When we dream of the perfect farmhouse kitchen, it most often has ample space for creating meals and sharing memories with a whole gaggle of friends and family. In reality, the kitchens of the quaint cottages and farmhouses we more typically call home are much shorter on square footage, though certainly not on soul. But a small kitchen can still be the heart of the home! And if youre looking for design ideas to outfit a tiny cook space, youve come to the right place. There are many designer-approved tips and tricks for making a small kitchen feel larger. Tried-and-true options include selecting a warm white paint palette, incorporating light-reflecting tile, and going with a galley-style kitchen layout. That said, more unexpected and DIY choices, such as peg rails and skirted sinks, also have their place. Backsplashes can also have a big impact, and you shouldnt overlook the possibility of relocating the pantry to another (nearby!) room. Finally, when all else fails, know that a bit of open shelving will go a long way. No matter your small-space dilemma, our guide to the best simple and stylish small kitchen design ideas is sure to help you make the most of every last inch of your treasured cook space. For more ways to refresh your kitchen check out these charming kitchen design ideas:1Opt for a Galley Layout Matt AlbianiOriginally named for the tight cooking quarters aboard a ship, a galley kitchen is most commonly characterized as a long, narrow space with two parallel walls. All appliances and cabinetry are aligned along the two walls, thus making the most of a small footprint. TOUR THIS ENTIRE HOME 2Try a Long, Skinny Island Buff StricklandIn a narrow kitchen, prep space has to be very strategic. Instead of forgoing an island entirely, try a long, narrow piece of furniture that runs parallel to your sink and appliance wall. What youll lack in width you'll more than make up for in length. RELATED: Our Favorite Kitchen Island Ideas for Kitchens Large and Small Advertisement - Continue Reading Below3Use Light-Reflecting TileReade McKendreeThe ceilings in this cozy green kitchen top out at just six feet, so homeowner Stefanie Watts of Watts Design House used light-reflecting tile as a counter-to-ceiling backsplash to brighten the small space. RELATED: 25 Great Green Kitchen Cabinet Ideas4Match Your Upper Cabinets to the WallsDavid HillegasTo give air to this itty-bitty kitchen, designer Heather Chadduck Hillegas painted the lower cabinets a happy blue hue but matched the upper glass-fronted cabinets to the walls.TOUR THIS ENTIRE HOMERELATED: These Are the Best Farmhouse Decor Finds on AmazonAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below5When In Doubt, Go With White Laurey W. GlennThis much-beloved neutral brightens and expands any space it graces, but its especially hardworking in a small kitchen. RELATED: 60 Beautiful White Kitchen Ideas for a Room Youll Love Forever6Opt for Open Shelving Helen NormanClosed-off cabinetry can make a small kitchen feel, well, closed in. If you opt for open shelving up top, youll air out the space and have the opportunity to showcase your favorite dishes and kitchen collectibles. Its a win-win! TOUR THIS ENTIRE HOME RELATED: 20+ Dreamy Open Shelving Ideas for Your KitchenAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below7Give Every Nook and Cranny a FunctionDANE TASHIMAAnything can be a shelf if you want it to be! In this Marthas Vineyard beach cottage kitchen, any place with a flat surfaceincluding above and around the windowsis used for storage. TOUR THIS ENTIRE HOME 8Put in a Pass-ThroughDustin HalleckA pass-through window can help an itty-bitty cooking space from feeling cramped and closed-off while youre in it. Added bonus: it allows guests to join you on the other side of the bar without getting in your way while you move about the kitchen. RELATED: 45+ Charming Breakfast Nook Ideas For a Stylish Start to Every DayAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below9Stick to a Single PaletteChase DanielFor this 1900s farmhouse galley kitchen, the homeowner went with a timeless cornflower blue paint color for the ceiling and trim, while a green reproduction wallpaper covers the walls. An antique mint-colored enamel gas range continues the color story, and lends a cohesion to the space that makes it feel larger. Get the Look:Trim Paint Color: Jamestown Blue by Benjamin MooreTOUR THIS ENTIRE HOMERELATED: More Beautiful Ways to Decorate Your Kitchen With Wallpaper10Just Skirt ItMax Kim-BeeA small kitchen also means small cabinetry. Minimize the need for door swing spaceand give yourself more flexibility in storageby covering the space below your counters with fabric instead. The space you save may also give you enough room to slide in a small island, like here. TOUR THIS ENTIRE HOME Advertisement - Continue Reading Below11Put Up a Pot RackDustin HalleckThe space above your range doesnt have to go unused! A pretty brass pot rack is a lovely place to hang your most-used (or most-beautiful) pots and pans.RELATED: 16 Utterly Genius Kitchen Storage Solutions12Think Vertically Douglas FriedmanWhen every inch counts, wall space is just as valuable as counter space. Here, designer Ken Fulk wrapped the kitchen in above-the-door height open shelving and added wall-mounted storage for knives and copper cookware to keep essentials simultaneously out-of-the-way and close at hand. TOUR THIS ENTIRE HOME Advertisement - Continue Reading Below13Embrace the BraceDavid A. LandUse the exposed wall braces of a cozy cabin as an intuitive guide to where to insert shelving. That way, youll create more storage without interfering with the natural lines of the structure. RELATED: The Best Blue-Gray Paint Colors 14Dine DeuxDavid TsayA petite bistro-style table is the perfect place for a solo breakfast or a cozy dinner for two in a small kitchen.Get the Look: Bistro Table: Rae pedestal table by Pottery BarnTOUR THIS ENTIRE HOME Advertisement - Continue Reading Below15Size Your Pendant Lights Right Buff StricklandIn lieu of a singular chandelier, a trio of smaller pendant lights featuring cloth-covered cords and Sheffield milk glass shades light this small Texas kitchen without becoming an overpowering focal point. TOUR THIS ENTIRE HOMERELATED: Farmhouse Kitchen Lighting Ideas to Brighten Your Cook Space 16Put the Pantry to Work Gridley + Graves PhotographersIn a small kitchen, certain appliances such as air fryers, instant pots, and microwaves can take up valuable counter space. If possible, relocate these items to the pantry.RELATED: These Pantry Organization Ideas Will Keep Yours in Ship ShapeAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below17Hide Your HoodMike D'AvelloWrapping your stove hood in the same surface that covers your walls will help keep your kitchen from feeling visually cluttered. RELATED: Knotty Pine Walls Are Back, Baby! 18Size Your Appliances AccordinglyDavid TsayIn this 98-square-foot galley kitchen, the petite 20-inch electric range maximizes cabinet space. TOUR THIS ENTIRE HOMERELATED: The Best Yellow Paint Colors to Brighten Up Any Room Advertisement - Continue Reading Below19Dine at a Drop-Leaf Roger DaviesIf your small kitchen is also an eat-in kitchen, consider a drop-leaf table for your dining surface. The furniture piece can be folded down and set to the side when not in use, giving you more room to move about when cooking. TOUR THIS ENTIRE HOMERELATED: Everything to Know About Painting Furniture 20Put Your Island On WheelsDavid TsayIn this easy-going white kitchen, a narrow rolling island serves as a portable food prep space, which can be wheeled in and out as needed. TOUR THIS ENTIRE HOMESarah ZlotnickSarah Zlotnick is the Lifestyle Director at Country Living, where she covers a little bit of everythingsmall towns, life in the country, and, her favorite, antiques. A research buff at heart, she loves a deep dive into the history of vintage finds and uncovering the reasons behind old-as-time traditions.