Sarah Paulson’s tiny white kitchen is a masterclass in small-space design – it’s one of the best I’ve seen

It’s a common dilemma: how to make a tiny space feel luxurious, functional, and reflective of your personal style, not just cramped. While a large room may seem easier to tackle, the truth is that limited square footage often inspires the most ingenious design solutions. When done well, a small kitchen feels uniquely tailored – a true reflection of the owner and the house's character.

The kitchen, arguably the most functional and visually demanding room, is one of the hardest to get right in a compact format. American actress Sarah Paulson's kitchen, designed by interior expert Amy Kehoe, offers a perfect case study in maximizing what you have. Paulson, a former New Yorker who’s used to tight living, transformed her petite Los Angeles home – reportedly no bigger than a typical New York one-bedroom – into a star attraction, thanks to Kehoe’s knack for making small room ideas feel luxurious.

Turning a bijou kitchen into a work of art is no mean feat, but it's proof that smart planning and the right techniques can make a huge difference, a philosophy that aligns with current design trends for 2025. The secret often lies in camouflage and clever storage.

As designer Guy Goodfellow notes, ‘I take great satisfaction in enhancing small spaces, which is ironic because I’ve spent most of my career designing very large ones. Somehow, I get more pleasure out of the ingenuity needed for the little spaces.’

He advises making the most of every corner, and critically, to ‘disguise most of the kitchen elements, as the space will seem much bigger.’ This is echoed by the timeless strategy of using light colors. ‘Another clever idea is to use white ovens and hobs in a neutral scheme. Sticking to the lighter colors helps them blend in with worktops and enhances the sense of space. Decorating with white will help light bounce around the room.’

Extending this idea, Joa Studholme, color curator at Farrow & Ball, advises creating a visual flow with paint. ‘If you are short of space in a kitchen, it’s a great idea to paint the units the same color as the walls,’ she says. ‘This will make the space feel bigger but also less utilitarian – more like a living room than a kitchen.’

A kitchen island provides essential prep space, but a bottom-heavy design can instantly make a small area feel cramped. In Paulson's kitchen, the issue was amplified, but the solution was genius: a streamlined design, forming an L-shape, was designed with legs to counter height, allowing light to pass through and maximizing the view of the floor. This open design achieves the maximum prep space without creating an obstacle – a crucial detail that aligns with the current trend for bespoke and multifunctional islands that don't block visual flow.

Finally, when trying to make the most of limited space, every architectural choice must be purposeful. Consider the natural flow between rooms, and where possible, remove doors and architraves to improve the flow and visually connect spaces. Most importantly, use built-in furniture to ensure every nook and cranny works hard, which ‘offers the chance to be inventive when it comes to finding extra spaces that can house cabinets and drawers.’

This white kitchen is the ultimate expression of the bespoke design and fitted kitchen concepts that are essential in small-space planning today.

Shop the look

White kitchens can sometimes feel cold or clinical. To elevate the space, I recommend layering in rich textures and small splashes of bold color. Below, I share my favorite decorative touches to bring an all-white kitchen to life.