ARTICLE

Maximise Your Space With A Galley Kitchen

March 24, 2023 - 4 min read

 

If you’re looking to create a new kitchen in your home but your space is limited, then a galley kitchen might be perfect for your needs. Galley kitchens feature a long, narrow walkway between two solid walls. Luckily, the walls can be the home of cabinets along each side and loads of benchtop space. You can also hide appliances like fridges and dishwashers behind cabinetry for a clean look.

A dual-toned black and white galley kitchen.

Galley Kitchen Design Layout

Galley kitchens use their space efficiently – the less walking the better for a busy chef! With two walls alongside the walkway, a good tip is to utilise the vertical space to maximum effect with cabinetry and storage space at head height.

The layout of a galley kitchen is just as important as the size of it. You will need to determine what appliances you’ll need in your kitchen and where they will go. An added benefit of having your appliances and work spaces nearby is that you will have a compact working area when you’re preparing meals. Our favourite tip for galley kitchens is to include an induction cooktop sitting flush with the benchtop to make the space appear larger.

The galley kitchen layout also focuses on the kitchen ‘golden triangle’, keeping your cooking, cleaning and refrigeration areas separate. Also try and keep your galley kitchen as symmetrical as possible. Cabinetry and appliances mirroring each side offers you a uniform and contemporary look.

Appliances For The Galley Kitchen

As always, we recommend an appliance-first approach when planning your galley kitchen. This is crucial when creating a galley kitchen to make best use of your space. It will save you having to do costly repairs if you buy an appliance that is too big, and can help inform your decisions on what types of appliances to buy.

Integrated fridges and dishwashers are a great start for a galley kitchen, as is an induction cooktop that sits flush with your benchtop. These will make your kitchen space seem larger than it is and provide you with a clean, stylish look.

A dark stainless steel fridge in a dark timber galley kitchen.

Fridges For Galley Kitchens

When selecting a fridge for your galley kitchen, first consider where you are placing it. Often in this kitchen layout, the fridge should be at the opposite end of the kitchen from your pantry. This prevents doors opening up into each other and clogging the space.

Our favourite tip for galley kitchens is to always use the vertical space that you have – so consider a tall fridge. This also allows you to potentially choose a thinner model. You can even hide your fridge behind cabinetry like shaker doors for a cleaner look in your kitchen.

Dishwashers For Galley Kitchens

We recommend a slim width dishwasher, about 45cm wide, for galley kitchens. This gives you loads of cabinet space and room for other appliances. That size will fit about 6 place settings within it, perfect for busy couples and growing families.

Alternatively, a drawer dishwasher is a terrific space-saving solution for your confined galley kitchen. There are single and double drawer models available, with the ability to do a half load or separate cycles a real advantage of the double drawer. All dishwashers in The Good Guys range come in a variety of styles, finishes, colours and brands – so you should be able to match the other appliances in your kitchen for an even look.

A sleek induction cooktop in a galley kitchen.

Cooktops For Galley Kitchens

A low profile design cooktop is ideal for galley kitchens to provide you with an uncluttered look. We recommend plenty of bench space on each side of your cooktop, aim for at least 30cm each side. This should give you some idea of how big a cooktop you can choose.

When thinking about placement of your cooktop, it’s important to consider the kitchen triangle. This is where the three areas that you spend the most time in the kitchen make up an evenly spaced triangle; the fridge, sink and cooktop. It helps you work productively between storage, cooking and cleaning phases of meal preparation.

Induction cooktops use electricity to run rather than gas. They are powered by coils under the surface instead of a naked flame, which means the cooktop surface remains cool to touch while in operation. This is a great feature for families with small children, as well as small kitchens where accidents are more likely to happen.

A galley kitchen is an excellent choice for those who want to maximize their kitchen space while maintaining functionality and style. With the right appliances and storage solutions, you can make the most of even the smallest kitchen. Visit us in-store or online today and start designing the galley kitchen of your dreams.

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