to find various accessories to style the shelving. Highlighting greenery on these open shelves (or hanging from the ceiling!) is an easy way to create visual appeal and draw eyes around the space. If you don’t have a green thumb, you can opt for faux plants that give you the look you’re going for without any maintenance. Or you can choose air-purifying plants that not only look great but also improve your tiny home’s indoor air quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

What size is a kitchen in a tiny home?

When designing your tiny home, you may be wondering how much of the square footage should be devoted to your kitchen. If your tiny home is on the smaller side, you should dedicate somewhere between 30 and 50 square feet to your kitchen. For larger tiny homes, you may be able to get away with 70 square feet — but you should be mindful that your kitchen doesn’t detract from the other areas of your home.

What kitchen appliances are common in tiny homes?

Because you’re working with a smaller floor plan, many tiny homes have fewer or tiny appliances than you would typically find in a traditional kitchen. Instead of a full-size refrigerator, you may want to opt for a small one so it doesn’t eat into your square footage. In most tiny kitchens, you’ll find all the standard appliances, only smaller than normal.

Do tiny homes have ovens?

Kitchens in tiny homes can have ovens, however, it all depends on how large your kitchen is. For those with slightly more square footage, you may install a standard oven. However, if you have less space to spare, you may opt for a stovetop without an oven and rely on a convection microwave or toaster oven for cooking.

What is the most popular layout for a tiny home kitchen?

Most kitchens in tiny homes are designed as a galley kitchen, also known as a corridor kitchen, which means that the kitchen is long and narrow with cabinets and countertops on either side of the walkway.