Remodel Your Galley Kitchen with Wraparound Cabinet Design
Galley kitchens can be cramped and awkward to cook in. But with some clever remodeling featuring wraparound cabinet design, you can open up and transform your narrow galley into an efficient, contemporary kitchen.
Wraparound cabinets increase storage while creating a more spacious, free-flowing layout. By continuing cabinetry around corners and peninsulas, you can maximize every inch of your small galley kitchen.
Challenges of Galley Kitchen Layouts
Galley kitchens are known for their narrow floorplans and limited workspace. Here are some of the most common challenges:
Limited Floorspace
The confined quarters of a galley kitchen make working comfortably a challenge. With appliances, counters, cabinets, and walkways competing for the limited floorspace, galley kitchens often feel too cramped.
Poor Workflow
The tight space makes movement awkward in a galley kitchen. Traffic bottlenecks are inevitable with one narrow pathway. This congestion also makes it hard for multiple people to work in the kitchen together.
Wasted Corners
Standard cabinet layouts often leave corners empty. This dead space is difficult to access and a missed opportunity for storage solutions.
Benefits of Wraparound Cabinets for Galley Kitchens
Installing wraparound cabinets during your galley kitchen remodel can help optimize the layout. Here are some of the benefits:
Open Up Floorspace
Continuous cabinets open up floor area since you don't lose space between standalone units. The opened up space also allows room for an island or peninsula to create more usable countertop workspace.
Enhance Workflow
A kitchen peninsula enables a circular workflow around the perimeter rather than a cramped back-and-forth path. Multiple prep zones reduce bottlenecks for a smoother kitchen routine.
Maximize Storage
Wraparound cabinets make full use of wasted corners. The extra storage capacity from utilizing every inch is a major advantage in compact galley kitchens.
Wraparound Cabinet Design Tips for Galley Kitchens
Island or Peninsula
A peninsula is often the better choice for small galley kitchens. Islands can obstruct workflow if space is too tight. Peninsulas attached to wraparound cabinets enhance movement.
Mix Upper and Lower Cabinets
Maximize lower cabinets for storage needs. Glass upper cabinets maintain an airy, open feel instead of oppressive wall-to-wall cabinetry.
Include Pull-Outs and Roll-Outs
Interior pull-outs and roll-outs optimize corner cabinet access. Vertical slide-out storage also maximizes unused space between shelves.
Open Shelving
Glass or metal open shelving introduces space efficiency. Visible items also prevent over-stuffed, disorganized cabinets.
Style Considerations for Wraparound Galley Cabinets
Minimal Hardware
Discreet handles and pulls like bar pulls or cup pulls maintain the clean, modern look. Skip ornate hardware that competes visually.
Mix of Materials
Combining finishes like wood, laminate, and glass adds visual interest. Too much of one material can feel monotonous.
Clean lines, minimal ornamentation, and plain slab fronts keep the contemporary style. Avoid elaborate moldings or decorative elements.
By implementing wraparound cabinet design during your galley kitchen remodel, you can gain storage, open up floorspace, and boost workflow. Your once cramped galley will become a gorgeous, contemporary kitchen maximizing every inch.