How to Cope with a Lack of Kitchen Storage: 10 of Our Best Posts
When you have a small kitchen (I do), creative problem solving stops becoming a resume catchphrase and starts becoming a way of life. Configuring cookware and food and utensils—while trying to keep it all from looking like a mad scientist’s lab—isn’t easy. Here are 10 great posts in one place to offer some tips, tricks and inspiration for all of us fighting the good I-dream-of-kitchen-storage fight.
Don’t neglect the space above your cabinets. You could stash extra stuff up there in baskets, as in the kitchen of blogger Elsie Larson of A Beautiful Mess.
From 10 Ways to Squeeze a Little Extra Storage Out of a Small Pantry:
Save all of your jars, and ask everyone you know to do the same. Okay, perhaps that’s a bit extreme, but I’m a firm believer in “a jar for everything and everything in its jar.” I still don’t have enough jars—especially large and extra large ones—to live that way, but a girl can dream. Having a wide variety of jar sizes at hand means that you can always scale down your storage as your ingredients dwindle. And where to store all those empty jars? I find that’s not an issue since I’m constantly swapping them in and out: as soon as they’re clean, they’re put right back to use.
Toe kick drawers, like the ones above from Home Depot, take advantage of otherwise unused space, and are great for big, flat items like cookie sheets and muffin tins.
From 12 Space-Saving Essentials for Small Kitchens:
A wall-mounted magnetic knife rack is a great way to keep your knives within easy reach, and save a little drawer space. Try the Grundtal, from IKEA ($14.99).
From Short on Space? Stylish Ways to Store Pots and Pans:
As shown in the image above from Homedit, using wall-mounted pot racks is a practical and nice-looking solution when you’re short on cabinet space.
From 3 Stylish Solutions for Countertop Storage to Avoid that “Everything Just Shoved Against the Wall” Look:
Shelf risers aren’t just for reclaiming more storage space within your cabinets and pantry. You can use an attractive riser to create another level of storage on your countertop. Doing so brings visual meaning to your items, making it feel like an intentional storage composition rather than just a jumble of bottles or jars.
From Storage Where You Need It: Rolling Utility Carts:
The RÅSKOG Kitchen Cart from IKEA, shown above, may have kitchen in its name, but this cute cart is ideal for office and laundry supplies, too. $49.99
Storing baking pans and sheets vertically versus stacking them is like the difference between filing and piling paper. They’re so much easier to access when stored vertically, so if you have a lot of baking pans, I highly recommend this hack. I built my own vertical storage rack by adapting this tutorial, but you can also buy pre-made pan organizer racks, or even use tension rods to divide a shelf.
When looking for an affordable apartment in one of Philadelphia’s most sought after historical districts, I knew I was going to have to make some sacrifices. As someone who cooks very little, a small kitchen was not at all a deal breaker. As such, I scored big time with a cute tiny apartment in the exact location of my choosing, which happened to fit my rent requirements due to its dated, hideous kitchenette. With only a $200 budget, I painted the cabinets, added a faux backsplash, purchased an island for added counter space and storage, a new bright rug to complement the neutral kitchen, and a fun cookie jar to add to the new look. I have transformed this eyesore into a conversation piece.
From Before & After: A Short on Storage Kitchen Gets a Bespoke Update:
“We inherited our old kitchen when we moved into our Edwardian house two years ago. It had very limited storage space (the cupboards you see in the photo were the only cupboards!), a cold floor, was very dark and had a dodgy old oven and hob. We couldn’t wait to change it and make it a proper working kitchen as we both love to cook.”
Check out the reveal for tons of inspiration here!