If you have a home with a small, open kitchen, don’t fret. It is entirely (and maybe easily) possible to design a space that will not only manage to respond to all your family’s culinary needs but one that can also stylistically rise to the occasion – and do it well. From accent lighting and zonal layouts to creative storage and open shelving, here are the essentials you need to make the most of in your small open kitchen.

Kitchen island

A kitchen island can serve multiple purposes. It could work as an extra counter, a storage unit, a dining area or a breakfast bar, saving you from having to designate separate spaces for dining or storage. In a small kitchen where you’re already pressed for space, this kind of multi-utility can be a practical solution.

In the chic open kitchen featured here, the pistachio-hued island doubles as a charming storage unit, complete with three different-sized drawers. The island also holds a conveniently placed kitchen roll spindle, making for easy access during bountiful cooking escapades.

Look closely, and you’ll notice the island is equipped with wheels, allowing it to be stowed away or moved elsewhere on days when you’d like a little more room in the kitchen.

By installing wheels, you can move your island into the living room to work as a pop-up diner or connect it to your kitchen counter to elongate your work surface. An island on wheels is the best way to create dynamic spaces.

If your kitchen is tucked away against the far end of your living area, there’s a good chance that it may get dwarfed by peripheral elements. An elongated kitchen island can work wonders in accentuating a small open kitchen and giving it form and structure.

In this dove-coloured kitchen, the oyster-pink-and-grey island double-barrels as storage cabinet and breakfast bar. Flanked by open floor on either side, the island is a focal centrepiece that also works as an open storage unit.

Open shelves

Open shelves in your kitchen can push the walls farther, thereby giving the illusion of a larger cooking area. For a kitchen that is strained on space, shelves allow you to maximise every square inch of your wall. They also unlock much-needed space that would otherwise be taken up by doors, offering, in turn, a high-on-space, airy feel.

By storing dals, rice and nuts in differently sized mason jars, you can additionally create a fabulous visual display. The delightful arrangement in this picture is a nod to effortless yet elegant storage. Mason jars are available aplenty both online and in hypermarkets. Choose from a galaxy of designs and shapes to light up your shelves.

This kitchen features open shelves that overarch the kitchen counter, working as a subtle display unit for glassware and crockery. The shelves also function as a screen between the kitchen and the living room, forming a partial wall. Shelf partitions are sensible options if you prefer privacy in your cooking area but still want the extra space that comes with an open kitchen.

Zone lighting

This Lilliputian kitchen is a perfect example of a zonal layout. The kitchen holds its own in this compact studio apartment, courtesy the soft pendant lights that form a welcome archway to the kitchen. Although there’s no formal screen that separates the living area from the kitchen, the warm lighting forms a unique access point. Zone lighting is a good way to spotlight a small kitchen without adding walls.

Track lights, recessed lights and pendant lights are good options to consider to subtly create a separate kitchen zone.

For a more exaggerated zonal layout, a sweeping central light fixture can also serve you well.

An axial light fixture can play a key role in sectioning off zones within a large seamless area. In the kitchen pictured here, an overhead island chandelier seeks to highlight the cooking and dining space, keeping the kitchen visually separated from the larger area.

Accent lighting

Aside from signature zonal light fixtures, it’s important to take stock of the natural flow of light in your kitchen. Inevitably, you may find nooks and crannies that are hidden away in the shadows, oft-forgotten in the hustle of everyday cooking. By lighting up every hidden corner, you can add precious pockets of space to your little kitchen.

This ivory kitchen is a shining example of how accent lighting can augment obscure corners of a kitchen. Here, the glow from the built-in light panels illuminates elements both on and under the shelves and the recessed ceiling lights complement the lighting scheme perfectly.

When it comes to accent lighting, it’s a good idea to install a dimmer for your fixtures. This way, you can tailor your lighting depending on the situation. Soft lighting is particularly suitable for when you’re dining with guests or if you still want minimal lighting when you’re not in the kitchen.

Effective chimney or exhaust

It is important to contain and dispel cooking fumes and odours from your kitchen. A chimney that is as functional as it is beautiful should be an essential addition.

In a pint-sized cooking area without walls, vapours are likely to diffuse through your home faster. The last thing you want whilst whipping up a feast is smoky aromas wafting and attaching themselves to the rest of your home. A powerful chimney can help you restrict fumes within your kitchen. This capsule kitchen features a diminutive cooktop with a large chimney in the kitchen peninsula.

Smart storage

Creating storage in a matchbox kitchen can often seem like an impossible task. The secret to effective storage lies in using every little sliver of your space optimally. Consider using corners well, think storage above cabinets, bring in modular furniture customised for challenging spots…