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Setting Up the Perfect Boat Galley

March 19, 2021 by Travis Turgeon Leave a Comment

Living on a boat comes with countless challenges, but few can cause more frustration than a poorly designed galley. It’s tough enough to cook a great-tasting meal that everyone enjoys in a standard kitchen, but managing that in a swaying, confined space with limited resources can make you want to hurl yourself overboard. A perfect boat galley is well-designed, highly functional, and safe to use. Below, we cover everything you’ll need to know to make the most out of your space.

The Boat Galley

Boat galleys vary in a ton of different ways. Size, layout, storage, proximity – the list goes on. Each boat will require a slightly different setup than the next, but certain features are beneficial across the board.

Boat Galley Basics

Boat Galley Location

From cooking and cleaning to remaining mobile and social, the location of a galley can dramatically impact your culinary experience at sea. The galley should be accessible from both the cockpit and saloon, well ventilated and in an area that is less prone to boat roll than other areas. Placement at the foot of the boat’s companionway is ideal, as it satisfies the three considerations mentioned above. Those with multiple roles on the boat will enjoy this location as they make trips above and below deck. Each boat will have a different setup, though, so be sure to consider the specifics for you and your crew. What works for some will be less than ideal for others. 

Boat Galley Layout

The shape and layout of your space will dictate how you set up your kitchen and arrange your boat galley accessories. Three standard layouts for a boat galley exist – Linear, L-Shaped, or U-Shaped. L-Shaped and U-Shaped galleys are more commonly found on offshore cruisers, as the design provides more support and security when the boat is rolling. They also keep spaces and cooking accessories nearby for a busy evening as the lead cook.

While these confined layouts are more suitable for safety and convenience, they reduce the overall ability to be creative in the kitchen. Less space means you have to be more mindful of the equipment you’re using, as well as how many dishes you can prepare at once. It would be best if you determined your galley’s layout by evaluating how many people are on board, how often you’ll be cooking during open-water passages, and how creative a cook you are in the first place. 

Functionality  

Gimballed Boat Appliances 

A gimbal is a single-axis support system on which objects pivot to stay level, even when their surroundings are not. Having gimbaled boat appliances is essential to cooking safely, especially when making long passages in inclement weather. The most common boat appliance to mount on a gimbal is a stove and oven. Gimballed boat appliances are lockable when not in use, so you can use the equipment as usual when at anchor or docked in the marina. 

Logical Refrigeration Placement

While modern boat galleys are becoming more logical in their design and layout, there are often things that leave us scratching our heads when looking at older vessels. Unfortunately, one of the most common issues we see is the placement of refrigeration and freezer units. Whether due to space restrictions or simple neglect, we see these cooling units installed near engine rooms, ovens, or in areas with minimal ventilation. For obvious reasons, placement in these areas will drastically reduce energy efficiency and drive up costs. When looking to buy a used boat or renovate your existing galley, make energy efficiency a primary consideration.

Boat Galley Convenience Features

Double-Basin Sink

While this is, of course, a subjective opinion, many offshore cruisers prefer to equip their boat’s galley with a deep, double-basin sink. Deeper basins offer a few advantages, although not every person will see them as essential.

The main advantage is the ability to soak your dishes without worrying about water overflowing when the boat rolls. However, if you’re only cooking for a few people, you can manage this with a shallow sink as well. The selling point for most is the double basins. With two basins, you can use one for washing and draining while the other serves as a soaking station. After all, efficiency is the name of the game in such a small and limited cooking space. If you aren’t using one of the basins, you can increase your counter space by placing a fitted cutting board or surface over the second basin. Depending on the meal, you may require more space or an assistant in the kitchen. 

Locking Cupboard, Drawer, and Oven Latches

Installing lockable latches to anything with a swinging door or a sliding drawer is the best way to prevent things from coming open during a passage. Not only are you risking breaking your kitchenware, but you’re potentially turning ordinary household items into dangerous, high-speed projectiles. These latches are cheap, easy to install and provide peace of mind for a more relaxed journey.

Vertical Cupboard Dowels

Another infinitely helpful boat galley accessory is vertical dowels, installations to keep glasses in place and prevent breakage. You can also use dowels to stack plates and bowls, although most find the best use for them to hold their precious wine glasses and beer mugs. Ensure you won’t be drinking your wine from plastic cups by installing these boat galley accessories in your cupboards.

Wall-Mounted Racks

Having wall-mounted racks in strategic locations around the galley can help the chef stay organized and uncluttered without sacrificing accessibility for items like oil and spices. If your wall rack doesn’t have a security band or horizontal dowel to keep items secure, you can easily install a bungee cord to keep things from moving around. 

Boat Galley Safety Features

Grab Rails and Handles

When it comes to the boat galley, you need to consider safety a top priority. If not, you’ll quickly find out why this is such a pressing matter. One of the biggest threats to a cook is the prospect of being tossed across the galley. One of the best ways to prevent this from happening is by having handles and grab-rails within reach, although some prefer tether systems. The debate will likely continue through eternity, but most long-term cruisers seem to prefer handles and grab-rails as it keeps them mobile in case of emergency. 

Tether System 

Depending on who you ask, tether systems that hold a cook in place are extremely useful or extremely dangerous. Most seem to think they are more dangerous than beneficial, but those with knee or back injuries may find them invaluable in keeping them stable and safe in the kitchen. When cooking on a boat during a rough passage, being tied in place directly in front of hot liquids, fire and pans can be dangerous. If any of those things spill in your direction, burns and bruises are sure to follow. Handles and grab-rails are a common alternative to tether systems, but debates on a better design can become heated depending on who you ask. 

Boat Galley Upgrade Considerations

Another method to improve refrigeration efficiency is to create an “organization plan.” Installing shelves and drawers will help with organization and space efficiency, and using color-coded labels can help with the quick identification of any item.

Hand and Foot Pump Faucets

Using your freshwater supply to clean dishes is far from economical, so installing a hand or foot pump to the faucet is a great way to minimize the use of your limited resources. Cleaning your dishes with seawater is not only easy, but the resources to do so are completely free. You can arrange hand pumps and foot pumps however you prefer, but a common method is to hook a hand pump to freshwater and a foot pump to seawater. Just clean your dishes with soap and saltwater, and give a quick rinse with fresh water to conserve your onboard resources. You can take the conservation efforts a step further by filling a spray bottle with fresh water to rinse dishes. Although a hand or foot pump uses minimal water, a spray bottle uses even less. 

Stainless Steel Boat Appliances

Everything from your kitchen sinks to refrigerators and stovetops is subject to deterioration from salt while at sea. Most new vessels come equipped with all stainless steel appliances for just that reason, but certain models cut costs by supplying the galley with boat appliances made of other materials. If you have boat appliances or kitchenware constructed with anything other than stainless steel, it’s worth considering an upgrade. By spending money on items constructed with high-quality material now, you can avoid higher-cost replacements down the road. 

Boat Galley Lighting

Poor lighting in your boat’s galley can create a dull and uninspired atmosphere, so upgrading your existing lights to LEDs can help liven the mood. Apart from your mental health, LEDs are far more efficient than standard bulbs, which reduces long-term energy costs. Consider installing additional lights to areas above the sink, stove, or countertops. Some LED lights can switch from red to white light, which is beneficial when setting the appropriate mood. 

Port / Hatch Enlargements – Ventilation

Your boat’s galley is the space that needs the most ventilation – for comfortability, safety, and health. When cooking on a boat with propane, it’s crucial to have a well-ventilated kitchen space. Natural gases tend to be denser than air, which means that the gases will “fall” beneath the lower deck if a leak goes unnoticed. Once below deck, the heat can cause combustion to occur, endangering everyone on board or near the boat. Improper use of propane has killed and injured many cruisers in the past, so be sure to prepare appropriately if you decide to use propane as a fuel source. On that note, install gas monitors for further protection. 

Galley Cookware and Accessories

With a small amount of planning and preparation, cooking on a boat in a small galley can be enjoyable. Some of the most important considerations to make are the essentials and non-essentials for kitchen cookware and boat galley accessories.

Boat Galley Essentials

Pressure Cooker

Pressure cookers are the perfect answer to your multi-purpose needs in a boat kitchen. With the steam vent left open, a pressure cooker serves as a standard pot for all daily meals you would prepare in a kitchen at home.

Closed, your cooking time decreases drastically, making those long-haul passages in inclement weather nothing short of a breeze. Although most people who venture into the cruising lifestyle don’t have a ton of previous experience with pressure cookers, the learning curve is exceptionally shallow. You can master it in nearly no time. 

Nesting Pots and Pans

Dual-purpose kitchen cookware covers all of your bases without stocking up on too many unnecessary items. Further, having nesting cookware is the key ingredient in keeping storage space efficient and uncluttered. Simply put, nesting cookware cascades in size, allowing you to stack each item inside one another. Once you clean them, stack them together, and viola – efficiency at its finest.

Tin Foil and Freezer Bags

Two of the most challenging items to find in foreign countries, whether in the south Pacific or the Caribbean, are heavy-duty tin foil and freezer bags. Keeping your perishables fresh and delicious becomes extremely difficult without the proper boat galley accessories, and these two items are at the top of the list. 

Anything and Everything Silicone

Silicone products are a full-time cruiser’s best friend, making life easy in a variety of ways. Silicone mats allow you to bake without using oil or parchment, are easy to clean, save on storage space, and provide slip-resistant surfaces for any area in the galley. Collapsible mixing bowls and measuring cups are unbreakable, light, and space-efficient. 

Almost all silicone kitchen items can serve multiple purposes, as they are heat resistant, soft, and have gripping properties. Not only are silicone products highly functional, but they are also stylish and colorful – bringing even the dullest of kitchens to life. 

High-Quality Knives

Having just a few high-quality, sharp knives on board makes a world of difference for the seasoned chef. In this case, quality over quantity has never been so important. Stainless steel material is the go-to in saltwater environments. High-quality knives make it easy to serve multiple purposes without sacrificing storage space or functionality. 

Boat Galley Storage

Living on a boat will turn even the messiest of us into overly neat and well-organized human beings, but this only happens through trial and error without proper direction. Luckily, information is right at our fingertips these days.

Dry Storage

Storage Hammocks

Keeping dry goods such as fruits, vegetables, and spices in a storage hammock is a great way to conserve your cupboard space in the boat galley. Storage hammocks are just what you would imagine them to be. They are small, mesh nets that hang as a hammock does above your sink or stovetop – just try to keep them out of the way of cabinet doors and drawers.

Many experienced boat cooks keep the essential items here for easy access and quick use while preparing meals. The hammock swings just slightly when sailing through rough seas, but they are far from a nuisance if you install them in an ideal location. 

Rotating Cupboard Shelves

Instead of pulling out every spice jar to reach the back of the cupboard, install a rotating shelf to make life easier on yourself. Emptying your whole cabinet during passage is a huge inconvenience, and keeping everything secure can become a hassle. You can install rotating shelves as multi-tiered vertical fixtures, so you can use each shelf to organize in a sensible way for your galley. 

Refrigerator Storage

Knowing What Needs Cooled

Not all foods need cold storage for safe consumption. Having a good understanding of which items in your kitchen need cooling will save you space and energy, so familiarize yourself with the requirements of the foods you keep onboard.

Grains, rice, flour, fruits, vegetables, and many other items sealed in jars don’t need cooling for healthy consumption. Follow this LINK for estimated keep times of various food items commonly held on a boat.

Top-Loading Refrigerator 

Generally, top-loading refrigeration units are open and empty spaces without bins or trays for a personalized organization. When people first try to figure out the best way to organize their cold foods, they often just stack things wherever seems easy and convenient. For most, this leads to developing bad habits that ultimately cost them money as they continually reduce their energy efficiency. We recommend using dividers, trays, and compartments to organize. Over time, you will learn to optimize your storage space – making life less stressful in the galley.

Freezer Storage

Color-Coded Mesh Bags

Having a storage system for your frozen goods is the best way to minimize the time that the freezer door stays open for unnecessary reasons. A standard method for doing this is to have color-coded mesh bags to store frozen items. When looking for fish, poultry, vegetables, or anything else, having a color system reduces time spent fumbling through storage looking for something specific. 

Freezer Placement

When buying a new or used boat, your cooling units will likely already have a home. If you’re planning to replace or upgrade your freezer, however, install it below the waterline for a lower ambient temperature – this will help with energy conservation, especially in warmer locations like the tropics.

Keeping Pests Under Control

Cardboard and Paper Labels – Cockroaches

Cockroaches are among the biggest nuisances on a boat, especially when stocked with long-term provisions. Small spaces between cardboard mesh and underneath paper labels are the ideal breeding ground for cockroaches – the reason behind most boat infestations. Some cockroaches species carry egg capsules inside their bodies, and before dying, they release dozens of offspring. Getting rid of cockroaches is extremely difficult if not identified promptly. When provisioning, your best bet is to entirely remove any paper or cardboard from every item before placing your goods into storage. Once you remove the labels, use a permanent marker to indicate the contents of the container. Instead of using cardboard boxes as storage, invest in hard plastic tubs and trays to minimize the otherwise continuous battle. Air-tight bins and plastic bags are low-cost and efficient in keeping cockroaches at bay.

If you find yourself with cockroaches scuttling across your floors, you need to act quickly. While there are dozens of strategies for clearing your boat, each will require a different approach. Some cockroach species are easier to eradicate than others, and it seems that everyone has different results with the same methods.

Your best bet is to employ several of the following simultaneously:

• Cockroach Gel-Bait
• Poison Powders
• Fumigation When Necessary (this method requires you to vacate the vessel for 48 hours and remove any cookware, cutlery, and utensils beforehand)

Air-Tight Plastic Storage – Weevils 

Weevils are another common onboard pest, and they can be majorly destructive to your provisions. Food items such as rice, nuts, flour, and beans can become infested quickly if not correctly stored in air-tight plastic containers. These foods act like magnets for weevils, and they are the perfect breeding ground for their nearly unnoticeable larvae. Even when treated with pesticides, things like flour provide the ideal habitat for weevil larvae to flourish.

If you are unfortunate enough to open up your grain or flour containers to find weevils, there are a couple of tried and true ways to get rid of the infestation. For flour, simply microwave the product for five minutes or longer, or bake it in the oven at 200 degrees F for 30 minutes. After heating, let cool before storing in an airtight plastic container and store with bay leaves to repel future weevils. For food items such as grains or nuts, you can place them in a deep freezer for several hours to several days. For the freezing method, you need to have a freezer that reaches temperatures well below freezing. 

Keeping Clean – Ants

Whether on land or at sea, ants are among the most common pests in a kitchen environment. Sugary drinks, crumbs, and unattended spills are all reasons for ants to come aboard, so clean diligently everywhere on the boat – not just in the galley. You should take preventative measures before you ever see a single ant on the boat to ensure that a full-blown infestation doesn’t occur. Once ants make their way on board, you need to eradicate the problem at the source.

Preventative measures include:

• Creating Barriers on Dock Lines (Petroleum Jelly)
• Strategically Placed Ant Traps and Poisons in High-Risk Areas
• Whole or Ground Cloves Placed Near Sugar Containers
• Keep Sugars, Syrups, Honey, etc. in Sealed Plastic Bins

You can manage an existing ant infestation in various ways, although using several of the following methods at once is e asy and effective:

• Poisons (Borax and Sugar Mixture)

Galley Cookbooks

The Boat Galley Cookbook: 800 Everyday Recipes and Essential Tips for Cooking Aboard, by Carolyn Shearlock 

The space is tight, the ingredients are limited, and you just caught a fish you’ve never even considered preparing before. The boat-friendly recipes and tips in this book are sure to help out any long-term cruiser in the galley, but especially the unseasoned, first-time liveaboard chefs. In some parts of the world, chickens come whole, fish come uncleaned, and you need bones for your broth. Making bread and yogurt can also be a daunting task with limited resources. Taking raw, simple ingredients and turning them into full-blown authentic dishes inspired by cuisines worldwide is easy with this galley cookbook. Make sure this book is onboard – you’ll find plenty of uses for it. 

Feasts Afloat: 150 Recipes for Great Meals From Small Spaces, by Jennifer Trainer Thompson

This book addresses one of the biggest problems with cooking on a boat, and it mentions it directly in its title – limited space. While other boat galley cookbooks try to create complex recipes with unusual ingredients and specialized cookware, this book takes a different approach – bringing you straightforward, easy-to-cook meals without sacrificing taste or quality. You can cook a new boat-friendly recipe from this book every day for nearly half a year, although you are sure to find a few weekly staples along the way. The printed, high-quality color photos inspire the boat chef and create a mouthwatering appetite for everyone on board. If you only keep a couple of cookbooks on board, this should be one of them. 

* For a complete list and description of our favorite books to help you plan, prepare, and execute a life of cruising, follow this LINK !

Galley Tips and Tricks

• Before preparing a meal, take out every ingredient you’ll need and situate them in a way that will maximize workflow. Fumbling through your cramped and limited storage becomes frustrating when you need something at a moment’s notice.
• Decide on the items you find most useful, and make sure you have them with you – even if it means sacrificing a bit of storage space. If you eat vegetables with every meal, you can reduce the time spent in front of your cutting board by buying a heavy-duty hand dicer. If you’re a skilled fisherman and eat seafood often, having a vacuum sealer can be a lifesaver. Tailor your kitchen equipment directly to your needs, rather than using the “blanket method” for preparation.
• If you don’t have silicone mats, use damp towels to prevent plates and bowls from sliding across surfaces. You can take this idea a step further by applying a small amount of rubber cement to the bottom of plates and bowls. Once dried, few materials will grip surfaces more tightly. 
• Wear a full-length apron to ensure that you won’t suffer burns if hot liquids spill as the boat rolls during passage.
• Old tube socks serve as excellent protection for precious wine and liquor bottles. Some will choose to invest in proper fixtures to make sure breakage does not occur, but you can just as easily prevent this from happening with towels and socks. 
• When preparing freshly caught fish, the smell on your hands may linger for hours or even days. Washing your hands with vinegar is a sure-fire way to get the odor off right away. 

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How to organize your galley for maximum efficiency

"An organized galley is the heart of a boat, where you'll be preparing meals, storing food, and spending quality time with your loved ones. Discover tips and tricks to maximize efficiency and make meal prep and family time a breeze."

How to Organize Your Galley for Maximum Efficiency

Sailing the open seas with your family is an incredible experience, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. One of the most important aspects of living on a boat is ensuring that your galley is organized and efficient. After all, the galley is the heart of your boat, where you’ll be preparing meals, storing food, and spending quality time with your loved ones.

In this article, we’ll explore various tips and tricks to help you organize your galley for maximum efficiency. We’ll cover everything from storage solutions to layout ideas, ensuring that your galley is a functional and enjoyable space for your family.

Assessing Your Galley Space

Before diving into specific organization tips, it’s essential to assess your galley space and determine what you’re working with. Consider the following factors:

• Size: How much space do you have in your galley? This will determine the types of storage solutions and appliances you can incorporate.
• Layout: Is your galley an open or closed design? This will affect how you organize your space and the flow of movement within the galley.
• Appliances: What appliances do you have or plan to have in your galley? This will impact your storage needs and overall organization.

Once you have a clear understanding of your galley space, you can begin to implement organization strategies that will maximize efficiency.

Storage Solutions

One of the most critical aspects of an organized galley is having ample storage for all your cooking essentials, food, and dishware. Here are some storage solutions to consider:

1. Utilize Vertical Space

Maximize your galley’s vertical space by installing shelves, hooks, and racks. This will allow you to store items above countertops, freeing up valuable workspace.

• Shelves: Install shelves above your countertops to store frequently used items like dishes, cups, and spices. Adjustable shelves are a great option, as they can be easily reconfigured to accommodate different-sized items.
• Hooks: Use hooks to hang items like pots, pans, and utensils. This not only saves space but also makes these items easily accessible.
• Racks: Install racks on the inside of cabinet doors or on the wall to store items like cutting boards, baking sheets, and lids.

2. Opt for Stackable Containers

When it comes to storing food and other supplies, opt for stackable containers that can be easily nested together. This will save space and make it easier to find what you’re looking for.

• Food Storage: Use airtight containers to store dry goods like pasta, rice, and cereal. These containers will keep your food fresh and prevent spills.
• Dishware: Choose stackable dishware like plates, bowls, and cups. This will save space in your cabinets and make it easier to access your dishes.

3. Use Drawer Organizers

Drawer organizers are a simple yet effective way to keep your galley organized. They can be used to store utensils, spices, and other small items.

• Utensil Organizers: Use adjustable drawer organizers to store your cutlery and cooking utensils. This will keep your drawers neat and make it easy to find what you need.
• Spice Organizers: Store your spices in a drawer organizer to keep them organized and easily accessible. Opt for a tiered organizer to make the most of your drawer space.

4. Incorporate Multi-Functional Furniture

When space is limited, multi-functional furniture can be a game-changer. Consider incorporating furniture that serves multiple purposes, such as:

• Folding Tables: A folding table can be used for meal prep, dining, and even as a workspace. When not in use, simply fold it up and store it away.
• Storage Benches: A storage bench can be used for seating and also provides additional storage for items like blankets, linens, and extra dishware.

Galley Layout Ideas

An efficient galley layout is crucial for maximizing your space and ensuring a smooth workflow. Here are some layout ideas to consider:

1. The Work Triangle

The work triangle is a classic kitchen layout concept that can also be applied to your galley. The idea is to create a triangle between your three main work areas: the stove, sink, and refrigerator. This layout promotes efficiency by minimizing the distance between these areas, making it easier to move between tasks.

2. The Galley Layout

The galley layout is a popular choice for boat galleys, as it makes the most of limited space. This layout features two parallel countertops, with appliances and storage on both sides. This creates a central aisle, allowing for easy movement between work areas.

3. The U-Shaped Layout

If you have a larger galley, consider a U-shaped layout. This design features three walls of countertops, appliances, and storage, creating a highly efficient workspace. The U-shaped layout also provides ample storage and counter space, making it ideal for families.

Additional Tips for an Organized Galley

Here are some additional tips to help you maintain an organized and efficient galley:

• Label Everything: Use labels to clearly identify the contents of your containers, drawers, and cabinets. This will make it easier to find what you need and prevent items from being misplaced.
• Keep a Minimalist Mindset: When living on a boat, it’s essential to be mindful of the items you bring on board. Stick to the essentials and avoid cluttering your galley with unnecessary items.
• Clean as You Go: Make a habit of cleaning up as you cook and put items away immediately after use. This will help maintain a tidy and organized galley.

Organizing your galley for maximum efficiency is crucial for a comfortable and enjoyable sailing experience. By implementing the storage solutions, layout ideas, and additional tips discussed in this article, you’ll create a functional and organized space that will make meal prep and family time a breeze. Happy sailing!

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Design for… A Portable Galley

I’ve always loved small boats: day sailors, trailer sailors, runabouts, and skiffs. In many ways they give the most joy for the limited time most of us can spend on the water. While not cruisers in the usual sense of the term, it’s often pleasant to spend a night or weekend aboard a small boat, especially if you are young, flexible and unarthritic. A couple of sleeping bags and air mattresses, a tent over the cockpit, and a galley add up to happiness and freedom for the young and young at heart.

It’s that last item on my list-the-galley-that I want to look at this month. On an open boat there’s no place for a permanent galley. Even with a cuddy on a trailer sailor, a permanent galley is seldom an effective use of space. Hence, the portable galley which can be stored away or even left at home when not in use is the answer for the smaller boat.

The drawing shows one idea for a portable galley. As you can see, it holds a gas camping fry pan, and sauce pans with removable handles, a real coffee pot (an imperative for my wife and me), plates, mugs, cutlery, etc. Anyone planning a portable galley will have to work out his own dimensions based on the sizes and complexity of the outfit chosen. Use the drawing as a starting point for your own design.

The construction I suggest goes as follows. For the main structural panels of sides, top, and bottom, use 3/16” or ¼” waterproof plywood. For backing the joints use 3/8” or quarter round, as shown in the drawing. Brass brads and epoxy adhesive would be a good combination for sticking the whole thing together. If, however, you plan to varnish the unit, you might wish to try urea resin glue. This is the stuff you buy in hardware stores as “plastic resin glue”. It comes as a powder which you mix with water to form a thick syrup, and while not boil proof, it’s effectively water resistant and perfectly satisfactory for jobs like this where the finished product won’t be submerged for long periods of time.

Urea glue is cheap: and best of all for something you intend for varnishing, it cleans up with water if you catch it before it sets up.

I’d suggest two or three short brass flat hinges for the cover, and a trunk latch or turn button hasp to keep the box closed.

Rope handles are shown. They can be easily installed by drilling appropriately-sized holes in the box sides, threading the rope through and tying stopper knots on the inside. You might even consider lettering the boat’s name on the top of the box.

No one besides a genius or a masochist would try and cook multi-course meals with a portable galley, but on a small boat in a quiet cove, the smell of bacon and eggs or steak and onions should be enough to make you forget fancier meals. And think of the Bavarian chocolate coffee gently perking. I’m off to eat!

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Boat galley accessories: essential cooking tools for cruising sailboats

• Nica Waters
• April 7, 2022

After 30 years trying out various boat galley accessories, long-term cruising sailor Nica Waters offers her top recommendations for kitting out your sail boat's kitchen with a few tried and tested items from our Tech Editor Fox Morgan's Dehler 36 galley…

A well founded boat galley with just the right accessories for your food prepping style can make life on board an absolute joy.

Nica writes “We recently rebuilt the galley on our 28’ cutter, Calypso , the boat we’ve owned and cruised intermittently on since 1992. This time, using the wisdom gained over the past 30 years, we incorporated more usable storage areas, installed a large undermount sink, and even splurged on Corian counters.”

“As we moved aboard in April of 2021, we made sure that the galley items we brought with us are all ones we love and use frequently. After all, having the right tools makes cooking even more of a pleasure.”

The Marine Tech Editor, Fox Morgan loves their linear galley as it is especially well organised with just the right bit of kit in just the right places.

“Working in a confined space with limited storage, it’s a balancing act to make sure you have enough galley kit on board and don’t lack things that would make your life easier. Being judicious about what comes aboard can pay off handsomely both in terms of organization as well as the sense of space. For example, despite being a self-proclaimed cutting board addict, I had to be honest and realize that most of the time I use the same board over and over. I don’t need to take 15 on the boat! Almost everything needs to serve double duty; almost nothing is single use.”

If you’re just setting up a galley on the boat, here are some boat galley accessories you might not have thought of…

Boat galley accessories – knives

At the core of a good galley is its knives . You do not need to buy a complete knife set, which often include a number of knives you don’t need, but rather buy individual ones.

A 9” (or 7”) chefs knife, a serrated blade for cutting bread, and a smaller paring knife are essential; the next one I’d get is a long bladed boning knife for filleting your fresh catch of fish.

Find knives that fit your hand and feel good; some people prefer heavier ones while other people like light blades. Stainless steel blades will dull faster than carbon steel blades, but carbon steel blades will rust. Ceramic blades hold their edge for a long time but are notoriously hard to sharpen.

ZWILLING Chef’s Knife, Blade length: 20 cm, Wide blade, Special stainless steel/Plastic handle

A chef’s knife is an absolute must, ideally you’ll have more than one of these. As a boat galley accessories go, this is an area not to be scrimped on. Buy good quality. There’s a chance it will also be used for cutting and trimming lines on deck at some point too.

Price £63.84

Buy Zwilling paring knife from Amazon.co.uk

Shop for Zwilling knives on Amazon .com

ZWILLING Twin Pollux Bread Knife, steel, Silver/Black

A bread knife is one of the staple boat galley accessories, you might be cutting bread with it… sometimes it’s useful lashed to a pole for lopping a rope off your propeller too. Make sure you buy a good one of these!

Price £30.95

Buy Zwilling bread knife via Amazon.co.uk

Ceramic Blade Paring Knife with Sheath 

Tech Editor, Fox Morgan says “Onboard Boogie Nights there’s two paring knives. One steel the other is ceramic and 9 times out of 10 I’ll reach for the ceramic blade. It is light and I like the white blade. It is SUPER sharp and I have already sliced the tips of my fingers off when not paying attention chopping an onion one day while distracted and chatting with my co-skipper. The blade protector stays in place and the knife lives in the cutlery drawer with other stuff. It’s a few years old now but still sharp and still my first choice from the drawer. It’s also great for slicing mooring lines for splicing or repairs. watch out for the super sharp blade really near the handle though. That can catch you out”

Food prepping in the cockpit on a very hot day. Ceramic paring knife in hand. Look carefully, they can be difficult to see with their white blades. They do come in brighter colours, I would recommend trying a bright colour for safety.

Price: £16.99

Buy Ceramic paring knife from Amazon.co.uk

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Having chosen your knives, you need to have a place to store them safely, and a way to sharpen them. One of our galley upgrades was a pair of magnetic knife strips which we’ve attached to the underside of the deck in the galley area.

under counter magnetic strip – doubled up for extra security

You do need to make sure these powerful magnets are placed far from any compass or autopilot. We have two strips so the knives are secured in two places along the blade. Our stainless steel knives hold well, which is an indication of the quality of the stainless steel they are made from. (note from Tech Ed: beware that some stainless blades are not fero-magnetic due to their metal composition. So double check this if buying new blades and intend yo hang them safely on magnets.)

MIU France Stainless Steel Magnetic Knife Bar, 15-Inch

Price: £32.87

Buy the MIU France Stainless Steel Magnetic Knife Bar on Amazon

If you store your knives in a general cutlery drawer, be prepared to sharpen them even more frequently as the blade edges will be .amaged and dulled by contact with other utensils, although some knives do come with blade protectors that slide or clip onto the knife blade to keep it tip top and to avoid accidental injury when reaching into the cutlery drawer.

A knife sharpener can range from a simple whetstone all the way up to an electric knife sharpener ; our preferred tool is an easy-to-use hand sharpener that guides the knife to the correct angle.

WORK SHARP Guided Field Sharpener 

Price: £32.95

Buy Worksharp field sharpener via Amazon.co.uk

Chef’s Choice Professional Electric Kn ife Sharpener

Price: £217

Buy Chef’s Choice electric knife sharpener from Amazon.co.uk

Though this item possibly fails the ‘multi-use’ test, a Microplane zester is another must-have cutting tool in Calypso’s galley. Coming with its own guard, this slender rasp-style grater makes quick work of ginger, garlic, and parmesan cheese and stores flat; it’s also relatively easy to clean since you have access to both sides of the tool.

Microplane Zester Grater Black for Citrus Fruits, Hard Cheese, Ginger, Chocolate, Nutmeg and Truffle from The Premium Classic Series with Stainless Steel Blade

Price: £18.30

Buy Microplane Zester via Amazon.co.uk

Buy the Microplane zester on Amazon

Boat galley accessories – tongs

Everyone has their own preference as to tools to use to turn food in the pan. While spatulas and spoons, forks and even chopsticks all have their place in the galley, I can’t speak highly enough of these locking tongs .

OXO Good Grips Tongs – 12 inch

We have two pairs as we use them so much. One might be in use at the stove, turning meat or stirring pasta, while the other is being used to toss salad. I find the 12-inch size to be far more versatile than the longer ones, and personally find the silicone-tipped ones go gummy too quickly. Just be careful if using these with a nonstick pan surface.

Price: £27.99

Buy OXO 12-Inch Stainless-Steel locking tongs on Amazon

Colourworks Mini Tongs

These Mini tongs are useful in so many ways around the galley. You can pull a hot packet of wet food out of the the boiling pan with them or give a small pot a stir or flip your bacon with them. These fit into places where the larger tongs do not. Silicon tips can also help to preserve nonstick if you have that on your pans. Tongs of all shapes and sizes are considered one of the most essential boat galley accessories.

Price: £3.49

Buy Mini tongs from The Range

Boat galley accessories – blenders

Rounding out the hand tools category is an immersion blender .

When I lived on land, I used my beloved Cuisinart food processor almost daily. Space and power constraints on the boat mean it can’t come with us cruising, but I really did want something that could do some pureeing and fine chopping tasks.

A good galley alternative is an immersion blender. This stick blender does require an electrical outlet nearby, but fits into small spaces and larger pots with ease.

We call it the boat motor; it makes a lovely smooth vegetable soup as well making quick work of frozen fruit and yogurt for a smoothie.

The accompanying small bowl and blade means that smooth hummus and other luxuries are possible on board.

You can buy kits that come without some of the extra attachments (we in particular question the masher attachment), but they’re more expensive.

Braun MultiQuick Hand Blender

As used for over 10 years on the Tech Eds boat, this tried and tested hand blender has been pressed into action offshore many times, whipping up cake batters and chopping tomatoes and anything else we care to throw at it. One of the best value for money items ever introduced to the galley. It’s powered from a small inverter. Though, sometimes cake making goes a bit awry… sense of humour required when this happens. Thankfully we were moored up when this happened. This Braun hand blender was the secret weapon used in the great Atlantic bake-off during the Azab 2019 race.

utter carnage in the galley as the frosting went for a flyer.

Chocolate and Guinness cake, the SV Boogie Nights signature arrival cake, once we got the frosting in the right place it was utterly delicious and a doddle to make thanks to the little Braun gizmo.

Buy the Braun hand blender via Amazon.co.uk

Buy the Braun 4-in-1 Immersion Hand Blender on Amazon

Best pots and pans

Made-in stainless clad saute pan.

On board, I tend to cook with an eye toward cleanup. Like most cruisers, we’re water-conscious, and one way to minimize water use is to create fewer dirty dishes.

One-pot meals are a good way to put this mantra into practice. A surprise favorite pan for this is a stainless steel 3.5-quart saute pan (if we were a family of 4 still on board, I might like a larger version.)

This straight-sided skillet goes from stove top to oven flawlessly; the tight fitting lid for it means it can also work to cook rice or pasta. Watch for a handle that’s short enough to fit in the oven.

Price: £123.99

Buy the 3.5 quart Stainless Clad Saute Pan on madeincookware.com

Kuhn Rikon Duromatic Inox Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker with Long Handle, 5 Litre / 22 cm

Pressure cookers are another conservation tactic, working to save on cooking fuel as well as time spent in the galley. The premise behind these pots is that they cook foods at a higher temperature by applying pressure, meaning that cooking takes less time.

For example, if we decide at 5 pm that we’d like black bean soup for dinner; the pressure cooker takes beans from dried to yummy in half an hour. This pot doubles as my largest mixing bowl as well as a regular, non-pressurized pot for pasta.

Unfortunately, the Fagor brand we use has been discontinued, but this recommended one has been in use on my friend Behan’s boat for the past ten years.

Price: £132.53

Buy the Kuhn Rikon Duromatic Pressure Cooker on Amazon

Instant Pot Duo Nova 7-in-1 Smart Cooker, 5.7L – Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Sauté Pan, Yoghurt Maker, Steamer and Food Warmer

If you have the electricity and storage space to spare, multi-cookers (essentially, electric pressure cookers with a few other bells and whistles) are all the rage in the United States. I’ve never used one but have yet to meet anyone who is not wildly impressed. Many boats are shifting away from propane as a cooking fuel especially as lithium batteries are becoming more widespread, and a multi-cooker is a favourite boat galley accessory for cruisers with an electric galley.

Price: £69.99

Buy the Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker on Amazon

Tefal Ingenio Essential Non-Stick Pots and Pans Set, 5-Piece, Starter Kit

The Tefal Ingenio pans are also a boat galley favourite as they can go from stove top to oven to cool box and back again with their removable handles and clip lids to stop spillage.

The Tech Ed writes “These have been in use onboard SV Boogie Nights for around 8 years now.

Tefal Ingenio pans, with quick release handle removed for better balanced pans when sailing offshore. Stackable and versatile. An excellent investment for the galley.

The small frying pan is looking a bit tired because it get’s the most use but the clip handle, lids and pans are still going strong. The good thing is that you can buy the pans individually so you can make your own set that suits your particular galley needs. The handles are easy to find, often in European supermarkets too.”

Price: £56.99

Buy Tefal Ingenio starter kit from Amazon.co.uk

Best of the rest

Other favorite boat galley accessories and tools are personal: there’s the wide-mouth thermos I use to make yogurt, the citrus juicer I bought in an eclectic hardware store in the Dominican Republic, the French Press coffee maker we use every morning.

Zulay Metal Lemon Lime Squeezer – Manual Citrus Press Juicer

If lemons and Lime are your thing, then much like a garlic press, you’ll love this and it will make life just a little neater. Cocktails and cooking are a little bit better with a dash of citrus. The boat galley accessory you never knew you needed…

Buy Zulay lemon squeezer via Amazon

CLASSIC LEGENDARY FOOD JAR | 1.0 QT

A robust food flask with a wide mouth. Its ubiquitous design can be seen around the globe in the ditty bag of anyone who travels or wants to travel relatively light but head away from it all. This isn’t just a boat galley accessory, but a trekking and hiking accessory too.

Buy Stanley food flask via Amazon

Frieling USA Double Wall Stainless Steel French Press Coffee Maker with Zero Sediment Dual Screen

If you’re a coffee lover then a decent press will really enhance your mornings. Avoid glass and go for something sturdy, reliable and without consumable parts, such as paper filters. The dual mesh inner keeps the coffee grounds away from your cup and you’ll have enough in this press for more than one cup.

Buy Frieling stainless coffee press via Amazon

Luci Solar String Lights + Phone Charger with 100 Lumens

One special tool, although not a galley-specific item, that has immeasurably improved our dining life at anchor is these Luci string lights . Solar powered, they clip easily to our bimini top and provide light and ambience for dinners in the cockpit.

My husband was skeptical at first and now is the first person to reach for them when the sun starts to go down!

Buy Luci Lights via Amazon

Didn’t find what you’re looking for? Head to Amazon’s dedicated sailing page for more marine products.

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Learning to Love my Small Galley

In early 2012, Tom, flew across the country to Hingham, Massachusetts and bought us a Freedom 30 sailboat. That December, we moved aboard.

You might question my sanity for letting this happen. But I was prepared. I’d seen the Freedoms many times at the Seattle Boat Show and at brokerages. Renowned Northwest yacht designer and Sailing magazine boat reviewer, Robert Perry spoke highly of the Freedom 30 on SailNet . Ferenc Mate wrote glowingly about it in The World’s Best Sailboats . I knew it was a good boat.

Still, in the run-up to ownership, I’d missed taking in the dimensions of the galley. Blinded by the rose colored glasses of the liveaboard life of my dreams, I didn’t look critically at what I was getting myself into vis`a-vis cooking until that hot August day I first stepped aboard Sunshine .

The Galley of a Stock Freedom 30 is Wicked Small

The entire food prep and storage space aboard Sunshine measures 4’10” x 4’6” x 4′ high. That’s about as big as the front seat of your car. The area the cook stands in is 2′ x 2′ with 6′ headroom. Smaller than the security scanner you walk through at the airport.

Here’s what’s packed into that space:

• Counter top work space: 24” x 21”
• Icebox: 8 Cubic Feet – Located under the counter top and accessible only through the counter top.
• Sink: 14” x 10” x 14” deep
• Cutting Board: 18” x 10”
• Stove: Alcohol fueled 2 Burner, 18” x 10” – Located under the cutting board.
• Oven: Alcohol, 8” x 15.5” x 11”
• Dish Storage: 8” x 21” x 15” high
• Cupboard Behind Stove: 48” long, 14” high, 9” at the deepest, tapering back to 5”
• Cupboard Under Stove: 24” x 7” x 9” – Sloped, and with hoses running through it. Can get wet when on a port tack. Best for canned goods, which must be in a plastic tray to avoid rust.
• Cupboard Under Sink: 20” x 15” – Shared with water supply and drain lines, refrigeration fittings, coolant coil and hot water heater hoses.

The previous owner had added a couple of nice touches:

• Shelf Behind Stove: 23” X 8”
• Freezer Compartment/Refrigeration Unit: – Turns the icebox into a refrigerator (when on shore power) and turns one 5” x 12” x 12” section, into a freezer.

Reality Sinks In

As the size of the galley finally hit me, I thought, this is impossible .

We’d just moved from a 3,000 square foot house where my kitchen included a 48” commercial range, double granite sink, Subzero refrigerator and swaths of granite counters. I had some adjusting to do if I wanted the adventure of sailing, cruising and living aboard, because none of those things were coming with me.

Over six years on this small sailboat, with its tiny galley, I’ve learned a few things about what you really need to cook well, what you don’t need, and how to make the most of limited space. And turns out, it’s not impossible at all.

Despite what the kitchen design and food media seem to say, we don’t have to choose between having a vast kitchen with a million specialized machines, or relying on canned chili and fast food restaurants. It’s not hard to cook great meals in a small space, even on the water. And after years of enjoying the less is more lifestyle, when I occasionally have to cook in a big kitchen I find myself pushing most of the things in it to the side and relying on the standby tools.

Learning and Flexing

I’m still learning. Still collecting tips, tricks, gadgets, ingredients and hacks. Still weeding out things I don’t need. Every week brings some new idea for streamlining a dish or organizing things better to fit the sailing lifestyle.

I’ve met many other sailors and liveaboards who also work from tiny galleys. Some even live without any kind of refrigeration. I haven’t tried that one yet. They’ve all shared tips and ideas with me. I’d love to hear your experience cooking in a small galley too. Get in touch through the comments or at my contact page .

Home » Blog » Live on a boat » Boat galley storage solutions

Boat galley storage solutions

By Author Fiona McGlynn

Posted on Last updated: September 6, 2019

KEEP FOOD FRESH LONGER WITH THESE BOAT STORAGE HACKS

Whether gearing up for a wilderness cruise or a long ocean passage, it can be difficult to find space for all the food you want to take ; not to mention, making it all last while being jostled and knocked around onboard. After many smashed tomatoes, wilted greens, and moulded breads, we’ve devised several onboard food storage systems that expand available galley storage. From mason jar racks to making the most out of your bilge space; these boat storage ideas are sure to leave you with more room, and keep your food lasting longer too.

THE HANGING PANTRY

Hammocks are commonplace on many cruising boats, and are a fantastic way to expand your galley. String them up in a free berth or in the main saloon to make a hanging pantry for your goods. They’re great for most foods, though they can often bruise delicate produce and be a pain to rummage through. Hang them so that they can swing freely without hitting anything and line them with baking tins, plastic containers, or foam to distribute the load evenly. This will prevent your hammock strings from biting into your apples before you do.

Breathable mesh drawstring bags are a great way to keep your fruits and veggies sorted in the hammock, while providing plenty of air circulation to maintain freshness. They make it easy to quickly grab what you need while cooking and are great for hang-drying produce after washing.

THE GREEN BAR

Greens not only take up a lot of volume in the fridge, but are also of the hardest things to make last as they wilt due to water loss. However, if you keep them in water, the capillary action draws the water up and into the plant, keeping the cells hydrated. Our Green Bar consists of water filled plastic cups, supported by a rack, in which we store our greens – much as you might fresh cut flowers. We’ve had success with kale, bok choy, chard, cilantro, romaine, and water cress and even cilantro, all of which lasted close to a week in water. It’s very clean and holds everything securely even in choppy seas. You can further improve the longevity of your greens by cutting an inch off the bottom of the stems before putting them in water. Be sure to refresh the water every 2-3 days.

THE BILGE CELLAR

The bilge is a great place for food that needs to be kept at a lower temperature (e.g. cheese and wine). Of course you can put anything in there you like so long as it is protected from water and secured so that it doesn’t end up knocking out your bilge pump. Depending on the design of your bilge it may make sense to build a custom rack, like the one below that our friend Dennis made for his boat Ultegra. We’ve also heard of cruisers stringing up netting across the opening of their bilge with equal success. Be sure to double bag and remove any paper packaging (including can labels) before storing them in your bilge.

FRIDGING FANTASTIC

Most cruisers are tight on fridge or icebox space so it’s important to make the most of the available room. Stackable plastic bins are a great way to do this. Sort food by category and put the items that need to be ice cold in the bottom bins and things that just need to be cool in the top bins. 2 L soda bottles with the top third cut off also make for handy and inexpensive containers as they can be filled with tomatoes or other fruit and then stacked in your fridge space.

RACK ATTACK

If you have some space at the back of a spare berth, or a large locker, a rack is a great way to stash food with a long shelf life . We’ve gotten great use out of this mason jar rack (holds 12 jars), which we use to store canned fish and preserves in an out-of-the-way locker above the head.  The rack keeps the jars separate so they don’t break or clink together during rocky passages. Crates are also a great place to stash dry goods. Choose crates that are short and ideally stackable so you’re not piling food stuffs on top of each other which will crush the items on the bottom and make it difficult to find things later.

EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE AND A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING

It may take some trial and error to find the food storage systems that work for you but in the long run having consistent places for all of your food will go a long way to making your food last longer and eliminate the frustration of rooting around to find something. You may even discover that you have a much larger galley than you thought you had.

Have a storage tip you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments below.

Fiona McGlynn is an award-winning boating writer who created Waterborne as a place to learn about living aboard and traveling the world by sailboat. She has written for boating magazines including BoatUS, SAIL, Cruising World, and Good Old Boat. She’s also a contributing editor at Good Old Boat and BoatUS Magazine. In 2017, Fiona and her husband completed a 3-year, 13,000-mile voyage from Vancouver to Mexico to Australia on their 35-foot sailboat.

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12 Handy Galley Gadgets

• By Barbara Sobocinski
• Updated: July 28, 2011

Galley Gadgets

Everyone knows what you need in a good kitchen. It starts with a great set of sharp knives and a means to keep them sharpened, good pots and pans, a solid cutting board, and the right bowls and utensils to whisk, flip, and mix. On a boat, you need all these things, too, though often in smaller supply. And you usually have to do without some of the power-eating electric appliances to which you may be accustomed in your land-based kitchen. Over time, the boat galley can become as efficient and well equipped as any house kitchen.

Here are some ideas on things that have made the galley aboard Astarte, our Moody 422, more user-friendly. They aren’t expensive, so if you know someone just getting into a boat or heading off to fulfill a cruising dream, put together a gift basket of these handy items for the galley slave.

1. Silicone Cookware When the inventor came up with this synthetic rubber, perhaps storage aboard a boat wasn’t the primary goal, but it sure is useful. We carry silicone muffin and bread pans, baking pans, veggie steamers, measuring cups, and even a Bundt-cake pan on board, and we use them all. In the past, the metal cookware would rust in no time in the damp, salt-air environment. And stacking the metal was more space consuming.

Silicone material doesn’t rust, takes up less room, and doesn’t rattle. In fact, it can be used as rattle buffers in your lockers. I use my round and square silicone cake pans under glass casserole dishes to keep them from breaking and rattling. The breads, muffins, and cakes cook well and come out of the containers quite easily. The cookie sheet is too flimsy to use, and sometimes you do have to negotiate getting a cake pan to the oven without tipping it, but the cookware is well worth those small issues.

2. A Pressure Cooker Get over a fear of the pressure cooker. The new ones have safety features to prevent explosions. Keep them clean and follow instructions and you’ll find them very handy aboard. They can make cheaper cuts of meat more tender, cook beans and meals in less time to save cooking fuel, and keep your galley cooler in hot climates because of shorter cooking times. And a pressure cooker is a heavy pan that seals well when you’re cooking on rocking seas.

3. A Plastic Egg Container Saving old, sturdy egg cartons is a good idea; we also keep a Tupperware-type container for eggs we refrigerate. This container has a hard plastic bottom shaped to hold the eggs in place and a softer plastic lid. It stands up in a perfect place in the refrigerator (with its soft plastic against the wall) and takes little room but keeps the eggs from breaking.

4. A Whistling Teakettle A heavy-duty, stainless-steel teakettle is a must-have in the galley. A squat, large-bottomed one is best because it won’t tip over while on the stove. Because you’re on a boat and something always seems to come up, a whistle is handy to remind you that you’ve got water boiling.

5. Hanging Baskets and Mesh Hammocks Storage is always a challenge on a boat. This is especially true for such tender goods as tomatoes, breads, and fruit. A hanging tiered basket or mesh hammock can serve the purpose and takes up little counter space. You can easily see if fruit and veggies are getting too ripe. Find a home for this hanging storage where it won’t bang against the sides or hull to dent your precious fresh fruits and veggies. We tie down a hanging tiered basket to the sink faucets to keep it from swinging about too wildly.

• A Beverage Dispenser We drink a lot of coffee, so we make a big pot every morning. Whether tea, hot chocolate, or coffee is your drink of choice, an air pot is handy. We actually make our coffee right in the air pot using an old plastic cone filter, then serve from it all morning. It keeps the coffee hot, and the pot, secured to the wall with a bungee cord, is close at hand. On overnight passages, we fill it with hot water for instant cereal, noodles, soups, hot chocolate, and tea. If you have space for two pots or simply prefer cold beverages, the air pot can serve that purpose, too. When we have guests, we often make a big pot of lemonade and throw in an ice cube or two—it stays cool all day. And by using an air pot to keep drinks chilled, you won’t open the refrigerator as often.

7. Nonskid shelf liner We put that nonskid material under a lot of things: dishes in the lockers, baskets on the counters, even the rugs on the sole. This stuff prevents things from taking flight and keeps the galley tidier and less noisy. When cut into little squares, it can also be used to reduce rattling.

8. Storage Containers You can never have enough good storage containers. We aim to carry as few cardboard containers on board as possible (nasty cockroaches thrive in the stuff), so good containers made of other material are critical. We unpack everything that comes from the store in cardboard and put it in resealable bags or in storage containers. We shopped for containers that would optimize space in the various lockers we’ve designated for storage. We also look for containers with straight sides so no space is wasted. We use tall, narrow containers in the refrigerator (especially for boxed milk that’s been opened) and leftovers. These containers have a smaller footprint in the vertically oriented fridge and optimize the use of the high space. We found a set of stainless-steel containers—bowls and storage containers with lids—that have been very useful. When you replace the lid with foil, you can reheat leftovers right in the container in a conventional oven/stove.

9. Insulated Bags Have a few insulated bags on board for shopping and defrosting. These bags are also handy for heading to another boat for a potluck or sundowners. They keep cold stuff cold and hot stuff hot. Take them along when shopping to keep frozen items frozen, butter and cheese cool, and meat colder. When it’s time to defrost the fridge, you can put your frozen items in them to prevent thawing and working your fridge too hard.

10. Sponges and Towels If you find a sponge you like, take a lot of them with you. Sponges are sometimes hard to find in small stores, and they do get stinky, especially when you’re catching, cleaning, cooking, and eating fish. The sink sponges get recycled into bilge- or bottom-cleaning sponges where the smell doesn’t matter. We also use those super-absorbent miracle-fiber cloths in the galley and cockpit to wipe up rain and spills. They save us from using too many expensive paper towels, plus you don’t have to worry about their disposal. We use the cloths because they squeeze dry easily and last quite a long time. When, like the sponges, they get stinky, we replace them.

11. Clothespins These are great for sealing chip bags or rice and pasta bags. You can also use the wooden ones as shims and to keep doors from rattling. We have sliding doors in the head and galley, and when the waves are just right, they can get noisy; we solve the problem with the well-placed end of a wooden clothespin. The difficulty with using wooden clothespins for laundry is that stains often remain behind from rusting clips. Also, we had an issue with bamboo clothespins, which get moldy and leave a yellow stain on clothes. Plastic pins without a metal clip are best for laundry, but we’ve yet to find inexpensive ones.

12. Color-Coded Mesh Bags This idea came to me from a friend who has a large and deep freezer. The freezer’s so big that she can’t reach the bottom of it. She stores her frozen items in color-coded mesh bags: green for frozen veggies, yellow for chicken, red for beef. She uses a stick with a hook on the end to retrieve dinner for defrosting.

And Don’t Forget . . . • Insulated mugs and glasses make your ice last. Lifetime-guaranteed Tervis tumblers work great. • A good cooking timer can remind you that something is on the stove or in the oven. We always try to set it for a few minutes whenever we walk away from a stove that’s on. • An easy-to-read oven thermometer helps make sure that your oven temps are correct. Many boat-oven thermometers and thermostats aren’t quite accurate and can go bad.

There are lots of great ideas out there. Borrow tips that work for you. I just wish someone would invent a great boat saltshaker, a dish-drying rack that’s easy to store, and a compact knife rack that won’t take up counter space.

Formerly in the television business, Barbara Sobocinski and her husband, Michael Hawkins, cruise in the Caribbean aboard Astarte .

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Boat Cooking and Galley Gear Ideas for Convenient Storage and Less Power Usage

Make dining while boating more convenient cooking and gallery gear for your boat that saves storage space, requires less power to operate and functions well in a marine environment..

Everyone works up an appetite while boating, but having meals on a boat can sometimes be challenging. Space is limited for cooking… and even more limited for stowing a variety of cooking equipment . If you are out on the hook for a meal you want to conserve power – or you may not have power at all – which also limits your cookware options.

Boaters tend to keep things simple for food on the water… and some may not like to cook at all on a boat. But after awhile, cold sandwiches from the cooler can become a bit boring and it’s nice to have a little variety in your menu by cooking a meal.

With a bit of pre-planning for meals and the right gear for your boat galley, cooking or dining on a boat can be much easier than you’d think. From bow riders to motor yachts, there’s no reason why you can’t keep your boat stocked with some basic cooking essentials to serve your crew a meal on the water.

The best space saving idea for boat galleys is to choose equipment that has a dual-purpose… particularly useful if you like to cook a variety of things. Also, limit your boat galley cooking equipment to a few essentials that you will use regularly (like a bbq grill or cooktop hot plate). For cooking on the hook with no shore power, choose items that can run off of your 12V power or draw low amps from a power inverter. Cooking with propane on a barbeque grill is also a great no power way to prepare food on a boat.

Here are some of my recommendations for cookware, tableware and food storage ideas that are designed to work well in a marine environment – making it easy and convenient to make a meal on a boat.

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Boat galley cookware & galley equipment ideas.

Whether you have a smaller boat without a dedicated galley or a larger boat with electric burners and a microwave, you want to have options for cooking on your boat. Of course cooking in the cockpit is also helpful to keep heat & mess out of your cabin.

Here are some cookware and boat galley products that are ideal cooking gear for boats.

Collapsible Prep/Storage Bowls with Lids

Magma 10 Piece Nesting Cookware

Magma Products Cabo Adventurer Marine Series Gas Grill

Portable Blender Cordless & Rechargeable

Portable Induction Cooktop

The Boat Galley Cookbook

Tableware, glasses and kitchen / galley accessories for a boat.

Here are some other essential boat gear ideas to make cooking and dining on your boat more convenient… and also more enjoyable!

Docktail Food & Beverage Bar

Insulated Stemless Wine Tumbler with Lid

Lifefactory Wine Glass with Wine Covers and Protective Silicone Sleeve

Mariner Charcuterie Board Set

Stemless Plastic Wine Glass Set of 4

More ideas to save space and power in a boat galley.

Here are some more general space saving ideas for tight quarters in a boat galley:

– Buy dual-purpose and multiple-use items to maximize your boat galley gear – Use stacking pots, bowls, dishes and other nesting sets to save storage space – Invest in disposable zip-loc bags for storing items rather than bulky storage containers – Use a drying mat that can fold rather than a dish drain board

For maximizing power when cooking on a boat, buy cooking appliances that can work with no power, little power, 12V or with an inverter. Ideas include a pressure cooker, rice cooker with inverter or bbq grill with propane tank.

Check out Amazon’s selection of marine grade power inverters for a selection of power options for your boat.

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6 Helpful Boat Storage Ideas & Easy Organization Hacks

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We also earn from other affiliate websites. See our full disclaimer .

In any tiny living space, storage is one of the biggest challenges. It is even more unique on a boat due to the increased chance of mold and odd storage spaces.

What to keep in mind when storing things:

• How often you’ll need to access items
• Keeping items free of dirt, mold, and mildew
• Ease of storage so items will be more likely to get put away

Here are a few items, organization tips, and boat storage ideas that make living on the water more manageable.

1. Creating Easy Access Storage

A recurring challenge with storage on a boat is keeping items within easy access. Sure, there’s a ton of storage under the bed or down in a crash locker. But what about the things we use every day? How do we get to the things we need daily while keeping the boat from looking cluttered?

I saw these storage bins on The Wynns YouTube channel and knew I had to hunt them down.

• Stackable storage boxes with lid
• Available in various sizes
• Available in white, turquoise, or transparent black

Storage Box Features

High-sided storage containers also keep the boat feeling less cluttered.

These Scout brand bins are water-resistant for easy cleaning. They also have handles to grab them from a shelf when you need to look for something.

ALTERNATIVE: The Scout brand is a bit pricey. For a more affordable option, try foldable fabric bins from Walmart or Target. Just make sure to spray them with a mold-prevention spray every couple of months.

Recessed storage area.

Anywhere you can secure items in a recessed wall or window area is an opportunity for storage.

Our boat has an aftermarket addition (it’s really just a piece of wood) to secure items in the galley’s window. It adds storage for plastic bags, reusable paper towels, cleaning supplies, and the perfect spot for regrowing green onions.

This addition keeps items accessible and in place when we’re underway.

2. How to Utilize Clothing Storage

Keeping clothes free of mold and mildew is always a concern for boaters. The more layers you can put between your clothes and the boat, the better off you’ll be.

Clothing in a Wardrobe

To add two lines of defense to wardrobe clothing storage, use hanging storage shelves . Then use baskets to add another layer of protection and to keep clothes organized.

• Hanging shelves with side accessories pockets
• Hangs from two durable hooks
• 12" x 11.5" x 42" inches

The baskets pull out so you can see what you have without creating a mess.

NOTE: Boats will often have wardrobes with a vertical bar. We punched holes in the top of the hanging shelves and rotated the hanger to hang vertically. Remember to measure the width and depth of your wardrobes to find the right size hanging shelves.

Clothing cabinet storage.

Shallow storage containers work well in cabinets for larger clothing. Clothing drawer organizers are ideal for underwear, socks, small t-shirts or tanks, and even bathing suits.

• Organize socks, underwear, small tanks and tees
• Includes four various bin sizes
• Collapsible

Containing your items neatly in a storage container is the best way to avoid the area becoming a mess.

Mold & Mildew Control

We use a variety of moisture control for our clothing wardrobes.

• DampRid hanging bags in the closet (be careful where and how you hang these so they don’t move around too much and get a hole underway
• Use DampRid refillable cups in cabinets where you can sandwich them between storage bins (may only be a good option for catamarans since the collected water can spill)
• Charcoal bags provide odor and moisture control (recharge in the sun once a month)
• Eva-Dry mini dehumidifiers are great for shelves (these have to be plugged into an outlet to “dry-out”)
• If you’ll using hanging shelves or fabric drawer organizers, spray with mold spray once every 3-4 months

3. Boat Galley Storage Solutions

The galley is one of the most crucial areas to have adequate storage. If you want to enjoy cooking on your boat, easily getting to your cooking tools and ingredients is essential.

Here are a few of our favorite ideas for storage in the galley.

Storing Ingredients in Baskets

These baskets have been a constant on the boat and during our RV days. The handles allow you to easily pull the baskets out of a tight space to see the contents. You’ll find things in your fridge and tiny cabinets with little effort.

Maximizing space while being able to see what you have is vital in a small boat galley.

READ NEXT: You might also want to check out our sailboat galley essentials list .

Storing small amounts in easy reach.

One of our favorite tricks is having a small container of dry goods within easy reach.

We use 6 oz. containers for things like cornstarch, baking soda, and baking powder. We use a larger air-tight container for things like flour. We store the bigger box or bag securely under our settee and then refill it when needed.

• Set of three storage baskets with handles
• Keep cabinets, cupboards, and the fridge neat and tidy
• Size small, medium, and large in a set

This method keeps bulk storage fresher and makes baking muffins or making pizza dough much more efficient. Not having to go for a deep dive to retrieve the larger store-bought package of dry goods saves time and effort.

Hanging Galley Tools

Using Command strips to hang things in easy reach is a helpful storage idea for living in a small space.

One of our favorite ways to utilize command strips and other hooks is inside cabinets. Hanging kitchen tools such as spatulas, cutting boards, oven mitts, and the cheese grater makes accessing tools for cooking on a boat much more effortless.

Placing a Command hook in a convenient location to hang your cleaning rag or dish towels is an excellent way to give it a home where it can dry.

Command’s line of hooks is full of variety. See all sizes and colors here .

4. Ideal Long-Term Storage

Storing things more long-term on a boat requires a different approach than items you use every day. Here are a couple of ways we store seasonal or rarely used items.

Vacuum Storage Bags

Vacuum bags are a favorite long-term storage option among cruisers. Even if you don’t deflate the bags, they protect items from water and mold. Use them in the bottom of cabinets, under berths, and any storage area that isn’t opened often. When in doubt – bag it! 

• Creates 80% more storage
• Double-zip seal and triple seal valve Vacuum
• Small size is great for clothing and small towels, medium and large sizes are great for comforters, blankets, and bedding
• Includes hand-pump

Jumbo Size Vacuum Bags

The jumbo bags are perfect for storing luggage bags and backpacks. We even use them to protect the cats’ soft carriers and scratching boards.

How to Store the Bags Onboard

For extra clothes and bedding, you can remove the air and store the bags under a berth inside a Rubbermaid tub. The tub makes it easier to stack the bags and keeps them from sliding around and risking a puncture.

NOTE: Using vacuum seal bags can be a little tricky without a standard vacuum cleaner. We use our handheld Dyson with the attachment removed to suck out most of the air. Then, finish with the hand pump attachment included with the SpaceSaver bags above.

Collapsible storage bins.

Small and large – these Scout brand bins are great for storing extra kitchen gear, food, tools, and more.

• Medium size, lidded storage bin
• Bin and lid are collapsible
• Bin is stackable
• Holds 80lbs

• Large size, lidded storage bin
• Holds 90lbs

Storage Bin Features

Check out Scout’s website for all storage bin sizes and patterns .

READ NEXT: These storage bins also made our list of  10 Essentials for Life on a Sailboat .

5. taming outside locker storage.

Outside locker storage can be tricky. It’s often more exposed to the elements – water, dirt, and temperature. Crash lockers and larger lockers can also be tough to get in and out of. Here are a few tricks we use to keep them organized.

5-Gallon Buckets

Do not underestimate this simple storage item. We love our 5-gallon buckets for many reasons, but they also double as storage. In our outside storage, the watertight lids keep the bucket contents dry. 

Since they have handles, they are easily moved around and can be fetched with a boat hook in crash lockers.

In our cockpit storage, they make use of horizontal space while keeping everything organized. It’s also easy to remove the buckets when the storage space needs cleaning.

TIP: Keep a list of what’s stored in each bucket. Create different color combinations with the buckets and lids to tell them apart.

You can pick up 5-gallon buckets with lids at Walmart or Home Depot for a very reasonable price.

Straps for Power Cord and Hose Storage

These durable straps with handles make storing hoses and power cords a breeze. They allow you to get a handle on the mess and tangles that occur. 

• Camco storage straps with carrying handles
• Neatly stores electrical cords and hoses
• Makes toting and hanging easier

It’s easy to lower them into the front crash lockers and then fish them out with the boat hook when you need them. For us, this opened up more storage in the easy-to-access lockers in the cockpit.

6. Best Collapsible Items

When it makes sense, opt for a collapsible item. In the galley, it might be a collapsible colander, mixing bowls, or measuring cups. Here are some other collapsible items that are practical on a boat.

• A small collapsible stool is instrumental for many projects. Ideal for when you need a seat to work in an area or reach something a foot higher. When flat, store it in a locker.
• Collapsible tubs are helpful for many projects and daily chores. Essential for conserving water for washing dishes, washing clothing, or kitchen towels. The tub below is the right size for most tasks and fits in the sink. We have one for dirtier jobs and one for laundry.

You can also find collapsible dish drying racks (or tubs), as well as larger buckets and bins for washing or carrying laundry. We love this durable collapsible laundry bag .

Best Way to Store Items on Your Boat

Every boat is a little different. Certain things that work great on one boat might not work well on others. So get creative with your storage options!

Your most effective method to fight storage woes is to be selective about the items you bring on the boat. Revisit all storage spaces seasonally and get rid of things you aren’t using or that aren’t serving a purpose.

Want more lists of boat gear for your liveaboard life?

View our guide for lists of essential sailboat gear, galley must-haves, what to wear sailing, and more.

Like this post? Save it on Pinterest for later.

Morgan, the founder of The Home That Roams, has been living nomadically for over five years. She began her journey traveling across the U.S. in a motorhome and cruising on a liveaboard sailing catamaran. Currently, she lives full-time in a travel trailer, sharing resources on RV living and boat life to help others downsize their lives and thrive in an alternative lifestyle.

New Sailor Here. These tips are so helpful! Thank you for sharing!

Hey Meghan, glad you found some good tips! Happy sailing 🙂

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The Boat Galley

making boat life better

Optimize storage on your boat with detailed how-to's for organizing spaces, making the most of the space available, and keeping items in good condition.

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These 41 Small Kitchen Design Ideas Will Be Huge in 2024

Posted: July 22, 2024 | Last updated: July 22, 2024

The saying that the best things come in small packages certainly holds true in the heart of home: the kitchen . A smaller space can be just as elegant as a larger one and can even function more smoothly as you cook in it. Plus, with thoughtful design reflecting the owner's personality, a small kitchen can live large and exude a welcoming vibe.

It's important to keep in mind that while a classic white kitchen can feel spacious and open, small kitchens do not need to eschew color to feel grand. In fact, narrow galley kitchens can be the perfect places to live out your bolder dreams with kitchen paint colors (might we suggest blue ?). Color is not the only design element to lean on for adding personality to a small kitchen. The kitchen backsplash and kitchen lighting are other smart spots for expressing personal style. Of course, for any small kitchen no matter the aesthetic, clever cabinet designs can help ensure you have plenty of storage space to bring kitchen organization ideas to life. Small kitchens often live larger with gorgeous kitchen islands as well.

Here are our 41 best small kitchen ideas from top designers around the world for packing your small cookspace with major style.

Go Seamless with Counters and Backsplash

In this New York City apartment , designer Nick Olsen outfitted the small kitchen with Carrara marble countertops and backsplash to minimize materials in the minimal space. Open shelves allow for a slightly airier feel, and for the owner to display his blue and white porcelain collection. The shelves and cabinets are Parma Gray by Farrow & Ball .

Pick Petite Plumbing

For the tiny kitchen in his Harbour Island cottage , designer Matthew Carter scaled down his sink—and its plumbing fixtures ( Rohl )—to fit the space. Mahogany countertops, Abaco pine beams, and vintage wicker pendant shades ground the kitchen in organic island simplicity.

Opt for Wallmount Lighting

For the small kitchen in this Newport Beach, California, house , architect Gil Schafer and designer Suzanne Rheinstein eschewed upper cabinetry for an airer feel. That left room to adorn the paneled walls with botanical artwork illuminated by brass sconces with articulating arms ( Robert Kime ).

Shine Bright with Iridescent Tile

At this Sea Island, Georgia, home designed by Ellen Kavanaugh, the small kitchen reflects more seaside light thanks to iridescent tile from Paris Ceramics . Amping up the glam factor are the brass accents, from the floating shelves and hood cover to the cabinetry hardware and sink fixtures.

Go Monochrome with Paint

For this Los Angeles kitchen , designer Fran Keenan painted the walls, trim, cabinetry, shelves, and even the adjacent hallway the same color: Castle Grey by Farrow & Ball . The seamless palette visually expands the space and makes for a fabulous backdrop for vintage oil paintings.

Roll Up a Hardworking Trolley

In the small kitchen of their Montecito cottage , design luminaries Suzanne Tucker and Timothy Marks lean on clever storage solutions like this three-shelf wheeled cart (Suzanne Kasler for Hickory Chair ) that serves as beverage trolley, extra prep surface, and servingware storage. Large baskets tuck under the rafters.

Expand the Space With Geometric Floors

For the small kitchen in her San Francisco home , designer Palmer Weiss worked with artist Willem Racke to embellish the wood floors with a painted geometric pattern. The large-scale medallions add visual interest to the floor and create the illusion of a more expansive space.

Get Clever with Custom Storage

For this guest house in Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee , designer Meg Kelly of Clella Design and renovation expert Holly Williams eeked out every last square inch of storage in the small apple green kitchen. Flanking the sink, two tiny drawers store utensils and supplies while towel bars keep fresh towels handy yet tucked away.

Go Retro with Appliances

In this Tennessee kitchen , designer Meg Kelly of Clella Design and renovation expert Holly Williams embraced the charm of the cottage proportions with old-fashioned fixtures, such as this refrigerator with brassy hardware that calls to mind antique iceboxes.

Look Up to Vaulted Ceilings

The airy, open feel of designer Elizabeth Law’s small kitchen in her Hollywood home is thanks to the vaulted ceilings and casement windows on three walls. Black cabinetry grounds the space, while tile countertops are in keeping with the Spanish-style architecture. The 1930s French iron chandelier is from Liz’s Antique Hardware .

Install a Waterfall Countertop

For this North Carolina mountain home , designer Timothy Whealon wrapped the kitchen island in a waterfall countertop fabricated with a refined Calacatta Oro marble ( Marmi Natural Stone ) as a sophisticated statement in the small space. The backsplash tiles were handmade in Morocco. The rattan counter stools and cushion fabric are from Soane Britain .

Go Big with Small Paintings

At this Michigan lakeside retreat , designer Summer Thornton infused this tiny prep sink space with big nautical energy thanks to a collection nostalgic boat paintings by artist Mary Maguire and shipshape brass hardware.

Stay Sleek with Stainless

Inside the Honey Fitz yacht (once used as the presidential yacht), designer Jack Fhillips preserved streamlined profile of the galley kitchen from its 1960s heyday during the Kennedy Administration. Sticking to just one finish—stainless steel—for nearly everything helps the small kitchen feel more spacious.

Consider One-of-a-Kind Cabinetry

With what little storage space he had in his traditional Birmingham kitchen , Architect Paul Bates made a big statement by designing geometric white oak cabinetry inspired by doors at David Alder's Clow house in Chicago. The memorable design makes a statement without overwhelming the small space.

Upgrade with Elegant Hardware

In this Colonial Williamsburg home designed by Heather Chadduck Hillegas , appliances like the dishwasher are concealed behind Shaker-style cabinetry panels that, along with brass pulls ( Modern Matter ), imbue the kitchen with early American ambience. The candelabra-style chandelier is by Circa Lighting and the farm sink and bridge faucet are by Ferguson .

Change Perspective with a Mirror

A 19th-century butler’s mirror makes this small space feel larger than it is while also offering a peek into the kitchen of this Manhattan apartment designed by Garrow Kedigian and its brass sheet backsplash. Leather stools, Le Forge . Wallpaper, Christian Lacroix

Make a Grand Gesture with Window Treatments

In this small kitchen designed by Anthony Baratta in New York City, a theatrical pelmet and painted trim draws attention to the large window. The Apthorp’s original mosaic tile floors endure, their scale repeated in a fleur-de-lis wallpaper in the dining area. The banquette is upholstered in “1940s glam” diamond-patterned leathers ( Dualoy ). The table is a Biedermeier reproduction commissioned by Baratta .

Pull in an Antique Island

In the kitchen of his San Antonio home , designer Todd Romano used an antique iron table instead of a built-in island, which would have made the small kitchen feel more congested. Custom Talavera tiles are arranged in a graphic chevron pattern with glossy ebony cabinetry ( Black, Fine Paints of Europe ).

Pattern a Checkerboard Floor

In designer Cece Barfield Thompson's New York City apartment , a large-scale checkerboard pattern ( Floe Painting ) adds interest to pretty much the only surface that can take pattern. The tone-on-tone scheme prevents the pattern from overwhelming the room. The steel casement windows are original.

Size Up the Island

Despite its petite size, this New York City kitchen designed by Robert Passal accommodates a large island, which not only allows for seating for four but also includes a cooktop. When combined with the wall ovens (at right of frame), the built-in cooktop makes a large-scale range unnecessary and frees up under-counter storage space. Sculptural metal counter stools are finished in antique brass and upholstered in pistachio leather ( Jerry Pair ).

Pull Up an Antique Breakfast Table

In the kitchen of this Montreal home , the Les Ensembliers design duo carved out space for a breakfast table by building in banquette seating underneath the window. The counter­tops are Caesarstone and the table is English.

Define the Space with Color

At this London townhouse , designer Gary McBournie used soft color to draw the eye back into the kitchen alcove off a large, brightly-lit breakfast and sitting room. Cabinetry paint, Teresa’s Green by Farrow & Ball . Refrigerator, Sub-Zero . Countertops, Caesarstone

Embellished Tile with a Painted Border

In the small kitchen of his San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, home , designer Jeffry Fisher emblazoned the floor-to-ceiling tilework with a hand-painted border to draw the eye up in the small galley kitchen. The flooring is hand-burnished, local terra-cotta.

Reflect Light with Mirrored Cabinetry

Soft, smoky tones lend a high-fashion, sophisticated touch to the alluring yet tiny galley kitchen of this 18th-century flat in Paris . The upper cabinets feature mirrored eglomise facings and “almost look like venetian blinds,” notes decorator Jean-Louis Deniot . The lower cabinetry paint color is Midnight Oil by Benjamin Moore .

Hang Open Shelves

Open shelves that climb to the ceiling, coated in a pretty powder-blue shade ( Parma Gray by Farrow & Ball), create an upbeat, airy vibe in the quaint, cottage-sized kitchen of this Southern 1950s ranch .

Designer Mark D. Sikes clad the walls in a floral wallcovering by William Morris and covered the pair of stools by Hickory Chair in a botanic Carolina Irving fabric. The bistro chairs are from Ballard Designs .

Line Cabinets with Cheery Paper

A cheerful pattern, such as this original decorative lining inside the kitchen cabinets of this Mark D. Sikes-designed home, is a welcome surprise inside cabinetry of small kitchens.

Build In Banquette Seating

At this Mark D. Sikes-designed home, a sunny corner becomes a radiant breakfast nook thanks to built-in banquette seating and a slenter Saarinen tulip table.

Flood the Room with Light

Architect Peter Block designed this intimate galley kitchen on Brays Island, South Carolina , with windows that appear to soar higher than the ceiling. He and interior designer Beth Webb also bypassed conventional upper cabinetry to avoid making the small kitchen feel “boxed in.” Sink fixtures in unlacquered brass, Waterworks . Millwork, rift-cut white oak.

Camouflage the Refrigerator

In this South Carolina kitchen, architect Peter Block and designer Beth Webb clad the counter-depth refrigerator and freezer in the same rift-cut white oak panels as the cabinetry to create a more seamless look, which is all the more important in a small kitchen. The slender range by Bertazzoni .

Swap Cabinets for Drawers

In this Montana kitchen designed by Palmer Weiss , a bank of drawers—in place of lower cabinetry—provides ample storage space that's much easier to access and organize. Silicon bronze brushed pulls, Rocky Mountain Hardware . Dual fuel range, Wolf . Cabinetry, Provincial Store Fixtures .

Create a Jewel Box with Paint

Vibrant sapphire cabinetry turns this petit butler's pantry outfitted with a refrigerator and sink into the colorful jewel box within this Ruthie Sommers–designed Rhode Island retreat. The Lawrence of La Brea rug brings out the subtle red tones of the valance in an eccentric Katie Ridder fabric. The custom cobalt paint color is from Fine Paints of Europe.

Hang Large-Scale Art

It may feel counter-intuitive, but forgoing upper cabinetry can make a small cook space feel larger. In this Paris apartment , designers Raphaël Le Berre and Thomas Vevaud installed a large piece of art in place of shelves or cabinetry along one wall. Tractor stools from BassamFellows maintain a low profile while simple cabinetry crafted of black melamine wood reinforces streamlined style.

Maximize Storage with Locker-Style Cabinetry

Floor-to-ceiling "locker" cabinets along one wall of this Paris kitchen designed by Raphaël Le Berre and Thomas Vevaud maximize storage space.

Open Up with a Sky-Inspired Palette

Today cohost Jenna Bush Hager overhauled the entire midcentury kitchen in her spirited Long Island cottage to give it a sense of openness and ease.

The sky-blue cabinetry ( Wedgewood Gray by Benjamin Moore ), which Bush Hager took all the way to the ceiling, infuses the small space with an airy vibe. Simple cloud-white surfaces—a fireclay apron-front sink ( Rohl ), glazed wall tiles ( Waterworks ) with no visible grout—and countertops reinforce the spacious simplicity.

Choose Large-Scale Pendant Lighting

Just because a kitchen is small doesn't mean its lighting has to be! In fact, large-scale statement pendant fixtures, like the pair designer Colette van den Thillart installed here at her family's rustic Canadian lakehouse, work to iluminate the space and draw the eye up.

The gray panel walls accent the kitchen island’s marbleized design, which was inspired by a trip to Denmark. The cabinetry is from Smallbone of Devizes . For a similar paint color, try Dimpse by Farrow & Ball in a modern emulsion finish.

Tuck Into an Arched Alcove

“In my own house, space was at a premium, so I wanted a 'one-room answer' to dining and living—but I also wanted to have my kitchen close by, of course,” says Birmingham, AL–based architect Jeffrey Dungan .

“To solve the run-on-sentence of design where it just becomes a bowling alley or has a warehouse feel, I tucked the kitchen into a lower ceiling and separated it with a very broad and thickened arch. This created a space that feels very open, visually, but also offered a separation of the kitchen’s activity from the entertaining area.”

Blend In with Paint

Designer Tammy Connor connected the family room and kitchen of this New York City apartment by lacquering the walls in the same rich ocean shade to make two small spaces feel like one cohesive, larger space.

The kitchen stools from Soane Britain are covered in a Jerry Pair fabric. Pendant lighting from Balsamo lights up a Lacanche range. The John Saladino X bench in a Kyle Bunting hide seamlessly matches the George Smith armchair. The Ferrell Mittman sofa is in a Peter Dunham Textile stripe, and the custom rug is from Beauvais Carpets . For a similar paint color, try Benjamin Moore’s Slate Teal in a pearl finish.

Tuck a Cookspace Into a Corner

In this New York loft designed by Katie Leede , the kitchen, which occupies a corner of the airy living space, lives much larger than it actually is, thanks to tall ceilings and a bright white palette. Streamlined storage in the wall built-ins and the large island allow for greater functionality and versatility: Leede uses the island for work during the day, dinner at night, and entertaining on the weekends.

Install Under-Counter Appliances

Not every home needs large-scale food storage space. In author Maureen Footer's New York apartment , under-counter appliances keep food and drinks cool in this butler's pantry off the entry. Armand-Albert Rateau–inspired custom wallpaper packs major style into the petite space.

Elevate with Sky-High Cabinetry

At this Windsor, Florida, cottage, designer Alessandra Branca doubled down on storage in the small cookspace by taking the cabinetry all the way up to the room's relatively high ceilings. A slender "apartment width" range (typically 24 inches wide) tucks in behind the island for powerful, albeit small-scale, cooking.

A rustic Casa Branca tile backsplash contrasts a sleek lacquered SieMatic island. Palecek stools in a Kravet fabric with Samuel & Sons trim. Fittings, Kohler . Pendants, Circa Lighting .

Maintain a Natural Connection

At the centuries-old Portofino farmhouse of landscape designer Marco Bay , a kitchen opens directly onto a terrace that connects to a kitchen garden via a pair of French doors. Wild salvia dries from a ceiling-mounted rack; open shelving displays a mix of heirloom and Ligurian wares. Sconces, Paris Flea Market.

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