Small Kitchen Renovations

Maximise space in your small kitchen through thoughtful layout and design. Read on to discover innovative ideas to create efficient flow with your small kitchen remodel.

Planning and designing your small kitchen

Our team of kitchen renovators at Refresh are eager to help with your small kitchen renovation through a thoughtful design-and-build process. A local Renovation Consultant is your dedicated point of contact from your first free, no-obligation consultation until the project is complete.

During your initial consultation, your local renovation expert will learn about your goals for the renovation and offer additional kitchen ideas to spur inspiration. After clarifying your budget, your Renovation Consultant will come back with working drawings for you to decide on layout options, storage solutions, and more.

Once a layout, design, and budget have been confirmed, it’s time for construction to begin under the watchful eye of your Refresh Renovation Consultant whose network of trusted tradespeople and suppliers will be contributing to your kitchen transformation.

Should regulations apply, your Renovation Consultant will ensure all necessary permits are obtained to make your small kitchen renovation is code compliant. Once all paperwork is taken care of, all that’s left to do is enjoy your newly renovated kitchen!

How much does a small kitchen renovation cost?

Learn more about costings for a kitchen renovation in Australia:

Basic Kitchen Renovation

Keep your kitchen’s current footprint and focus on updating your kitchen’s appliances, accessories, and colour scheme for $20,000 - $35,000*

Mid-range Kitchen Renovation

When changes include your small kitchen’s floor plan, new windows or doors, or brand new cabinetry, you’re looking at a price range of $35,000 - $55,000*

High-end Kitchen Renovation

Overhaul your kitchen with premium materials, high-end appliances, and other bespoke design elements for $55,000 - $100,000+*

*Costs are shown as an indicative guide of what previous projects have cost. The price of renovating a home is increasing each year as material and labour costs rise. For an estimate / quote on your specific project, please consult your local Refresh Renovations® specialist to find out more about our planning, design and build process.

Small Kitchen layouts

Renovating a small kitchen often includes making changes to the current layout. It is possible to fit a functional, aesthetically pleasing floor plan into a challenging space. Let’s take a look at some popular floor plans for a small kitchen design in Australia:

One wall kitchen style

As the name suggests, this layout features all cabinetry and appliances on one wall. To maximise workspace with this floor plan, you might consider using a dining room table or wheeled butchers’ block as additional areas for food prep.

Galley kitchen style

Add an extra side to your one wall kitchen and you get a galley kitchen design. This layout features two parallel benchtops to form a narrow corridor that can be great for efficient food preparation, cooking, and cleaning.

Often, two key appliances are on one side with the third appliance on the other side to form a ‘working triangle.’ For instance, a fridge and oven might be on one wall and a sink would be on the opposite benchtop.

L-shape kitchen style

Common in small apartment kitchens, this layout helps to maximise bench space, storage, and seating with L-shaped countertops. This style keeps the work space on the inside of the ‘L’ with barstool seating on the opposite side.

How to make your small kitchen feel big

Whether you’re interested in touching up your small kitchen or embarking on a transformative apartment kitchen renovation, make the most of every centimetre of space by considering these elements:

Savvy storage solutions

Tall vertical cabinetry and pull-out drawers and shelves create more room for your dishes and pantry items. Your Renovation Consultant is experienced in finding creative solutions for providing ample storage space.

Light sources

Light is your friend when it comes to small spaces. Consider amplifying your natural light sources by constructing taller windows or a skylight. Or hang a feature pendant light to add depth to your kitchen. Likewise, strips of LED lights under floating shelves and toe kicks light up otherwise dark corners.

Key colours

Colour and light are natural partners. Light colours tend to make a small kitchen feel open and airy, whereas darker tones can make a tiny space feel more cramped. For a bright and expansive look, you might consider white cabinets or light neutral colours for your walls and appliances.

Grow your bench space

You can add length and depth to your workspaces by choosing to add a fold-down countertop extension, butchers’ blocks or kitchen island. Modern countertop appliances for small kitchens are slimmer to save precious bench space, so you might consider getting rid of your bulky microwave and coffee maker.

Small kitchen designs in Australia

Be inspired by these small kitchen makeovers across the country:

Small kitchen renovation in Cheltenham

• Thick, timber slab benchtop
• Built-in nook for microwave
• Compact double sink with drying rack

Small kitchen renovation in Beaumaris

• Modern, high-contrast colour scheme
• Marbled stone countertops
• Large farmhouse sink

Small kitchen renovation in Carnegie

• Built-in oven with ceramic cooktop
• Shaker style cabinets with extra storage
• Hidden extraction fan

Future proofing your kitchen

Smart home technology can add convenience in your small kitchen. Voice-activated features for your fridge and lighting create ease and efficiency, while touchless faucets make for germ-free cleaning. Your Renovation Consultant can provide you with more cutting-edge kitchen tech solutions.Ready to renovate your small kitchen?

Let’s talk!

Get in touch with a local Renovation Consultant for your free, no-obligation consultation to discuss small kitchen renovation ideas for your home. We look forward to hearing from you!