How To Achieve a Minimalist Kitchen Design - 7 Simple Tips

The kitchen is often one of the busiest rooms in most homes, and it can be a difficult space to keep organized. But what if you could find a design that combines form and function to create a space that is both functional yet aesthetically pleasing?

Enter the minimalist design. Using the “less is more” philosophy, this design style will help you to create a beautiful clutter-free kitchen that you and your whole family can enjoy spending time in. To get you started, here are 7 tips to help you create your ideal minimalist kitchen design, whether you have a large or small kitchen.

1. Clear the clutter

The first step toward a minimalist kitchen is to clear out the clutter. Examine everything in your kitchen and ask yourself what unessential items can be thrown away or stored in storage. For example, if you have a large collection of knives, get rid of knives that you don’t regularly use and only keep the ones that you use frequently. The same goes for other kitchen items such as appliances, cookware, utensils, and dinnerware.

To keep your kitchen clutter-free, stick to this process and declutter every few months with a fresh set of eyes. Also, make sure that everything in your kitchen has its own designated place. That way, once you've used something, you'll always know where it's supposed to go, and it won't accumulate on the kitchen counter and become cluttered.

2. Choose a neutral colour base

Neutral base colour is typically used in a minimalistic interior. Choosing neutral paint colours for your kitchen, such as white, beige, or grey, can help to create a clean, fresh-looking space and inspires a sense of calm. If you have a small kitchen, using white can also help to open up a space and make it appear brighter.

That doesn't mean you can't have fun with colour. While simplicity is the goal here, introducing colour and texture in small doses through plants, artwork, and textiles is a great way to add interest to a room. Choose solid-coloured pigments that are easy on the eyes that can blend in well with neutrals, such as earth-tone browns, blues, tans, and greens.

Take a cue from this minimalist kitchen's design. Here, white floors, walls, and grey upper cabinets keep the space feeling light and airy, while a small potted plant adds a dash of colour to the room.

3. Choose quality over quantity

One of the most important minimalist living tips is "quality over quantity," and it goes hand in hand with kitchen design. Rather than purchasing cheap, trendy furniture, appliances, or kitchen utensils that will wear out quickly, invest in one or two high-quality pieces that will last for several years or decades.

Take design inspiration from this kitchen by PINS Studio. Everything is spotless, pristine, and ultra-sleek, with an emphasis on high-quality materials, from the marble floors and walls to the neat built-in cabinetry.

4. Maximise your storage space

Having a minimalist design, however, does not imply that you must give up all of your belongings and necessities to achieve this look. Instead, a minimalist kitchen is packed with smart storage solutions that allow homeowners to keep daily-use items like toasters, coffee makers and spices inside cabinets or drawers to free up precious counter space.

This minimalist kitchen by interior design firm Cube Creation illustrates the point. It creates a fresh canvas for cooking meals at home by keeping appliances and gadgets out of sight. Only small appliances and utensils used daily take up the counter space.

5. Choose multi-function furniture

Combining décor and function is a great way to create an appealing minimalist interior design. When furnishing your kitchen, choose furniture that is versatile and can serve various functions.

One of this kitchen's best features is the large kitchen island. It serves as both a food prep area and a dining table. Aside from being multifunctional, the kitchen island adds a lot of character to the space and serves as the kitchen’s focal point.

6. Keep the design simple throughout

Minimalism is all about simplicity, and it should be reflected in all aspects of your kitchen design, including furniture, decor, and storage. For example, when choosing built-in cabinets, opt for solid-coloured doors with no knobs or handles. If you don’t want your cabinet doors to be completely plain, a simple bar can be used in place of the more traditional round knobs.

The absence of handles or bars on any of the upper and lower cabinets in Josh Thompson's kitchen perfectly illustrates a minimalist style kitchen, keeping the space feeling uncluttered. Meanwhile, natural wood accents help to elevate the kitchen's minimalist aesthetic.

7. Choose statement-making furniture

When creating a minimalist kitchen, make sure that everything you incorporate is not only functional for the space but also has a design impact on the room.

This kitchen by Box Design Studio, for example, doesn't have a lot going on, yet it feels unique and full of character. This is because each piece, from the barstools to the gold pendant lights and kitchen island, adds a unique sense of style and personality to the space. In fact, the open kitchen's overall white palette makes the gold pendant lights stand out even more!

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