How to Organize a Small Kitchen

You don’t have to be a specialist in optimizing spaces to know how to transform your small kitchen into a functional and pleasant area. By utilizing smart organizing tips and creative storage solutions, you can create a kitchen that not only appears larger but is also practical and enjoyable for cooking, meal prep, or just grabbing a quick bite.
Proper planning andย strategic organization are key. Focus on maximizing every inch of space; you might be adding wall shelves, using lazy Susans, or keeping the center of your kitchen open. If you pay careful attention to detail, your small kitchen can become a space that meets all your needs with ease and style.
Do a Deep Declutter
Start by going through yourย cabinetsย andย kitchen drawers. Take everything out andย sortย items into categories: keep,ย donate, or discard. If you findย duplicatesย like extra water bottles,ย coffee mugs, or wooden spoons, consider donating them.
Don’t forget to clean out theย junk drawer. Dispose of items that are broken or no longer used.ย Declutteringย helps free up space and makes organizing easier. Basically, make thoughtful choices about what stays in your kitchen to keep it functional and tidy.
Store Seasonal Items Away
To make the most of your kitchen space, keep seasonal items like holiday cookie cutters and turkey roasting pans in a different area. You might store these items in the basement, garage, or a storage area under the stairs. This frees up valuable space in your kitchen for essentials you use daily.
For instance, keep less frequently used items like the outdoor serving ware in a hutch in the dining room or a nearby hallway. This strategy keeps your kitchen tidy and organized, allowing for better use of your pantry and fridge space.
Embrace Risers
Usingย shelf risersย in your kitchen can help you organize items likeย plates,ย bowls,ย mugs, andย glassesย more efficiently. These risers create additional layers in your cabinets, allowing you to store more in the same space. For your pantry, tiered risers are perfect for keepingย spice jars,ย measuring cups, andย bakewareย easy to access and neatly arranged.
Choose the Right Organizers
Maximize your kitchen space with the right organizers.ย Thin acrylic insertsย can fit narrow drawers better than spring-loaded bamboo dividers. Opt for aย compact cutlery trayย instead of a large utensil holder to save space. Aย two-tier lazy susanย is more space-efficient than a single large one.
Useย drawer dividersย to neatly store silverware, whisks, and spatulas. Utilizeย bins, baskets,ย andย storage containersย to categorize items.ย Drawer organizersย keep tools like knife blocks in place.ย Stackable containersย help make the most of vertical space, keeping your kitchen tidy and easy to navigate.
Decant What You Can
Decanting is a real space-saver in a small kitchen. Use air-tight containers to store your spices and pantry items. These containers keep food fresh and help in organizing your cabinets. For example, storing rice, flour, or snacks in modular containers makes them easy to stack and saves valuable room.
By decanting, you not only organize but also make your kitchen more functional. You canย use a spice rackย to keep your spices in order, making them easy to access whenever needed. This method keeps your kitchen neat and maximizes the small space you have.
Add Shelving
If you have empty wall space in your kitchen, install open shelves to gain moreย storage space. This allows you to useย vertical spaceย efficiently. Place items like dishes and drinkware on theseย open shelves. You can also add a tall, narrow cabinet for a freestanding pantry.ย Upper cabinetsย and wall shelves can also help maximize yourย vertical storageย options.
Use the Back of Doors
Utilize the space on the back of cabinet doors for extra storage.ย Adhesive hooksย can hold oven mitts, measuring spoons, or cutting boards. Consider attaching aย magnetic knife stripย to free up counter space. A back-of-the-door organizer can keep items likeย cookbooks,ย sponges, orย dish soapย within reach.
Install a holder forย paper towelsย orย trash bagsย inside the cabinet under the sink. Adding aย pegboardย offers a flexible solution for hanging various kitchen tools. These strategies make the most of often-overlooked spaces and help keep your kitchen organized.
Roll in a Cart
Use a kitchen cart with wheels if you lack countertops but have floor space. A rolling cart can offer more room for cooking tasks, like chopping veggies and stowing cutting boards. Find a cart with features like open shelves, drawers, or hooks. An island cart can serve as extra counter space, holding appliances or cookware when needed.
Rethink the Layout
To make better use of your small kitchen, focus on smart storage and practical arrangements.ย Deep pull-out drawers add much-needed storage while taking cabinets all the way to the ceiling, maximizing vertical space.
Consider corner shelvesย for often-unused areas, providing extra room for small items. Another option is hanging shelves on the side of an island if you have one.
Reorganize to fit your workflow. Storeย pots and pansย near the oven, keepย colanders by the sink, and placeย food storage containersย close to the fridge for easy packing of leftovers. These changes can create an efficient and tidy kitchen.
Keep Counters Clear
Keep your kitchen countertops neat by minimizing clutter. Essential appliances like your coffee maker should stay on the counter, while infrequently used ones belong in cabinets. Anย aesthetic trayย next to the stove can hold kitchen tools, oil and vinegar bottles, and salt and pepper grinders in one stylish spot.
Take a few minutes each evening to clear away items that don’t belong on your counters. Starting each new day with a clean and organized space can make your kitchen feel more spacious and functional.
For more ideas on organizing your kitchen counters, check theseย styling ideas for organized kitchen counters.