Galley Kitchen Design – Basic Elements and Renovation Ideas

A galley kitchen design maximizes limited space and minimizes the distance between the refrigerator, stove, cabinets and countertops, optimizing kitchen workflow. This type of kitchen is long and narrow with a central walkway. There may be walls on both sides or one wall with a kitchen island or peninsula on the other side. Storage space is oriented vertically, with ceiling hung cabinets, dish racks and hanging pots sharing the space.

The galley kitchen design (also called corridor design) is not as popular today as modern families want to have a kitchen that multitasks as a dining room, home office, storage center, or mudroom. A galley kitchen, however, is the ideal design for small rectangular spaces and is the best for cooking. You also have the added benefits of saving money as you can use stock appliances and kitchen cabinetry and smaller countertops and cluster electrical, gas and water service together. This small design also lets you allocate your home space to other rooms.

This video features a galley kitchen created by designers at Kitchen Designs by Ken Kelly:

Typical Layouts

There are three typical galley kitchen design layouts:

• Refrigerator on one side; dishwasher, stove and sink on the other side; no kitchen island or peninsula
• Kitchen island or peninsula on one side; refrigerator, stove and sink on the other side; there may not be room for a dishwasher
• Dishwasher, refrigerator, and sink/stove on one side; stove/sink on the other side, which may be a kitchen island or peninsula. This layout creates a great place for eating and socializing.

Remodeling and Renovation Ideas

While galley kitchen design is often conceived as cramped, dark and unglamorous, you can incorporate light, aisle space and storage solutions to give your kitchen an airy open look. Here are some ideas for renovating or remodeling your galley:

• Paint cabinets in white or other bright colors and/or install glass doors on the cabinets.
• Use neutral or light shades for flooring, walls, countertops and appliances.
• Add a glass tile backsplash.
• Open up the end wall with a glass door or window.
• Use open shelving instead of cabinets.
• Free up countertop space by installing a microwave under a cabinet or over the stove.
• Install a multifunctional cabinet/desk unit or pull-out pantry.
• Add a seating nook at the end of the galley.
• Use roll-out shelves and lazy-susans to optimize cabinet storage.
• If you need more storage space, and the kitchen window does not provide sufficient light, block it off and run cabinets across the wall.
• Replace a large sink with a smaller sink.
• Display artwork or apply decorative tile or wallpaper to a solid end wall to make it stand out.
• Add a skylight if feasible.
• Create a pass-through hole through a wall or reduce the wall to a half wall.
• If possible, remove the wall and install a kitchen island with seating.
• Add a brightly colored runway-style rug.
• Install lighting under shelves and cabinets or use track lighting or linear lighting elements.
• Widen the galley to four to six feet if feasible.
• Instead of a divider wall, use open shelving to bring in light from other rooms.
• Maximize lower cabinet space to limit the number of upper cabinets.
• Install stylish flooring, cabinets and cabinet hardware.