Ideas for renovating a small kitchen without losing space

By the Málaga Urgente team · Updated 1 October 2026 · 7 min read

First: choose the right layout

In a small kitchen the layout matters more than the decoration. A good arrangement lets you cook comfortably even with few square metres. The most common are:

• Single line. Everything on one wall. It is the typical solution for very narrow kitchens. It works if there is enough length and the sink and hob zones are well separated.
• Galley. Two facing runs with a gangway in between. It makes very good use of space if the gangway is wide enough to move around and open doors.
• L-shaped. Two adjoining walls. It allows a comfortable work triangle and leaves an area free for a small table or breakfast bar.
• U-shaped. Three runs. Maximum storage, but it only works if there is room to move without feeling cramped.
• With a peninsula or bar. Useful when the kitchen opens to the living room: it adds a work and quick-meal area without taking up as much as an island.

Think about the "work triangle" between sink, hob and fridge: keeping them close, without getting in each other's way, makes everyday cooking easier. And always leave some free worktop next to the hob and sink to work on.

Gaining storage without gaining square metres

The trick in small kitchens is to use all the available volume, not just the floor:

• Full-height units. The top module is for what is rarely used; it avoids dust and wasted wall.
• Drawers instead of doors in base units: you see everything at a glance and use the depth.
• Pull-outs and tall units in narrow gaps, which use spaces that would otherwise be lost.
• Corners put to use with carousel or pull-out units.
• Plinth drawers for storing trays and flat utensils.
• Interior organisers for cutlery, spices and lids.
• Rails and bars on the wall for everyday utensils, without taking up drawers.

Shallower wall units and sliding or lift-up doors avoid bumps and allow better circulation.

Appliances: choose well instead of giving things up

You do not need to give anything up if you choose well:

• 45 cm dishwasher instead of 60, or a countertop one if there is very little space.
• Two- or three-burner hobs and induction, with free worktop when not in use.
• Tall fridge or integrated, and consider a combi of a size suited to the family.
• Combination microwave oven or a tall oven to free up space.
• Integrated or low-profile hood, which does not get in the way of your head or natural light.
• Washing machine in the kitchen or elsewhere, depending on the home: if there is a utility room or gallery, better to free the kitchen of it.

Each appliance needs its own socket and, in some cases, water and drainage. Planning this beforehand avoids costly changes during the works.

Light, colour and materials to make it look bigger

A small kitchen can gain a lot from simple visual decisions:

• Pale colours on units and walls, which reflect light and visually enlarge the room.
• Plain fronts or with few details, without protruding handles that catch on things.
• Lighting under the wall units over the worktop, which reduces shadows and improves working.
• Continuous flooring in kitchen and living room if it opens up, for a feeling of space.
• A hard-wearing, easy-to-clean splashback: ceramic, porcelain or glass, to taste.
• A hard-wearing, low-maintenance worktop, suited to how you cook.

Sockets, lighting and ventilation: decided before the works

In a small kitchen every point counts, and it is easier to get it right if you plan before chasing walls:

• Sockets at worktop height for small appliances, at a comfortable height and away from the sink.
• Connections for each large appliance (oven, hob, dishwasher, fridge) with their own circuit, according to the electrical regulations.
• General light and task light. A central light is not enough: add lighting under the wall units over the worktop.
• Well-placed switches by the door and, if the kitchen is long, a second point.
• Effective extraction. The hood should vent outdoors whenever possible. If there is no outlet, recirculation with carbon filters is the alternative.
• Natural ventilation. Even with a hood, an openable window or cross-ventilation reduces humidity and smells.

If the electrical installation is old, the renovation is the time to update it. See our electricians page. And if pipes need moving, our plumbers page.

How to plan the renovation, step by step

1. Measure and draw. Note the length of each wall, the height, and the position of doors, windows, water points, drain, sockets and extraction.
2. Make a list of needs. What you usually cook, how many people use it and which appliances are essential.
3. Choose the layout and check there is room to move around and open doors and drawers.
4. Decide appliances before units, so the gaps fit their dimensions.
5. Ask for a fixed quote with separate items: works, services, units, worktop and appliances.
6. Work out the lead times. Made-to-order units and worktops take weeks. Place the order as soon as possible.
7. Organise life without a kitchen. For a few days you will have to improvise: microwave, ready meals or a temporary kitchen.

If you plan calmly, the works go without surprises and the result is much closer to what you imagined.

Opening the kitchen to the living room? What to check

In small flats, opening the kitchen to the living room gains light and space, but it is not always possible or advisable. Before deciding, check:

• Whether the wall is load-bearing or part of the structure. If so, it cannot be removed without a technician and the relevant permits.
• What services run through it: cables, pipes, stacks or ventilation ducts.
• How smells and fumes affect the rest of the home. Good extraction is essential.
• Whether it affects shared elements of the community, which requires authorisation.

If the wall cannot be removed, a partial opening with an internal window or a breakfast bar can give a good part of the feeling of space.

Common mistakes when renovating a small kitchen

• Leaving too little free worktop. Without room to work, the kitchen stops being comfortable.
• Not planning the sockets. There are too few where needed and too many where not.
• Forgetting ventilation and extraction. With little space, smells and humidity are noticed sooner.
• Choosing deep units in a narrow gangway, which stop doors opening or movement.
• Buying appliances before measuring. Every centimetre counts.
• Trying to fit everything in. Sometimes one appliance fewer and more worktop is better.

Small kitchens in flats on the Costa del Sol and in the Axarquía

The area has many small flats, and some particularities:

• Summer heat. A closed kitchen with no window turns into an oven. Plan effective extraction and, if possible, cross-ventilation.
• Damp and salt air. Near the sea, cheap hardware rusts sooner; better quality hinges and runners, and moisture-resistant board.
• Old installations. In buildings from the 1970s and 1980s, low power or old pipes are common. Using the renovation to bring them up to date is a good idea.
• Holiday and seasonal flats. Materials that are easy to clean and resistant to heavy use.
• Utility rooms or galleries. In many homes, moving the washing machine to the gallery frees up space in the kitchen.

You can see how we work on our kitchen renovations page, and if the kitchen is part of a complete renovation, on full renovations. For cost, see our guide on how the cost of a renovation is worked out.

Quick questions

Which layout is best for a small kitchen?

It depends on the shape of the room. Single-line or galley work in narrow kitchens; L-shaped is usually the most comfortable if there are two adjoining walls. We assess it at the visit.

How do I gain storage in a small kitchen?

With full-height units, drawers in the base units, pull-outs in narrow gaps, corner units and interior organisers.

Can a small kitchen be renovated without building work?

Sometimes yes: by changing units, worktop and appliances if the services are fine. If water points, drains or sockets need moving, building work is needed.

Can I open the kitchen to the living room?

Often yes, but you first need to check whether the wall is load-bearing or carries services, and whether it affects shared elements. We review it at the visit.

How long does it take to renovate a small kitchen?

As a guide, between two and four weeks of work, plus the manufacturing time of a made-to-order worktop. We set it out in the quote, with a schedule.

Keep reading

• How much does a bathroom renovation cost: a guide
• Rising damp and salt damp on the Costa del Sol and the Axarquía