Many apartments in central Pattaya, Naklua and Jomtien have narrow kitchens. A galley kitchen with two parallel runs, or a straight kitchen along one wall, is often the most efficient choice.
Get the walkway right
In a galley kitchen, leave enough space between the two runs to open the dishwasher and oven doors and pass behind the cook. Too narrow feels cramped; too wide means extra steps.
Plan the work order
Arrange the run in the order you cook: fridge, preparation space, sink, more preparation space, then hob. This keeps movement short and logical.
Storage on both sides
In a galley, use one side for tall storage and appliances and the other for the main worktop. In a straight kitchen, run wall cabinets or open shelves to the ceiling.
Keep it light
Light fronts, a pale worktop and continuous under-cabinet lighting make a narrow kitchen feel wider. Handle-less doors keep the walkway clear.
Send us your measurements
Share your room width and length and we will show you whether a galley or straight layout suits your apartment best.
Walkway widths in practice
For one cook, a walkway of around 100 to 120 cm between the fronts of two runs works well. Around 90 cm is about the minimum for comfort, while more than 130 cm starts to feel like two separate kitchens. If two people often cook together, aim for the wider end.
Measure from front to front, not wall to wall, and remember that handles project. Then check the doors. An open dishwasher door reaches roughly 60 cm into the walkway, so avoid placing it directly opposite the oven or a corner where doors could meet.
At the end of the run, check that the fridge door can open fully beside a wall. Door hinges set on the wall side, or a fridge with doors that open past 90 degrees, keep drawers and shelves easy to pull out.
Use a shallow run on one side
A galley does not need two full-depth runs. Standard base units are about 60 cm deep, but a run of tall pantry units or wall-mounted storage can be 30 to 45 cm deep and still hold a surprising amount.
Making one side shallower widens the walkway, which can turn a cramped corridor into a comfortable kitchen. A shallow side also works well as a breakfast or coffee counter, with shelves or a slim cabinet for cups and snacks below.
Check that whatever goes on the shallow side really fits. Ovens, dishwashers and most fridges need full depth, so keep them on the main run and use the shallow side for food, glassware and everyday storage. Plan sockets on the shallow side too, so a kettle, coffee machine or toaster can live there and leave the main worktop free for preparation.
How long a straight kitchen needs to be
A one-wall kitchen has to hold the fridge, sink and hob with usable worktop between them. As a rough guide, a run of about 3 metres fits a full-size fridge, sink, hob and enough preparation space, while runs of around 2.4 metres or less need compromises.
In a short run, consider moving the fridge or a tall oven unit to another wall, or choosing a 45 cm dishwasher and a two-zone hob to win back worktop. A combination microwave oven above the worktop frees the base cabinet for drawers.
Avoid placing the hob right at the end of the run against a wall or tall unit. Leave at least a little worktop on each side so pan handles do not hit a wall and there is somewhere to set down a hot pan.
The window or balcony end
Many Pattaya apartments have a galley that ends at a window or a balcony door. That end brings daylight and air into a narrow room, so keep tall units away from it and let worktop or a low cabinet run up to the opening.
A sink under the window is a classic choice, but check that the window can still open over the tap. If the balcony door is used often, leave the walkway clear to it and do not put the hob near the door, where a breeze can blow out gas flames or carry steam back inside.
Low afternoon sun through west-facing glass heats worktops and can fade some finishes. Pale, UV-stable materials and a simple blind keep this end of the kitchen pleasant to use.
Heat in a narrow kitchen
A closed galley traps heat quickly, especially when the air-conditioning sits in the living room. Allow the cool air to reach the kitchen through an open doorway or a wide opening, and avoid a full-height door at the living room end unless the kitchen has its own air supply.
An induction hob adds far less heat to a small room than gas. Place the hood directly over the hob rather than in a corner, and keep tall units a short distance from the cooking zone so heat does not build up against their sides.
Light under the wall cabinets with LED strips, which run cool, rather than halogen spots. Send us your room width, length and photos of the window end, and we will show how the layout can work in your Pattaya apartment.