DIY Small Galley Kitchen Renovation

Measure the kitchen space so you are able to create a scaled drawing of the room. Use this drawing to sketch out the layout of the remodeled galley kitchen.

Allow for at least 4 feet between the cabinets, shelves or appliances on the two sides of the galley kitchen. If possible, extend the aisle to a minimum of 6 feet to reduce congestion and allow you to fully open the doors on cabinets and appliances.

Locate the three major appliances and work areas in the kitchen -- the stove, sink and refrigerator. These areas are often arranged in a triangle to allow you to easily access all of them as you cook. Consider how well the current arrangement of these items works and how moving them might improve the space use of the galley kitchen.

Design the upper and lower cabinets to allow for plenty of storage. Consider custom cabinet pieces, such as large drawers instead of traditional cupboards, or shelves that pull out. A light stain or paint color on the cabinets gives the small kitchen a lighter, airy feeling to make it seem more spacious.

Design a cutout or a half-wall in the galley kitchen to open it up to an adjoining common room. This allows more light into the room and makes it feel more spacious, while allowing the cook to socialize with others.

Plan the lighting to ensure the long, narrow room doesn't get too dark. Add more lighting fixtures if necessary and maximize the natural light you have from existing windows.