Looking for galley kitchen ideas? Well you’ve come to the right place!

We think the kitchen is the heart of any home.

It’s where you eat, entertain and spend some of your most precious hours of the day.

Some of us have plentiful kitchen space to work with, but, as is the case in so many British homes (like in 1930s houses such as ours), we often find galley kitchens tucked away in a teeny rear or side extension. Many homeowners choose to knock through or extend, but with a little inspiration and further guidance on home design if you need it (see our Home Design Lab) there’s no reason why you can’t create an incredible kitchen without knocking or adding walls. While we’re on the topic of home renovation, you might want to learn from Fi & Neil’s journey.

What is a galley kitchen?

You’ll spot whether you own a galley kitchen if the layout has a narrow walkway in the middle, with units/worktops running parallel. Galley kitchens can tend to mean limited space in such a narrow shape which isn’t ideal.

Lots of house renovators we talk to in our community tell us they can’t find the budget to do a galley kitchen knock through or a big kitchen extension and often refrain from splashing on structural work, making smaller spaces work for them. We think is awesome. You really don’t need huge budgets to create a space that works for you.

Why do galley kitchens get a bad rap?

Galley kitchens sometimes get a bad rap in the shadow of more expansive designs, but when budgets are tight there are so many ideas you can implement to make them work. From clever ideas to maximise light, to carefully curated finishing touches, these superb spaces can be the powerhouse of a cosy home.

So, in the spirit of celebrating the potential of galley kitchens, we’ve put together our top 11 favourites at the moment. Each one is packed with inspiration and design ideas so read on to go green with kitchen envy.

island idea in a galley kitchen - IMAGE: @no13interiordesign

1. Use a slim kitchen island to great a galley layout shape

If you look closely on the right of this beautiful galley kitchen, you can see that the layout is made up of a slim kitchen island which allows for maximising worksurface space and creating a highly-functional space when it comes to everyday use.

When it comes to the most aesthetic choices, opting for a lighter colour scheme means you can make your galley kitchen seem larger and airier, playing a clever little trick to avoid any cramped or narrow feeling when cooking your meals.

galley kitchen cabinets — Colour coordinating cabinet idea in a galley kitchen - IMAGE: @peony.cottage

2. Match wall cabinets to your wall paint shade

When you think about, using bold colours on your cabinetry can look fantastic but is quite a lot when applied to both side and level of your galley kitchen as the shade can become overwhelming.

This home has the right idea in coordinating their white wall cabinets with a white backsplash and wall paint so the upper section of their galley kitchen has an airy and almost floating feel to it.

Such a smart design move in a beautiful galley kitchen!

Idea for natural light in a galley kitchen - IMAGE: @therailwaycottage

3. Let the light flow in

If you’re lucky enough to have an external wall in your galley kitchen, make sure you maximise on the opportunity to fill your space with natural light.

As one of the sticking points with a galley kitchen tends to be a lack of space, natural light always make a room feel airier and more spacious.

Another plus with this idea is how wonderfully handy natural light is for food prep and everyday shores.

Colour scheme idea for a galley kitchen - IMAGE: Artisans of Devizes

4. Play around with colour

If you fancy having some fun with your kitchen colour scheme then it can be a great way to bring vibrant energy into a smaller space.

As galley kitchens tend to be a little stuck for light, introducing a warm, brighter shade on the cabinets can give the kind of energy you need to make the galley kitchen feel homely and a lot more open and spacious than it actually is.

We’re loving the terracotta floor tiles which really complete the overall look in this gorgeous example.

Scandi style galley kitchen — Idea for a Scandi galley kitchen - IMAGE: @bobbins.at.no.18

5. Go simple and scandi

Classic simplicity with a Scandi feel sums up the Bobbins’ beautiful home so nicely. It’s such a design dream!

In this kitchen, dark cabinetry anchors the otherwise pale kitchen colour choices. Light is welcomed in through two external windows and a sky light, finished in light-enhancing soft grey and white shades. The key touch here is how they’ve turned the end of a long space into a cosy eating area, somewhere to entertain and also a fantastic source of light for a small area.

The secret to a cohesive home that speaks to YOU is defining your style which is the very first task our Home Design Lab students work out.

Galley kitchen idea with clever storage - IMAGE: @humiloves

6. Make the most of high up storage space

With a galley kitchen, you need to maximise every square inch of storage space as you’re usually a little stuck for inventory cabinet layouts.

Consider popping some boxes and baskets on top of your cabinets or open shelving like this lovely homeowner has done in her galley kitchen space.

They flow seamlessly with the overall design and even add something to the room in terms of design, not just the bags of extra storage they give. With the help of a compact folding little ladder, you can get your kitchen bits and bobs in no time.

Galley kitchen accessories — Galley kitchen with with fun styling idea - IMAGE: @martinaperry.stylist

7. Bring in colour and accessories to give the kitchen great energy

We think we can all agree that some of the best kitchens we’ve ever been in feel vibrant and cosy, avoiding any sterile or cold kind of impressions.

Luckily, this works wonders with smaller kitchens and galleys in particular. Introduce a warm wall shade which works with your overall colour scheme and make it more homely with some carefully chosen rugs.

This way, you’re bringing fun elements for a small spend and brings so much life to the kitchen.

galley kitchen idea open shelving — Galley kitchen with full length cabinet idea - IMAGE: @gracegordon.co

8. Ditch the wall cabinets for an airy feel

Grace has a fantastic eye for making the most of the character-filled details in her Lewes house. She’s worked the rustic feature flooring into industrial shelving and brought elegance to the space with white walls and dove grey cabinetry.

We love how she’s forgone wall cabinets to make the most of a smaller space with considered decoration.

There are many, many ways to make a house a home but to make a home really speak to you, you’ve got to dig deep and discover your personality. See Home Design Lab if you need support with this.

Runner in a galley kitchen — Runner rug idea for a galley kitchen - IMAGE: @_elizabeth_dalton

9. Style your galley kitchen with a long, cosy runner

Being quite small, narrow spaces, galley kitchens can sometimes feel a little cold as there’s limited space for styling. We love what a long runner can do to add so much warmth and a welcoming feeling to a galley kitchen.

This fine example is a classic masterpiece and the small styling touches add that special something to really elevate the whole room.

There are also big practical benefits to having a rug or runner in your kitchen, particularly a galley layout, adding extra grip as you rush around during meal prep time.

Natural light idea in a gallet kitchen - IMAGE: @michelleshakallis

10. Make natural lighting your centrepiece

Whether you’ve got the layout to workout or you’re up for installing a window (definitely something to consider in kitchens lacking light), maximising the natural light flowing into your galley kitchen by making a big ol’ window the centrepiece of the room. This kitchen has used white cabinets at the top to carry light around the room and we adore how the light absolutely streams in and amplifies the shape of the long galley shape too. Simply stunning!