7 things you didn't know about the post office

Country cottages often have low ceilings and small windows, especially in the kitchen. There are a few design tricks used in this little nook that make it feel more expansive – the brilliant whites that brighten, the tiny pendant light and miniaturised accessories that suit the scale of the room, and a window left without any dressing to encourage natural light.

Pictured: Bespoke kitchen at Plain English

If you have a small kitchen with awkward dimensions, you might have to spend a lot of money on bespoke, integrated storage. But first, try measuring up for a freestanding cupboard, vintage sideboard, or even an antique chest of drawers – the sizes might work well without the extra cost of buying bespoke.

Wall-mounted storage is another helpful tool in small spaces – overload it with your most attractive pans and utensils to create a little feature unto itself. A lovely butter yellow gives the impression that this kitchen is permanently bathed in sunlight.

Kitchens are becoming a bit kitsch – we've seen classic pantries return, rows of copper pots hanging from rails, and these sweet, ruffled curtains appearing under sinks or units. They have the welcome effect of breaking up a run of cupboards that can feel weighty and imposing in smaller spaces.

Pictured: Bespoke kitchen at Plain English

"No matter how small your kitchen is, there is always a way to utilise the benefits of a purpose-built pantry — you simply need to think vertically," says Al. "By creating a narrow floor-to-ceiling larder and then adding generously spaced vertical shelves, you can maximise the storage space. Jars, bottles, bread machines, vases, cereal boxes — whatever it is, you’ll have plenty of space to play with, and without taking too much of your kitchen space either."

Read more: 7 kitchen storage mistakes – and how to fix them

You can create a whole feature out of simple shelves by using them as an open pantry. The pantry returned as a covetable kitchen design feature around 2020, and since then, we have been collectively feeling our way towards a contemporary interpretation that serves 21st-century needs. This charming example is the handiwork of Laura Stephens – which sits within the footprint of the kitchen, partitioned with internal windows offering an enticing peek inside.

Using a butcher block as a makeshift kitchen island is one of the best solutions for smaller kitchens. You can buy really wonderful antique and reclaimed versions, and they are exceptionally sturdy and hard-wearing for the most demanding family kitchens.

"We need our homes to feel that much roomier, lighter, and brighter. White kitchens do this perfectly, offering an energising, transformative aesthetic to any space and making smaller rooms feel bigger," says Tom Howley, Design Director of the eponymous kitchen company. Note too the extra shelving above the kitchen door – a clever space saver for any small room.

You can tour the rest of this Norfolk farmhouse, too.

Any good source of natural light should be a focal point in a small kitchen. These shutters create a lovely frame, even if they are never used and the seat underneath – softened with cushions rather than any fussy upholstery – makes it all the more functional.

Small kitchens will always require a good deal of planning, but the one-wall kitchen is truly an exercise in ingenuity. This diminutive layout requires a real balance between storage capacity, functionality and flow.

Pictured: Bespoke kitchen at Plain English

It's sometimes surprising what you can integrate into your kitchen cupboards. We love the hidden cat door here, dog bowls can be set into the base of your cupboards too, and integrating larger appliances like microwaves and coffee machines frees up valuable work surfaces.

Pictured: Bespoke Kitchen at Neptune

Any paint with a gloss or eggshell finish will work wonderfully to reflect natural light and make your space feel brighter and more expansive. It won't be suitable for all surfaces – it's a tricky one for walls unless they are clad in wood like this fabulous green Neptune kitchen – but we've seen it used successfully on ceilings, staircases and floors. A lacquer on all your wooden surfaces – doors, bannisters, kitchen cabinets – will work in much the same way.

Pictured: Wycombe Bar Stool at Neptune

"Galley kitchens work best when using the full height of the kitchen, so long, slim pantries that allow you to store less-used items on the higher shelves are a great idea," says Tom. A simple narrow bench can become your version of a kitchen island.

A dining table will most likely be out of the question in a small kitchen, but an informal breakfast nook with a petite bistro table makes for a great alternative. So too do bar stools tucked under a work surface. It provides a level of informality in the kitchen – not quite as relaxed as a cup of tea and a piece of toast on the sofa, but without the ceremony of a dining room.

Pictured: Bespoke kitchen by deVOL

If your kitchen is small in width or length but benefits from high ceilings, they can be emphasised with an impactful feature wall. This can be achieved with a wash of colour, but the most practical solution is a great stretch of tiles that fills the whole wall.

Pictured: Tiles at Fired Earth

"In narrower kitchen spaces, everything can be within arms-length, making it easy for a designer to plot an efficient ‘golden triangle’ of cooker, fridge and sink," says Tom. "Creating a run of cupboards or a bank of appliances is easy in parallel kitchens. This layout is appealing because it’s intimate, functional, easy to work in and can look stunning with beautiful floor-to-ceiling cabinetry."

Pictured: Bespoke kitchen at Plain English

Red is a great choice to uplift pokey kitchens without much natural light. Combining red cabinetry with raw materials, like natural woods and stone, offsets any risk of your reds appearing too bright or garish.

Pictured: Bespoke kitchen at Plain English

In a small kitchen, there are plenty of ways to make the most of your wall space, from mounted hooks and floating shelves to tiered storage baskets that can be placed on surfaces and will keep odds and ends hidden away. This avocado-toned kitchen matches accessories to paintwork for a striking finished effect.

In a rustic, vintage, or country-style small kitchen, hanging pots and pans can make a striking feature and save space.

Pictured: Kitchen design by Martha Stewart

Reflective, glossy tiles are a great way to brighten a small space, so too is quartz or a mirrored splashback. Metallic finishes will have the same effect, so opt for a silver finish on your larger appliances – this works brilliantly if you have a full-height double fridge – and balance with plenty of antiqued brass, copper and wood.

Pictured: Accesories at Tori Murphy

If you're a fan of a feature wall or feature colour, but tentative about using too much eye-catching colour in a small space, go for a feature appliance instead or coloured cabinets. This will afford you a pop of colour without feeling overpowering.

One for truly compact kitchens – this sweet window seat adds an extra place to perch. Integrated seating just needs a spare corner, and the joy here is that you can create extra storage underneath.

Pictured: House Beautiful Bamboo Blinds at Hillarys

The more layers you can squeeze into a small space, the more inviting it will be. Stacks of plates overhead and little hooks for mugs free up countertops, while plants and chopping boards layered against the back wall add interest to surfaces.

There is no avoiding clutter in some small kitchens, especially if you are a bit of a collector and tend to accrue recipe books, decorative plates, colourful glassware and so on. In these instances, it can be useful to group similar objects together to create little visual pockets – dotting ten copper pots around a kitchen might look like you've become totally carried away, but piling them all together in a corner looks a bit more intentional.

Read more: A case for clutter: Design tips for creating a busy and eclectic home

With a bit of imagination, any surface can be used for decoration. Spot the artwork propped up on the doorframe and the earthenware jugs hung on the ceiling.

In planning the layout of your overhead cabinets, it is a natural instinct to line them up with the work surfaces below, but that could rob you of some precious storage. This example extends them beyond the limits of the work surface into a space that would otherwise be unused or simply decorative.

Pictured: Bespoke kitchen at Plain English

Colour drenching is a design device that sees walls, borders and often ceilings and cabinets painted in a single colour. This is a bold statement in itself, but it has the added effect of blurring the boundaries of a room, so you're less likely to notice a low ceiling or pokey proportions.

Ceiling drying racks are becoming hugely popular, and they are a great choice for smaller kitchen that can't afford to lose any floor space. We love this natural wood design that feels a touch vintage and country-inspired, rather than purely functional.

Pictured: Quinta Marron Tile at Bert & May

A tried-and-tested stylist's trick. Propping up chopping boards, framed artwork, recipe books and trays onto shelves or work surfaces will add a layer of decoration without taking up extra counter space.

"Rather than filling the walls with units, opt for a full-height larder for those everyday items, allowing wall space for open shelving," says Tom. "Using reclaimed wood shelving adds character and contrast to your brand new kitchen. Use this area to let your personality show through by displaying your favourite glassware or ceramics.”

Pictured: Bespoke kitchen at Plain English