Kitchen storage is often pretty hard to come by, especially if you're a city dweller. Just because we may not be blessed with ample cabinet space doesn't mean we have to skimp on kitchen accessories and tools. We just have to get creative with how we're going to store it all!
If you have the luxury of having some empty wall space, install industrial shelving to create a large storage area. Paint them a fun color to add a touch of personality and display your dishes and tools in a neat and orderly fashion! It's such a fantastic way to not only decorate the kitchen but to also utilize every square inch.
Most of us are working with much smaller spaces and that is when it's even more important to utilize each and every nook and cranny. Making use of the space inside the cabinets is key: install pull out drawers in the cabinets to maximize the space. Often, we just place pots and pans on the bottom of the cabinet and there's all that extra room above them. If you have multi-level pull out drawers you have everything easily accessible.
Our favorite option for useful kitchen storage is the DIY secret storage next to the refrigerator. It's an inexpensive and simple project that provides the perfect space for cans and spices. Here are a few more inspiringly useful kitchen storage ideas:
• Industrial Shelving, Country Living
• Pull Out Drawer, Better Homes and Gardens
• Secret Storage DIY, Learning To Be Me
• Cubby Storage, Chez Larsson
• Hang It Up, Better Homes and Gardens
Images: as linked above
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I love that 3rd picture!
Wow, great storage solutions! I love that pull out next to the fridge. I just might have a go of that in my new house!
I love the shelving in the first pic.
The second link is for creative Bathroom storage.
In my kitchen I have an old library card catalog unit. It houses things like silverware, napkins and place mats, spice jars, hand mixers and other small tools, barware, and so on -- anything that fits in the long skinny drawers! I'm moving to a smaller house next month, and it may also be pressed into service for some other kitchen staples -- foil and cling wrap, boxes of jello mix, cans of soup, etc. The label holders allow me to add a little pop of color, too. (Wish I could point you to a picture but I don't have one online!)
#3 is cool, but that's where I keep my step ladder and broom
The last picture reminds me of my kitchen (I even have a yellow kettle!). I don't have a pegbooard up the wall, but I do have a knife bar I couldn't live without.
I live in a motorhome and I have to use every inch of space to make the kitchen function. For example, I have a large counter area that is useless for food prep, so I put utensil drawers and a utensil crock on it (http://travelswithmiranda.uskeba.ca/?p=10973 (before my yellow kettle)). It looks cluttered, but it is SO functional. I grew up in a house where the kitchen looked streamlined, but you had to move ten things to get to what you want, so this is one room where I prefer function over form.
We've got a dresser with a hutch in our kitchen, and we keep our drinking glasses, baby food tupperware in the drawers and plates and ingredients up on top. Just having those 2 garage sale finds nearly doubled our kitchen space!
odd question. what range is that in picture 5, with the yellow teakettle? it looks to be a 24-30 inch range, and it looks sharp. any ideas anyone?
Ahh #3 secret storage! Aaaaaaaaaand doing that now...
The storage beside the fridge is a great use of space. When I redid my kitchen I took the fridge out of the corner of the room and added a floor to ceiling cabinet 18 inches wide with deep pullout shelves to create a "pantry" I reclaimed the space by taking out the large side by side fridge and installing a tall narrow cabinet depth model.
The range in picture 5 appears to be a Viking. Viking has a 24 inch, opened burner model that is great in a small space.
My kitchen has a small (4' x 8') space that used to be an entry from the exterior, walled up before I bought the house. The water heater lives in the back and we used to keep the fridge in front, but it blocked access to the electrical panel, so I had my brothers move the fridge to the laundry room and have created a tiny pantry space in front of the heater. Since I only have a galley kitchen that 4'x4' space seems luxurious....
#3 is awesome!
thanks granville!