Best IKEA Kitchen Layouts for Small Apartments

Making the Most of Small Apartment Kitchens

If you live in a city apartment in Philadelphia, Baltimore, or Washington DC, chances are your kitchen is on the smaller side. Many apartment kitchens in our service area range from just 40 to 100 square feet, a far cry from the sprawling suburban kitchens you see on renovation shows. But here is the good news: IKEA's modular kitchen system was literally designed for compact European apartments, making it one of the best solutions for maximizing a small kitchen space.

At Kitchen Fitters, we have installed hundreds of IKEA kitchens in apartments across Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and DC. In this guide, we will walk you through the three best layouts for small apartment kitchens and show you exactly which IKEA products make the biggest impact.

Understanding Your Apartment Kitchen Dimensions

Before choosing a layout, you need to understand what you are working with. Here are the most common apartment kitchen sizes we encounter:

• Galley kitchens: Typically 6-8 feet long and 5-7 feet wide (30-56 sq ft)
• L-shaped kitchens: Usually 8-10 feet on each wall (64-100 sq ft)
• One-wall kitchens: Often 8-12 linear feet in studio or open-plan apartments

The key measurement to keep in mind is clearance between opposing counters or walls. You need a minimum of 36 inches for one person to work comfortably and 42-48 inches if two people need to pass each other. This single measurement often determines which layout will work.

Layout 1: The Galley Kitchen

Why It Works for Small Spaces

The galley kitchen places cabinets and countertops along two parallel walls, creating a highly efficient corridor-style workspace. This layout is incredibly common in Philadelphia row homes, Baltimore brownstones, and older DC apartment buildings. The galley layout naturally creates an efficient work triangle between the sink, stove, and refrigerator.

Best IKEA Solutions for Galley Kitchens

METOD high cabinets (up to 90 inches tall) are essential in galley kitchens. By going floor to ceiling, you reclaim storage space that would otherwise be wasted. We recommend using the MAXIMERA drawer system in base cabinets instead of traditional shelves since drawers let you access items at the back without crouching and reaching.

For narrow galley kitchens, consider 15-inch deep upper cabinets instead of the standard 24-inch depth. This gives you more headroom and makes the space feel less claustrophobic while still providing useful storage.

Pro Tips

• Use the same cabinet fronts on both sides to create visual continuity and make the space feel wider
• Install under-cabinet lighting to eliminate shadows and brighten the workspace
• Choose a light-colored door style like AXSTAD matte white or RINGHULT high-gloss white to reflect light

Layout 2: The L-Shaped Kitchen

Why It Works for Small Spaces

The L-shaped layout places cabinets along two adjacent walls, leaving the rest of the room open. This is the most versatile layout for small apartments because it works well in both enclosed kitchens and open-plan living spaces. We see this layout frequently in newer DC condos, Delaware townhomes, and renovated Baltimore apartments.

Best IKEA Solutions for L-Shaped Kitchens

The corner where the two cabinet runs meet is the make-or-break point of any L-shaped kitchen. IKEA offers several corner cabinet solutions that prevent this space from becoming a dead zone:

• UTRUSTA pull-out carousel: A rotating shelf system that brings items from the back of the corner to you
• Corner base cabinet with pull-out fitting: Makes deep corner storage fully accessible
• Diagonal wall cabinet: Uses the upper corner space efficiently

The VADHOLMA kitchen island is a perfect companion to an L-shaped layout when you have at least 36 inches of clearance. At just 49 and a quarter inches wide, it adds counter space, storage, and a casual eating spot without overwhelming the room.

Pro Tips

• Place the sink on the longer wall and the stove on the shorter wall for the best workflow
• Use open shelving on one portion of the L to prevent the layout from feeling too enclosed
• Install a KUNGSFORS wall rail system for hanging utensils, freeing up precious drawer space

Layout 3: The One-Wall Kitchen

Why It Works for Small Spaces

The one-wall kitchen lines everything up along a single wall. This layout is ideal for studio apartments and open-plan lofts found in converted buildings across Philadelphia's Old City, Baltimore's Inner Harbor, and DC's Navy Yard. While it sacrifices the work triangle, a well-planned one-wall kitchen is clean, modern, and functional.

Best IKEA Solutions for One-Wall Kitchens

Vertical storage is everything in a one-wall kitchen. Stack METOD high cabinets to the ceiling and use TUTEMO open cabinets to break up the visual monotony of a long run of closed doors. The ENHET system can also work as a compact one-wall solution for very small spaces or as supplemental storage on an adjacent wall.

Consider incorporating a pull-out pantry cabinet (just 15-24 inches wide) into your one-wall design. These tall, narrow cabinets with internal drawers or pull-out shelves hold a surprising amount of food and small appliances.

Pro Tips

• Organize the layout in zones: prep, cook, and clean from left to right (or right to left for left-handed cooks)
• Use a KALLARP or RINGHULT high-gloss finish to reflect light and add visual depth
• Add a slim rolling cart that can tuck against the wall when not in use

IKEA Space-Saving Products We Recommend for Every Layout

Regardless of which layout you choose, these IKEA products consistently deliver the biggest space-saving impact in small apartment kitchens:

• METOD high cabinets (80-inch or 90-inch): Going to the ceiling adds 30-40% more storage than standard height cabinets
• MAXIMERA soft-close drawers: More accessible than shelves and available in multiple depths
• UTRUSTA interior fittings: Pull-out recycling bins, drawer dividers, and plate holders that organize every inch
• KUNGSFORS rails and shelves: Wall-mounted storage for frequently used items
• EKBACKEN or SALJAN slim countertops: Available in depths as narrow as 25 and a half inches for tight spaces
• HAVSEN apron front sink (single bowl): A single large bowl is more versatile than a double bowl in a small kitchen

How Kitchen Fitters Can Help

Designing for a small space requires precision. Every quarter inch matters, and mistakes are costly when you cannot afford to waste any room. Our team specializes in apartment kitchen installations across the mid-Atlantic region. We handle everything from measuring and space planning to delivery coordination and professional installation.

We also help with challenges unique to apartment renovations, including building management approvals, elevator reservations for deliveries, and noise-restricted installation schedules. If you are planning an IKEA kitchen for your apartment in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Delaware, or DC, contact Kitchen Fitters for a free design consultation. We will help you choose the right layout and products for your specific space.