20 Best Galley Kitchen Design Ideas

To make the small galley kitchen of their rental getaway Sea Roost live large, homeowners Ron Brand and Matt Albiani of Mate Gallery kept the walls and cabinetry simple and white, but then added color and pattern with a well-worn vintage dhurrie rug almost the full size of the floor space. They then cast a

1

A Small Vintage-Filled Galley Kitchen

small rustic galley kitchenMatt Albiani

To make the small galley kitchen of their rental getaway Sea Roost live large, homeowners Ron Brand and Matt Albiani of Mate Gallery kept the walls and cabinetry simple and white, but then added color and pattern with a well-worn vintage dhurrie rug almost the full size of the floor space. They then cast a wide net for one-of-a-kind once-from-nature—or nature-inspired—finds, such as this mounted fish, purchased at a Montauk estate sale, to bring additional coastal character.

Get the Look:
Rattan Sconces: for similar, “Santa Barbara” drum sconce by Serena and Lily

RELATED: Tour more of this vintage-filled beach cottage.

2

A Clean-Lined Modern Galley Kitchen

1970s rancher designed by max humphrey in portland suburb kitchenChristopher Dibble

In designer Max Humphrey's 1970s rancher, the galley kitchen's floor space wasn't wide enough to accommodate an island or table, but an easily movable stool tucked by the end wall still invites a second person to perch in the ample space. The flat-front cabinets are made of lacquered plywood and a glazed polka-dot terra-cotta backsplash lends whimsy.

3

A Pretty Period-Appropriate Galley Kitchen

farmhouse galley kitchen with wallpaperChase Daniel, styling by Maureen Hodges

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4

An Open and Colorful Galley Kitchen

colorful galley kitchen with big island, michiganDiana Paulson, styled by Jennifer Berno DeCleene5

A Colorful, Tiny Galley Kitchen

becca and david mcdowell’s farmhouse in muldoon, texas kitchenDAVID TSAY, styling by Becki Griffin

When the shape of this 98-square-foot kitchen didn't allow for a long lean galley layout, these Texas homeowners took a different approach by outfitting each short end with cabinetry and appliances, and then adding a long table in between for work space.

Get the Look:
Cabinetry Paint Color: Honey Bees by Sherwin-Williams
Backsplash Tile: “Tangier Primero” by Villa Lagoon

6

A Sunny Yellow Galley Kitchen

becca and david mcdowell’s farmhouse in muldoon, texas kitchenDAVID TSAY, styling by Becki Griffin

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7

A Clever Storage-Filled Galley Kitchen

small all white shiplap galley kitchen with graphic tile backsplashALI HARPER8

A Pretty White and Gray Galley Kitchen

gray galley kitchen with blue and white runner on wood floors from galley kitchen design ideasAlec Hemer

Tend to change your mind a lot? Choose a simple, goes-with-anything color palette (like this rustic-chic white-and-gray galley kitchen by designer Loi Thai) and pepper in color with your accessories. (We love the strong wash of blue here, but you could just as easily swap it out for something else when you're in the mood for a change.)

9

Patterned Floor Galley Kitchen

black white and gray galley kitchen patterned floor from galley kitchen design ideasStudio McGee

Another way to reduce that hallway feeling is to break up your materials. Here, a patterned floor and dark base cabinets ground the space, while the upper cabinets in a lighter color draw the eye up toward the ceiling.

See more at Studio McGee.

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10

White and Wood Galley Kitchen

wood cabinet galley kitchen from galley kitchen design ideasFront + Main

Light wood cabinets add a jolt of warmth in a space where white would have felt too cold next to the room's gray floors. Black hardware and fixtures pepper in a little drama.

See more at Front + Main.

11

Moody Galley Kitchen

moody galley kitchen from galley kitchen design ideasBHDM Design

Think you have to steer clear of dark hues in small spaces? That's not necessarily true. Enveloped by white walls and floors, a wall of dark cabinets, countertops, and tile make a statement without overwhelming the modestly sized space.

See more at BHDM Design.

12

A Bright Green Galley Kitchen

green cabinets in kitchen from galley kitchen design ideasCurio Design Studio

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13

A Crisp White Galley Kitchen

all white space from galley kitchen design ideasJennifer Muirhead Interiors14

A Rustic-Traditional Galley Kitchen

traditional galley kitchen with rustic hardwood floors from galley kitchen design ideasAlex Hayden​

Cabinets, countertops, and planked walls in a soft white give this rustic space a clean, serene feel, while large wide-plank wood floors ground the space with warmth.

See more at Hoedemaker Pfeiffer.

15

A Modern-Meets-Traditional Galley Kitchen

modern traditional galley kitchen with antique rug runner from galley kitchen design ideasKismet House

Think you have to keep finishes and accessories to a minimum in a galley kitchen? Think again! This gorgeous space by Erin of Kismet House proves you can mix and match in a small space without creating chaos. (We especially love that she used two different—but complementary!—tiles on either side of the kitchen.)

See more at Kismet House.

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16

A Light and Airy Galley Kitchen

airy galley kitchen with rustic wood flooring from galley kitchen design ideasInstagram/By Grace Gordon

Skip the upper cabinets! If you're blessed with high ceilings in your galley kitchen, you may be tempted to use as much vertical space as possible. But as designer Grace Gordon proves, forgoing upper cabinets in favor of keeping walls open can make a space feel much larger than it really is.

See more at @GraceArthur.

17

A California-Cool Galley Kitchen

green galley kitchen from galley kitchen design ideasSarah Sherman Samuel

One way to make your galley kitchen feel less like a hallway? Open it up! And no, you don't need to demo an entire wall to do so, as Sarah Sherman Samuel proves here in this serene California cook space.

See more at Sarah Sherman Samuel.

18

A Two-Toned Galley Kitchen

two toned galley kitchen from galley kitchen design ideasSweeten

Love an all-white kitchen, but also love the darker cabinet trend that's been growing? Go with both! Here, in this two-tone Queens, New York, galley kitchen, white uppers and open shelving make the space feel much larger than it actually is, while dark lower cabinets in a similar hue to the flooring ground the space.

See more at Sweeten.

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19

A Simple, Clean Galley Kitchen

white room with modern furniture and indoor plants from galley kitchen design ideasInstagram/Moochstyle

Sometimes—especially in the case of small spaces—simple really is best. And this charming space by Shayden and Georgia of the New Zealand-based home and lifestyle Instagram account Moochstyle is a great example of that. White flat-front cabinets, countertops, and tile keep the tiny space feeling light and bright, while a small dose of darkness (upper cabinets and hardware) adds a bit of visual interest.

See more at @MoochStyle.

20

Sleek and Modern Galley Kitchen

sleek galley kitchen from galley kitchen design ideasBromilow Architects

This sleek and sophisticated kitchen makes the most its long, narrow layout with a back wall of floor-to-ceiling cabinets. Housing the majority of appliances along one wall makes it easier for multiple people to navigate the narrow space at once.

See more at Bromilow Architecture.

Headshot of Laurren Welch

Laurren Welch is a freelance editor, writer, and creative who covers lifestyle, interiors, entertaining, fashion, and more. When she’s not under deadline, you can find her styling blooms over at Garden Party L.A., scouring thrift and antique stores for hidden gems, and reminding her boxer pup, Monster, that he’s a very good boy. 

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