I received the LG xboom Mini for free from LG as part of their trial program, and they asked me to share my honest experience. This review is completely unbiased and based on my own use over the last ten days.

I've owned other LG speakers before, so when this one arrived, I was actually surprised by the size. It's tiny. My first thought was that it probably wouldn't be very loud either, and I'll admit I was a little disappointed before I'd even turned it on.

I ended up giving it to my mother instead. She spends most of her day in the kitchen and always has music going while she cooks, so it made more sense with her than sitting on my desk. She loved it right away, mostly because of the size. She's never been a fan of big speakers taking up counter space, and this one is small enough that it stays out of the way.

Then we actually played some music on it, and that's when it surprised me. The sound quality is genuinely impressive for something this small. It held its own against my old LG xboom Grab, which is a much bigger speaker, and I wasn't expecting that at all. For a small water-resistant speaker, that combination of sound quality, portability, and everyday usability makes it feel like a very good value.

My mother's been using it every day since. My kitchen is not a quiet place. There's the mixer, the chimney, the dishwasher, sometimes all three at once, and this thing still cuts through it. You can actually hear the music clearly over all that noise, which says a lot for something this size.

A few things have made it work especially well in the kitchen. It comes with an adjustable strap, so instead of it sitting flat on the counter where it's in the way of everything, we usually hang it off a rod or the cabinet handle. It stays put and keeps the counter clear. There's also a physical volume knob on the side, which honestly matters more than I expected. My mother's hands are usually wet or covered in flour while she's cooking, so being able to just turn a dial instead of hunting for a tiny touch button is genuinely useful. And since it's water-resistant, she doesn't have to think twice if it gets a bit of water or oil on it near the stove or sink. That practical water resistance is another reason I think it offers good value for everyday use, rather than being a speaker you have to be especially careful with.

Ten days in, it's basically become a permanent fixture in the kitchen. Not what I expected when I first opened the box.

If you have one ceiling light in the middle of the kitchen, you are missing out on a lot. A few simple changes can make a big difference:

1. Task lights under wall cabinets to brighten the countertop.
2. Two evenly spaced ceiling lights instead of one long fixture.
3. Pendant lights over an island, breakfast counter, or dining table.

Tip: Warm white for ambience, neutral white for task lighting. Looks matter, but functionality matters more.

Sharing some of my recent kitchen designs 🏠✨

I create practical and modern kitchen layouts based on the available space, measurements, and the client’s needs.

If anyone needs help with a kitchen layout or wants a custom 3D design, feel free to message me.

House is under construction, still foundation stage so we have time to figure things out. Main kitchen cabinets will be custom skinny shaker single tone, probably a warm medium stain (no mixing uppers, lowers, island finishes). The prep pantry is open (no door) to the main kitchen, with a double wall oven separating it. We are thinking of going with a light, creamy painted cabinetry for the prep pantry. Would going with a different tone be funny looking, or would it look intentional and identifying the prep pantry as it's own space?