The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in your home. After all, not only is it a communal space where the family can come together, it's also an area that is used on the daily, whether you’re brewing your morning coffee or cooking a delicious meal.
Furthemore, a recent study has found that “homeowners can expect a return of about 52% on their investment in a new kitchen if they sell their home,” as it can significantly increase the value of your property. As a result, if there’s one area in your home, you should work to maintain, it's your kitchen. This means you may be due a kitchen makeover - regardless of whether or not you are planning on moving in the near future.
While there are many different kitchen styles to consider, depending on both your budget and the space you have available to you, galley kitchens are becoming increasingly popular throughout the US and beyond.
In this article, we’ll learn more about galley kitchens, their benefits, and their functions, as well as sharing some fantastic ideas for small galley kitchen design.
What is a Galley Kitchen?
A Galley kitchen, sometimes referred to as a ‘hallway kitchen,’ is a narrow kitchen with cabinets positioned on either side of the walls, creating a distinctive walkway in the middle of the space. It is most often featured in long, narrow rooms where space is limited and must be used as efficiently as possible. However, it's also a popular design choice in commercial kitchens, which sustain heavy flows of foot traffic and must remain organized throughout.
Historically, galley kitchens get their name from ‘galleys’ in ships and boats, which were narrow kitchen areas designed to maximize the space they had available to them below deck. After all, everything from dining spaces to kitchen quarters was notoriously cramped among these vessels. As a result, this design style has been around for hundreds of years.
However, their practicality and pleasing aesthetic mean that, unlike other styles from the early 1900s (and perhaps even further back), galley kitchens remain popular among contemporary homeowners. This means they will likely be a popular choice in another 100 years - meaning that, in designing a galley kitchen, you could be designing a space that will stand the test of time in more ways than one.
What are the benefits of Galley Kitchens?
There are many benefits associated with having a galley kitchen installed within your home. For example:
- Galley kitchens allow for an efficient use of space.
- Galley Kitchens are well-organized.
- Galley Kitchens are accessible.
- Galley Kitchens look great.
Galley Kitchens allow for an efficient use of space.
Galley kitchens are designed with efficiency in mind, which makes it easier to capitalize on the amount of space you have available to you. For example, by lining two walls with cabinets (overhead and underhead), not only do you have ample storage space available to you, but you’re also ensuring that you do not have any unnecessary blank or empty space within your kitchen.
As a result, galley kitchens are firm favorites among property owners whose houses may be a little on the smaller side - as it means you do not need to consider upsizing in order to have a kitchen that works for you.
Galley Kitchens are well-organized.
Galley kitchens have a simplistic yet efficient layout, which makes it much easier to keep the spaces well organized. As a result, this can come in handy when cooking complicated meals, which is why commercial kitchens often use this layout too. After all, the division of space makes it easier for you to set up several different workstations throughout your kitchen.
For example, you could use one space as a preparation style when chopping up ingredients and another as a cleaning station. Having a clear, structured space to use to your advantage could also make it easier to keep the space clean and well-maintained.
Galley Kitchens are accessible.
The layout of galley kitchens and the fact that they often include a large walkway in the middle of the room means that they’re a more accessible method of kitchen design. This is particularly important if anyone in your family has additional access needs.
Galley Kitchens look great.
Another benefit that is often associated with galley kitchens is the simple fact that they look great. They have a clean, polished finish which is often pleasing to the eye and can easily be elevated by the inclusion of eye-catching features such as copper sinks.
Furthermore, the simplistic layout associated with galley kitchens means that they adopt a certain timeless quality. This means that, unlike other popular design styles and themes, they’re unlikely to fall out of fashion any time soon. This means you can use them for years to come, as opposed to having to renovate again in a hurry. This is excellent news when you consider just how expensive renovation projects can become.
What features are showcased in a Galley Kitchen?
There are many different appliances and fixtures that you can incorporate into your kitchen. However, traditionally, they tend to showcase the following:
- Overhead cabinets
- Underhead cabinets
- Cooking stations
- Shelves
- Ovens & stovetops
- Range hoods
- Sinks
Design Ideas for a Galley Kitchen.
When it comes to designing a galley kitchen, there’s a world of opportunities at your fingertips because, more often than not, it refers to the layout of the kitchen as opposed to more specific design choices you must make. As a result, you’re free to experiment with a range of different aesthetics, whether they be traditional or modern. You can also feature a range of different colors, depending on your personal tastes and preferences.
For example, if you prefer sleeker, modern kitchens, you can design a more contemporary space using stainless steel fixtures. Alternatively, if you’re a fan of traditional kitchen aesthetics, you could install brass fixtures.
However, if you are unsure of where to get started, here are some galley kitchen ideas that you can use for inspiration.
Choose a color scheme.
The first step towards designing a kitchen that looks great is choosing a color scheme. For example, if you were opting for something a little more traditional, you could design a white cabinet galley kitchen.
Not only do galley kitchen white cabinets look great, but they can also help your kitchen appear bigger than it actually is, as “white is light-reflective, while the darker a color gets, the more light it absorbs.” This means that your space will appear lighter and more spacious once these features are installed.
However, there are no hard and fast rules regarding which colors you can feature within your kitchen - meaning it often comes down to your own personal preferences. Remember, different colors can greatly impact our mood or the atmosphere within a room, so you may want to pay attention to color psychology when choosing fixtures such as cabinets and tiles.
Create points of contrast.
When designing a kitchen that stands out, it's important that you create different points of contrast within the space. For example, while choosing complementary colors and shades (such as bronze and emerald green) creates a space that feels cohesive, you could take this to the next level by also featuring some colors that directly contrast this. Again, this can be a great way to further break up the space, ensuring that it does not feel too dull or monotonous.
Mix different metals.
Featuring a range of different metals within your galley kitchen is another great way to create a space that is both dynamic and visually pleasing. After all, there’s a reason that metals have been incorporated into kitchen design for hundreds of years.
For example, you could use metal accents or furniture to recreate a minimalistic yet modern kitchen space that is very on-trend for 2023 but will also be durable enough to stand the test of time.
Textured metals can also be used to elevate your design choices, as they add a sense of rustic character to your galley kitchen. This is perfect for those who want to create a traditional farmhouse kitchen.
Find ways to add new textures to the space.
Many different interior designers use a combination of textures when designing kitchens (and other spaces within the home) in order to make the space look more attractive. As a result, while many kitchen galleys often have a sleek, polished finish, finding creative ways to add new textures to the space can help you achieve this goal. For example, you could feature a range of different materials within the kitchen, such as metals, wood, and even marble.
Install a kitchen island.
If you want to elevate your galley kitchen, consider designing a galley kitchen with an island. Again, this can be a great way to maximize the space available to you while also creating a kitchen that feels high-end and luxurious.
Furthemore, with proper planning, it's easy to design a small galley kitchen with island. However, this works most efficiently in spaces with larger walkways or more unused space, just from a practicality standpoint.
Consider adding a breakfast bar.
As mentioned previously, designing a galley kitchen makes it easier for you to separate your space into several distinctive workstations. As a result, this could give you the perfect opportunity to install a breakfast bar in your kitchen, which can help make your kitchen even more practical.
Furthermore, starting your day together at the breakfast bar ensures that the most important meal of the day is spent with your family. This can be turned into an impressive drinks station when hosting a dinner party.
Alternatively, if you’re turning a larger room into a galley kitchen, you may want to consider adding additional dining spaces into the room. For example, this could easily be achieved by featuring a unique dining table in the center of the space, where the entire family can come together to enjoy a delicious meal.
Paint the walls.
While many people choose to feature color in their kitchen through their choices of cabinets and countertops - this is not the only way to do so. For example, painting your walls or installing tiles is also a rather simplistic way to inject some new life and color into the space.
Doing so is particularly important if you opted for simplistic or monotone cabinets, such as white galley cabinets, as the space could otherwise appear overly clinical or simplistic.
Don’t forget about the flooring.
While it's easy to focus on the more ‘important’ features, such as cabinets and countertops, choosing the right flooring for your kitchen can also help you to elevate the space. For example, wooden flooring can make the space feel both more rustic and modern, depending upon the specific wood, shade, or finish you chose.
Alternatively, if you were opting for a tiled floor (which is a great low-maintenance option for kitchens), you could use this as an opportunity to introduce new colors, patterns, or texture into the space - which will pair nicely with more simplistic choices of cabinets.
Work with an interior designer.
While you may have a loose idea in your head of how you’d like your kitchen to look, sometimes it can be hard to know how to get the vision from your head and onto paper - which is where an interior designer comes in. After all, interior designers can help you with just about every step of the process, from deciding upon a theme for your kitchen to sourcing materials and appliances.
Things to think about when designing a galley kitchen.
If you’ve decided to install a galley kitchen within your home, there are some things you may want to consider before getting started on either the design or construction process.
- Space. As discussed previously, galley kitchens fit nicely into long, rectangle-shaped rooms as this makes it easier to create the ‘walkway’ between cabinets. However, they can also be incorporated into square or L-shaped rooms. Before getting started, however, you should take accurate measurements of the space to think about how big you’d like your cabinets to be and how much walkway space you need between them.
- Budget. It goes without saying that you should not embark upon any kind of home renovation project without first understanding your budget. However, while it's crucial that you are realistic in terms of your spending, you should also consider the lifespan of the items you are buying. After all, when you’re buying a product that is highly durable and designed to stand the test of time, it's worth an additional expense to begin with, as you can enjoy it for years to come.
- Style/Aesthetic. You should also decide upon a specific style or aesthetic before kick-starting the process. If you are unsure of how a certain item will look once installed within your kitchen, we can help. Simply send in a quote request for a customized item, such as a range hood or sink, and we’ll send you a 3D- rendering that you can use to better visualize how it will look within your new and stunning galley kitchen.
- Maintenance. Your kitchen is one of the spaces in your home that requires the most maintenance due to the fact it's subject to heavy foot traffic and use. For example, you should clean the counters at least once a day to remove crumbs, spills, and stains. However, you should also think about how much maintenance certain fixtures require, depending upon the materials they are made from.
Design a Galley Kitchen with CopperSmith.
At World CopperSmith, we have years of experience helping owners turn their dreams into reality when it comes to transforming different spaces within their homes, including their kitchens. As a result, we’re also on hand to help when it comes to designing a Galley Kitchen that stands the test of time.
Whether you’re looking to buy a farmhouse sink with a built-in workstation, or an eye-catching range hood, we have a wide range of products available on our site for your perusal. They are also fully customizable, making it easier for you to find a product that’s unique and blends seamlessly into the rest of your kitchen.
Furthermore, our team of friendly design professionals are always on hand to answer any questions you might have, which makes it easier to bring your vision to life. If you’re looking for inspiration to kickstart the process, you can see some of the previous projects we’ve worked on here.
If you’d like to find out more, please do not hesitate to get in touch today. We look forward to hearing from you.
