When my husband and I moved in together, we had a ‘one-butt kitchen,’ just big enough for one person. It was fine for everyday meals, but our need for storage increased as we began to entertain more. Our serveware and extra wine glasses ended up in unusual spots throughout our apartment.
These days, despite having a larger kitchen, our family’s growth has led to an even greater need for storage. Now, kid-safe plates, water bottles, and lunch gear take up more room than our fancy dinnerware. I reached out to Kate Fisher of The Neatist in Durham, North Carolina, and Tonia Tomlin of Sorted Out in Dallas, Texas, for easy kitchen storage solutions to reduce clutter and make better use of our space without major renovations.
Joseph Joseph Corral Miscellaneous Items in Bins
For hard-to-contain items such as napkins, spice packets or cookie cutters, clear stacking bins are a great investment. They are perfect for smaller, oddly-shaped items as you can still see them. These bins ensure such items are no longer randomly stuffed in drawers and empty spaces in cabinets. This method also helps utilize out-of-sight storage space. As Fisher says, ‘Anytime you’re putting something in a cabinet that’s higher than eye level, it’s a good idea to put it in a container, preferably with a label—otherwise it will get lost.’ Additionally, consider using products like OXO’s fridge organization line to keep your food neat and decanted. Target Use the Ceiling, Walls, and Door If your layout (or landlord) allows, a pot hanging rack above an island or in a window nook can save a lot of cabinet space. Even a smaller hanging solution like a hanging fruit basket can pull bulky but lightweight items like napkins or drink koozies out of a drawer. If you have the space, you can mount a pot hanging system to the wall in restaurant kitchen style as Tomlin suggests. Or, consider an over-the-door rack if you have a door to your kitchen to hold spices, canned goods, or smaller kitchen tools. Amazon Measure Your Drawers If you have only two or three kitchen drawers, measure them before buying an interior organizer to ensure you use every square inch. As Tomlin says, ‘Many organizers are curved, or leave just a little bit of wasted space on the sides, if you don’t get the right size. You really have to make sure things fit properly.’ Measure the depth too. If your drawers are deep enough, you may be able to incorporate two drawer organizers. Clear the Countertops Give your counters a good assessment and determine what really needs to stay and what can find a home elsewhere. Anything that can be mounted to the underside of your cabinets, like a paper towel holder or dish towel rack, clears space for small appliances or just room for food preparation. The Container Store Install Easy-Access Systems Consider installing a drawer-style cabinet organizer to help reach items in the back and make it easier to locate your stuff. Tomlin particularly likes organizer drawers with compartments to help corral pot lids. ‘Lids are the biggest thing that people complain about,’ she says. If you have blind corner cabinets in your kitchen that are hard to organize, consider investing in a pull-out drawer organization system to make it easier to access bulky pots and pans. Amazon 7 Kitchen Cabinet Styles to Consider for Your Next Remodel Add Some Wheels Fisher is a big fan of storage solutions on wheels. ‘That’s my rule: For small spaces, put wheels on it,’ she says. If you have space for a small rolling island in your kitchen, it adds storage and creates more surface area for cooking or entertaining wherever needed. If you only have a few inches to spare, a narrow freestanding cabinet on wheels can slide into wasted space between a cabinet and refrigerator.Pottery Barn offers Elevate Cutting Boards. Cutting and serving boards look great stacked against a backsplash but take up counter space. Hooked shelves under cabinets provide extra shelving for cutting boards, cookbooks, and utensils. They’re removable for easy rotation in the kitchen. Amazon suggests making use of your sink area. Your sink takes up a lot of room. Layer handy products on top, like a mat that rolls over the sink to create a drying rack. Add a caddy for dish and hand soaps or a smaller edge mat for sponges. Amazon recommends replacing bulky packaging. Food packaging takes up space, so experts suggest decanting pantry ingredients into clear canisters. The same applies to other kitchen supplies. An organizer keeps these items together without bulky boxes. Amazon/Youcopia advises investing in items that stack and nest. You probably know about nesting bowls and food storage containers. But there are also great options for small space storage-friendly bakeware, cookware, and utensils. Don’t forget the corners. Kitchen counter corners can store a good amount of stuff. Invest in a tiered corner shelf for cooking oils, pinch bowls, and spices. Amazon suggests thinking outside the kitchen. Bar carts in the dining or living room are a design trend and helpful for storage. An etagere, buffet, or bookshelf in the dining area can house lesser-used items. Remember, organizing your kitchen is an ongoing process. Reuse what you have before buying new. If cabinets are exploding, it’s time to make decisions. 7 Things You Can Purge From Your Kitchen Cabinets Without a Second Thought. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit.
