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Galley Kitchen Layout: 20+ Design Ideas and Tips

By: Andrew Saladino | 9 min

Galley kitchen with large kitchen island and gray cabinets.

Galley kitchens — originally reserved for long and narrow spaces on ships and trains — are ideal for small kitchens that still need to accommodate ample work space for a serious chef. Due to their efficient floor plan, galley kitchens are now a preferred kitchen layout for professional chefs and amateur cooks alike.

There are multiple design options for galley kitchens, so you can adjust the layout based on your needs. Read through our guide to discover expert design tips for each galley kitchen design and how you can best implement them into your home.

If you're interested in remodeling your kitchen to follow a galley design, you might be considering replacing your old cabinetry. If so, check out our extensive selection of ready-to-assemble and pre-assembled kitchen cabinets.

Symmetrical Galley Kitchen   |   Asymmetrical Galley Kitchen   |   Galley Kitchen Layout with Island

Designing a Galley Kitchen Layout

Galley kitchens consist of two parallel counters with a corridor running down the middle. Appliances are generally split up between the two sides, creating an effective work triangle between the fridge, stovetop, and sink. This layout helps streamline workflows by making it easy to navigate back and forth between work areas.

Galley layouts work best in small kitchens, but they can be adapted for larger areas as well. If you have a larger floor plan to work with, consider creating a galley kitchen with an added kitchen island to keep the space between your prep, cooking, and cleaning area compact and functional. If your kitchen is between two rooms or attached to an exterior door, you may also want to space the two countertops farther apart to accommodate extra traffic.

Symmetrical Galley Kitchen

A symmetrical layout has the two sides mirror each other as much as possible.

The symmetrical galley layout features two facing countertops that mirror each other. That means that both sides will have the same base cabinetry set up with countertops running equal lengths. Arranging the cabinetry in a symmetrical design will help you achieve a balanced and consistent layout.

Symmetrical layouts work well in larger kitchens because you won't need to worry about creating the illusion of more space, but you may want more versatility if you’re designing a smaller kitchen. An asymmetrical galley layout with a strategic design works better in an area with limited space.

Symmetrical Galley Kitchen
Diagram of work triangle in symmetrical galley kitchen layout.

Design Tips for Symmetrical Galley Kitchens

When designing a symmetrical galley kitchen, the biggest challenge will be keeping the layout open and functional without defaulting to the typical "corridor style" layout. Check out these design tips for creative ways to keep your galley kitchen feeling spacious and bright.

  • Skip the wall cabinets: Keep your corridor kitchen feeling light and bright by omitting the wall cabinets and opting for crisp white walls instead. If you don’t mind losing a bit of storage space, reserving cabinets for the bottom half of your kitchen will keep it from feeling cramped and boxed in.
  • Hang open shelves: If you aren’t keen on totally doing away with upper wall storage, try installing open shelving instead. You’ll be able to display your most aesthetically pleasing cookware and dishes while keeping your layout looking spacious.
  • Let in all the light: One of the best ways to make a narrow galley layout feel less constricting is by playing up your kitchen’s natural light. If you can’t incorporate a large central window, add peekaboo windows underneath your wall cabinets or skylights to let in light from above.
  • Keep it minimal: Nothing makes a space feel smaller than unnecessary clutter. Limit patterns, bright colors, and added decor to just one or two statement elements. Additionally, tuck small appliances away in an appliance garage or shelf to keep your counters clear and functional.
  • Add an interior window: Craving an open-concept layout without having to knock out a wall? Cut out an interior window so you can look out to the rest of your living area while you cook. An interior window will also allow you to construct a breakfast bar by placing stools on the other side.
  • Integrate appliances: Create a sleek, seamless design by installing integrated kitchen appliances. These appliances sit flush with your kitchen cabinets, eliminating unsightly gaps and wiring. You can even choose the same panels used for cabinets to disguise large appliances as part of your cabinet configuration.
  • Put an emphasis on safety: Place your sink and cooktop on the same run so you won’t have to cross the corridor with sharp knives or pots of boiling water.
  • Illuminate your walkway: While most kitchen layouts focus statement lighting above the entertaining or eating areas, you’ll want to illuminate the corridor in a symmetrical galley kitchen design. This is especially important if your kitchen is closed off to the rest of the home or connects two rooms.
  • Play up the charm with vintage elements: Symmetrical galley kitchen layouts are often found in homes built in the 1900s. While these kitchens could likely benefit from a modern facelift, preserve some of their original charm by opting for vintage-style cabinet hardware and appliances. Bonus points if you’re able to repurporse the original cabinets, hardware, molding, or floors!
  • Mix and match your storage units: A symmetrical galley kitchen layout doesn’t require both sides to mirror each other exactly — in fact, you should try to avoid a completely symmetric design. Avoid a "corridor look" by mixing different types of storage units. For example, instead of floor-to-ceiling cabinets on both sides, try replacing them with a mix of wall units and open shelves.

Asymmetrical Galley Kitchen

An asymmetrical layout gives you flexibility in tight, small spaces.

Asymmetrical galley kitchen layouts present the opportunity to experiment with different countertop lengths. They work well in small kitchens that require the flexibility to break up the counters and cabinets if needed.

There are numerous ways to style an asymmetrical galley kitchen, but a good rule of thumb is to use tall cabinets or a bank of appliances on one side of the run, with base cabinets and accessible cabinet space for food prep on the other.

Asymmetrical Galley Kitchen
Diagram of work triangle in asymmetrical galley layout.

Design Tips for Asymmetrical Galley Kitchens

Whether you decide to reserve one wall entirely for floor-to-ceiling cabinets, integrate an eat-in bar, or break up the run with a mix of tall and base cabinets, there are many options to personalize an asymmetrical galley layout to best suit your needs. Here are a few expert design ideas we suggest.

  • Add cafe-style seating: Have a gap between the shorter end of your layout and a wall or walkway? Consider extending the countertop to create an eat-in bar for two. This will also provide more space for food preparation and room for guests to interact while you cook.
  • Create contrast with dark cabinets: If your kitchen has ample natural light, a neutral color palette may appear washed out. This is your chance to experiment with dark, dramatic cabinet colors like deep plum or navy blue. The added contrast will pair well with natural light.
  • Maximize storage with floor-to-ceiling cabinets: Asymmetrical galley kitchens present the perfect floor plan for implementing a few floor-to-ceiling cabinets. These giant cabinets are great for dry goods storage or a convenient place to conceal your kitchen mop and broom.
  • Add under cabinet lighting: Make countertop space more functional by installing under cabinet task lighting to illuminate your work area. Under cabinet lighting can be as simple as peel-and-stick light pucks to professional-grade LED strips.
  • Draw the eye with intricate floor tiles: Colorful, patterned floor tiles coupled with a subtle color palette draws the eye outward, making your small galley kitchen seem longer and wider. Herringbone patterns work especially well for this effect.
  • Play with two-toned cabinets: Painting your lower cabinets a darker color while keeping your wall cabinets or open shelves light will help ground your kitchen and trick the eye into believing your space is wider than it is.

Galley Kitchen Layout With Island

An asymmetrical layout gives you flexibility in tight, small spaces.

If you want to mimic the style and functionality of a galley kitchen in an open-concept layout, you can pair one run along a wall with a large, parallel kitchen island. Adding an island instead of opting for an L-shaped or U-shaped kitchen layout preserves the flow of the kitchen corridor while providing additional work space and room to entertain.

Having an island in your galley kitchen in lieu of an L- or U-shaped layout may require you to sacrifice storage space, so consider this option only if you have full-wall cabinets on one side or are open to having less storage space.

Galley Kitchen With Island
Diagram of work triangle in galley kitchen with island.

Design Tips for Galley Kitchens With Islands

If you’re shooting for a galley-style layout in an open-concept kitchen, here are a few expert tips to make your design stand out.

  • Try an L-shaped island: Opt for an unconventional island design with an L-shaped kitchen island. You’ll have all the storage and countertop space of a U-shaped layout without having to close off one side of your kitchen.
  • Install your sink or stovetop in the island: Designating one of your essential work stations to your island will allow you to form a functional work triangle and navigate between tasks easily and safely.
  • Stagger your appliances: If you decide to install your stovetop or range on your kitchen island, stagger the other work station on the opposing run rather than directly opposite. Staggering your appliances is safer and more efficient because it reduces the amount of turning required when moving between the sink and stove.
  • Illuminate the island: As opposed to a traditional galley kitchen layout with an illuminated corridor, you’ll want to place your statement lighting above your kitchen island. This will help designate the area as an entertainment space.
  • Incorporate a third wall: If you have an empty wall on either side of your kitchen, consider placing even more cabinet or countertop space against it. This extra bit of space can serve as a great place to store seasonal kitchen items or rarely used appliances.

Pros and Cons of Galley Kitchens

Galley kitchens are one of the most efficient kitchen layouts for serious chefs working with a small space, but this layout does have its drawbacks. The best kitchen configuration for you will depend on the type of kitchen space you need, how you will use the kitchen, and more. Here are the pros and cons of galley kitchen layouts to help you choose the right cabinet configuration for your needs.

Pros of Galley Kitchens

There’s a reason galley layouts migrated from narrow navy ship kitchens to the homes of professional and aspiring chefs. This kitchen design maximizes storage and work areas in a compact space, making it ideal for serious cooks. Pros of galley kitchen layouts include:

  • Enhanced safety and efficiency while cooking
  • Ideal for small and medium-sized kitchens
  • Ability to be replicated by adding a large kitchen island to an open-concept floor plan
  • Work stations are easily accessible
  • Easy to create a functional kitchen triangle
  • Contemporary-looking design

Cons of Galley Kitchens

In many homes, you won’t have an option when choosing a galley kitchen layout. In older homes especially, the two walls that form a galley kitchen provide necessary structural support that may be difficult to renovate. Closed-concept galley kitchens can have these drawbacks:

  • Inefficient workflow if runs are too far apart
  • No space for an eat-in bar or entertainment area
  • Prone to traffic jams, especially if connecting two rooms
  • Not suitable for multiple cooks
  • Can feel narrow and cramped
  • Less storage than most kitchen layouts

More Galley Kitchen Inspiration

A modern u-shaped kitchen with white cabinets and countertops. A modern u-shaped kitchen with dark wood cabinetry and stainless steel accents.

Galley Kitchen Layout FAQs

Still wondering whether a galley kitchen layout will work best in your space? We answered some of the most frequently asked questions to help you decide.

What is a galley kitchen layout?

Galley kitchens, sometimes referred to as corridor kitchens, consist of two parallel counters with a corridor running down the middle. Appliances are generally split up between the two sides, creating an effective work triangle. Galley layouts work best for small kitchens, but they can be adapted for larger areas as well.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a galley kitchen layout?

Galley kitchen layouts focus on efficiency and function, but they’re not the best choice for every home. While this layout is a great option for small or medium-sized spaces, galley kitchens lose efficiency if the two runs are too far apart. Additionally, this layout does not offer as much storage or countertop space as other kitchen designs, such as U-shaped kitchens or G-shaped kitchens.

Where should the appliances go in a galley kitchen?

You can create an effective work triangle in your galley kitchen by placing your fridge and oven on one side and your sink and dishwasher on the opposite side.

How do you make a galley kitchen feel more open?

You can make a galley kitchen feel larger and more open by opting for white cabinets and bright paint on the walls. Open shelving makes great extra storage in galley kitchens, and patterned floors help draw the eye forward and make the space feel larger.

Looking to master your cooking skills in a kitchen suited for a professional chef? A galley kitchen may be the best kitchen layout for you. This design places function first, but a modern galley kitchen with streamlined cabinets and appliances, plenty of natural light, and a trendy color palette can help your kitchen look just as stylish as it is efficient.

If you are interested in more inspiration for your next kitchen remodel, check out our kitchen design ideas. We cover everything you need to know about remodeling your kitchen, from kitchen lighting ideas to types of natural wood cabinets, so that you can create the kitchen you’ve always dreamed of.

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