You know how quickly things can get backed up in a small kitchen. Things are not always easy to find and organize when there is not enough room. The good news is that you can make your small kitchen look and feel twice as big with some planning, organization, and creativity. This article has easy, useful, and cheap ways to store small things in the kitchen. You can make your kitchen work better with just a few smart ideas. You do not need expensive tools or remodels.
Maximize Vertical Space
If your kitchen does not have a lot of floor space, the best way to make it bigger is to add on top of it. There is a lot of empty storage space in the walls and ceilings.
Put up shelves on the wall
Shelves on the wall are an easy and cheap way to store dishes, jars, and tools. Put your spice bottles and bowls on sturdy wall shelves instead of putting them on your table. You should get floating shelves because they look cool and save space. You can put them above the sink or near the kitchen to keep everyday things close at hand.
Use Hanging Racks
Hanging racks can make wall space that is not being used into useful storage. Hooks let you hang pots, pans, and food tools. It makes your kitchen look stylish and saves space in your cabinets. If you hang storage above your cooker or kitchen table, it is easy to get to your tools when cooking.
Try Magnetic Strips
With magnetic strips, you can keep knives, scissors, and other metal tools in place. If you hang one on the wall, it will free up drawer space immediately. They help you quickly find what you need, are safe, and are easy to clean. On the inside of cabinet doors, you can even use small magnetic strips for spice jars made of metal.
Make the Most of Cabinet Space
Cabinets are great places to store things, but many people don’t make the most of them. You can make them twice as big with a few smart ideas.
Add Shelf Risers
With the help of shelf risers, you can split tall closet shelves into two layers. You can store cups on plates or smaller items on top of bigger ones. Risers that can be adjusted to fit any cabinet height are easy to find. They keep things from being too stacked and make them easy to see and get to.
Use the Cabinet Doors
People often forget about the space inside cabinet doors, but it is great for storing small things. You can hang hooks or thin racks to hold lids, cleaning tools, or spices. You do not have to drill holes for adhesive organizers or over the door racks to work.
Baskets and drawers that pull out
Putting pull out drawers or wire bins inside lower cabinets can make a big difference. You do not have to reach deep inside to get the door out; you can slide it out. This makes finding pots, pans, and baking trays easier when needed. It is also much easier to clean.
Declutter and Simplify
Chaos in the kitchen can make it feel small, regardless of size. The first thing you can do to improve your storage is to only keep what you need.
Keep Only What You Use
Start by putting your cooking stuff in order. If you have not used something in six months, you should give it away or store it elsewhere. Having as few things as possible in the kitchen frees up room and makes it easier to find what you need.
Organize by Category
Put things that are similar together. For instance, put your baking goods in one drawer, your cooking tools in another, and your snacks in one container. It keeps things clean and saves time while making meals. Labels that are easy to read also help everyone in the house find things.
Avoid Overbuying
Getting too many drinks, plastic bags, or extra tools is simple. Think about whether you really need them before you buy more. Keeping only the necessary things keeps your storage areas clear and free of mess.
Use Multi Functional Furniture
Picking furniture that can be used for more than one thing can make a big difference in a small kitchen.
Kitchen islands that can hold things
A small kitchen island or cart with built in shelves or drawers gives you more room to work and store things. Under it, you can store cutting boards, pans, and even dry food. Some islands are mobile, so you can move them around easily when you need more room.
Foldable or Extendable Tables
There is more room in a room when tables are folded up. When you are done cooking or eating, you can fold them to make room on the floor. Another good choice for families who need freedom is a table that can be extended.
Benches with Hidden Storage
If you have an eating nook, get rid of the chairs and put in benches for storage. You can put tablecloths, serving plates, or extra kitchen items in them. It saves space and helps you keep your cooking area neat.
Drawer Use That Makes Sense
Most of the time, drawers are the most used storage space in a kitchen. They keep your tables clean and your tools in order if you use them correctly.
Use Drawer Dividers
Drawer dividers help keep knives, cooking tools, and other small things separate. This keeps things organized and saves time while cooking. You can make the space fit your needs with adjustable walls, which are great.
Deep Drawers for Pots and Pans
If your shelves are small, put big things like pots, pans, and mixing bowls in deep drawers. Deep drawers make it easy to get to things without stacking heavy stuff on top of each other.
Label Your Drawers
Labels are very useful and can make a big difference. Having a place for everything makes it easy to keep the kitchen clean. A small tag or printed label can be used to name each drawer with a word like “cutlery,” “spices,” or “baking tools.”
Clever Countertop Organization
Too many things on the counter in a small kitchen can happen quickly. Keeping them clean not only makes them look better, but it also makes cooking more fun.
Use Trays or Baskets
Set out items that are similar in trays or bags. Put your oils, spices, and salt on a tray and keep it near the stove. This makes cleaning easy and gives your counter a neat, well thought out look.
Choose Vertical Organizers
Serve drinks, snacks, or fruit on stacked stands or vertical racks. This keeps things close at hand without taking up a lot of space. You can find stylish styles that will look great in your kitchen.
Smartly store your appliances
Do not keep all of your appliances on the table. Mixers and blenders you rarely use should be kept in cabinets. Keep only things you use outside daily, like your coffee maker or toaster. This small change makes more space right away.
Make Use of Hidden Spaces
There are places in every small kitchen that are hidden or not used very often that could be used for storage.
Store Things Under the Washbasin
Cleanup tools and extra sponges can fit perfectly under your sink. Sort it out with stackable bins or boxes that can be moved around. You can also use a small tension rod to keep spray bottles in order.
On Top of the Fridge
Often, the top of the fridge is just an empty room. You can store light things in it, like paper towels, recipes, or pretty baskets. For safety reasons, do not put big things there.
Corner Racks and Lazy Susans
A Lazy Susan (a rotating tray) in a corner can help you make the most of your room. You can store snacks, sauces, or spices in these hard to reach places without making a mess.
Use Transparent Containers
You can see what you have in your closets and pantry at a glance thanks to clear containers.
The same storage jars
For dry foods like cereal, rice, and pasta, use jars made of glass or plastic that match. They keep your kitchen clean and nice to look at. Put a label on each jar to keep things clear.
Bins That Can Be Stacked
Containers that can be stacked help you save shelf space and keep food fresh. What you need is easy to find without digging through bags or boxes that are a mess.
Airtight Containers for Freshness
Containers that do not let air in help food stay fresh longer and stop spills. For flour, sugar, and snacks, they come in handy. This saves money by cutting down on food waste and keeping your kitchen clean.
Create a Mini Pantry
You can make room for a small closet even in a small kitchen to keep things in order.
Use a Narrow Shelf or Rack
A tall, thin rack can fit between appliances or along the wall. On it, you can store cans, spices, and grocery bags. You can move these racks around easily; they do not take up much room.
Pantry on the Door
Use the back of a door as a pantry if you do not have room for one. Put up small shelves or racks to hold snacks or spices. This trick lets you add storage immediately without taking up any floor space.
Rotate Your Stock
Check your pantry often and move things around so food does not go bad. You will not buy extra stuff if you keep your kitchen clean and can see what you already have.
Keep It Tidy Daily
Keeping your kitchen clean every day is important, no matter how well organized.
Clean as You Go
While cooking, clean the tables, wash the tools, and return things where they belong. This easy habit keeps things from getting messy.
Weekly Plan for Decluttering
Do something to clean up your kitchen once a week. Some things might not belong, the food might go bad, or you might no longer need something. Cleaning often helps keep things in order.
Use a “One In, One Out” Rule
Take something out of the kitchen every time you buy something new. This rule stops your storage from getting too crowded and keeps it balanced over time.
Conclusion
You do not have to have a busy or messy small kitchen. You can turn it into a useful, clean, and welcoming place with a few smart ideas and consistent habits. Simple but effective ways to make your kitchen a great place to work include using vertical storage, making the most of your cabinets, regularly cleaning your kitchen, and picking furniture that takes up little room. Don’t forget that how well you use every inch of your kitchen is more important than how big it is.
