In the series How to Live With a Room You Hate, we ask design pros to solve everyday interior problems. Today, we tackle kitchens with little counter space.

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. When we covered what kitchens looked like in the 1980s, we were dumbstruck by how cool some of these old-school cooking spaces actually were.

Diner décor is one of our favorite underrated kitchen design ideas. Some pops of high-contrast color, a checkerboard floor, and a bit of Coke merch — we totally rock with the vibes. One aspect of the ...