If you’ve ever cooked in a small kitchen, you know it can be a real struggle. From juggling limited counter space to playing Tetris with pots and pans, even the simplest cooking tasks can become challenging. However, knowing how to make the best of a small kitchen doesn’t require knocking down walls or sacrificing your cooking and baking options. Instead, you will find that with some clever cabinet organization tricks, you can turn your kitchen into an efficient cooking space that works for you rather than against you.
Small Kitchen Challenges
Every small kitchen faces the challenge of limited storage space, making it difficult to neatly organize kitchen tools, appliances, and food items. This often results in people cramming multiple items into a single, cluttered area, which can turn finding what they need into a frustrating and time-consuming endeavor.
No one wants to spend 10 minutes digging through a crowded cabinet to find that one spice jar. Poor organization doesn’t just make it harder to find what you need – it can also keep you from an efficient workflow, leading to unnecessary movement and effort.
If items are not well organized, it will also affect the aesthetic appeal. Cluttered countertops and poorly organized cabinets can make the space feel chaotic and uninviting, detracting from any design efforts. Additionally, an inefficient layout can lead to frustration during meal preparation, making the kitchen less enjoyable to use.
When you feel that you can’t use your kitchen effectively, it’s time to look for some solutions.
Practical Cabinet Organization Tips for Small Kitchens
Maximize Vertical Space
If you want to make the most of your space, think up – not out!
Here’s how you can do it: tall cabinets are one of the best ways to make your small kitchen be organized in the most ergonomic manner. Install shelf risers or stackable organizers to create multiple levels within each cabinet. This simple trick can double or even triple your storage without taking up any extra floor space.
→ Discover the benefits of tall kitchen cabinets for maximized storage and style.
Full-Extension Double Layer Cutlery Drawers
Many drawers waste valuable space by not fully extending. Even those that do pull out further may lack a practical storage solution. Adding a second, shallower drawer inside the main one can create another creative way to organize and design your storage space.
Dinnerware Drawer Peg Board System
A peg board system in your drawers lets you customize the space to fit your dishes as well as pots and pans. This means no more chips and cracks, and everything is organized and easy to grab. Plus, it’s so satisfying to see everything neatly arranged within the drawer.
Wall Spice Racks
Another culprit in the tight cabinet space is the spice drawer. How many times have you dug through your spice-turned-medicine-turned-junk drawer and given up hope of ever finding that ground cumin?
Turn those often wasted cabinet doors into storage space with mounted spice racks. Not only does this free up shelf space, but it also puts all your seasonings within arm’s reach when you are cooking. Pro tip: organize your spices alphabetically or by cuisine for even easier access.
Wall-Mounted Magnetic Strips for Knives
Free up drawer space by mounting a magnetic knife strip on your wall or inside a cabinet door. This saves space and keeps your knives easily accessible and in good condition. Plus, it gives your kitchen a professional chef’s touch!
Sliding Pot & Pan Organizer Pull-Out
There’s nothing more frustrating than getting down on your hands and knees to rummage around in the pots and pan drawer.
Pull-out organizers are ideal for keeping cookware organized and easily accessible. Look for ones with adjustable dividers to fit different pot and pan sizes.
Roll-Out Trays
Another way to make the most of deep cabinets is with roll-out trays. These additions bring items from the back to the front – so you don’t have to deal with hurting your back while straining to reach that baking sheet.
They’re ideal for small kitchen appliances, mixing bowls, or pantry items that you don’t use frequently.
Lazy Susans
The Lazy Susan is a surprisingly effective solution for corner cabinet space. These rotating shelves turn awkward corner cabinets into easy-to-access storage space. They’re perfect for storing pantry items and small appliances, so nothing gets lost in the corner cabinet black hole.
→ Lazy Susan Cabinet Organizer: Everything You Need to Know
Kitchen Cabinets With Trash Can Storage
Trash, boxes, and general junk are also a big issue in most smaller kitchens. A great way to keep your kitchen clean and clutter-free is to use a pull-out trash and recycling center built into your cabinets. This clever solution hides the bins while also keeping them within reach.
→ Kitchen Cabinet With Trash Can Storage: A Space Streaming Solution
Built-In Microwave Kitchen Cabinets
Do you find that your microwave and other appliances are jutting out into your limited available space? Not only do they take up room, but these appliances can give the entire space an awkward feel.
While you can’t always change the shape of your appliance, you can free up counter space by incorporating your microwave into your cabinet design. Look for cabinet solutions designed to house your microwave while keeping it clean and integrated.
Get Creative With Your Kitchen Space
Learning how to make the best of a small kitchen is part strategy and part creativity. You aren’t just trying to force-fit a solution that frees up a bit of space – you want to choose storage options that work for how you use your kitchen.
Here are some other tips that will help you get creative with your kitchen space:
- Use a consistent color scheme for your storage solutions to make the space feel bigger and more organized.
- Consider your cooking habits when deciding where to put things. Frequently used items should be within reach, while occasional-use items can go in less accessible places.
- It’s vital to maintain your setup; even the best systems need to be tweaked and reorganized now and then.
With these cabinet organization hacks, your small kitchen will be a place you love to cook and be in. Remember, it’s not about the size of your kitchen – it’s about how you use the space you have. Happy organizing!
