How to create a minimalist kitchen in a small space

Smaller kitchen footprints don't have to be cluttered, and there are some simple design tricks to help keep your overall effect looking minimalist and calm.

Design journalist Pip Rich, editor of interiors bible Livingetc, explains the ways designers get it right.

Minimalism doesn't mean a lack of things - instead it allows you to appreciate your favourite things by freeing them from other clutter that gets in their way. And a kitchen needs to be functional, with utensils and china at easy reach.

By leaving space between items or groups of items on shelves, the air between them allows a sense of flow and light, a more calming overall effect than if everything is crammed together.

This is minimalism 2.0 - plenty of things to hand, but none of them overwhelming you at all.

It's a myth that minimalists don't like colour, and in fact, colour is a key way to make a small space feel more minimalist.

When used well, you don't need to add anything else to give a space personality, so objects or visual clutter, and so the room can be colourful yet also pared back.

The trick is to choose hues where the pigments are mix with greys, making them soft and subtle. Pale blues, bleached-out pinks and sage greens are ideal. Choose one for your cabinets and use grey-tinged whites elsewhere. Instant minimal vibe.