The kitchen is too small to be more than a walk-in closet yet you are expected to cram decade-long cooking requirements into a trash can. Sound familiar?
I have had my share of small kitchens as well- everything from a studio apartment where my kitchen was fronted by a hot plate and kitchen barely took up 1/4 of the apartment, not counting the bathroom- of which the door was attached to the kitchen. You believe me, I understand the difficulty.
However, here is what I have discovered: small kitchens do not mean less stuff; it is being smarter with the vertical space. These seven shelving options should allow you to use up all of that valuable space without creating the impression of a kitchen turned into a cluttered closet.
Over-the-Sink Shelving Units
Why waste all that space over your sink? Over-the-sink storage cabinets are instant with what would otherwise be dead space, and ideal to store what you use every day.
One of these expandable installations was in my old apartment and I no longer felt cramped without a place to put my dish soap, sponges or even a small herb garden. The most excellent point? Many of the units are permanently zero installation, they just extend to your sink width.
What Makes These Units Special
- No drilling required – perfect for renters
- Adjustable width fits most standard sinks
- Multiple tiers for organized storage
- Easy access to frequently used items
The trick will be to select the unit with the appropriate height clearance. Measuring your sink to any uppers before purchasing is a good idea (I find that out the hard way with my first unit arriving and quickly becoming a very expensive paperweight :/
Smart Organization Tips
- Keep daily essentials on the bottom shelf
- Use the top tier for items you access less frequently
- Add small baskets or containers for better organization
- Consider a unit with hooks for dish towels or utensils
Magnetic Strips on Appliance Sides
The sides of your refrigerator and dishwasher are just masses of blank space that are going to waste. These surfaces can be turned into an asset by making them magnetic strips that hold spices, knives and small tools.
I clustered magnetic spice containers along the length of my fridge, and every time guests take in my spice rack–literally hanging in mid-air–they do a double take. It’s kitchen magic but with magnets.
Creative Magnetic Storage Ideas
- Spice jars with magnetic bottoms
- Knife strips for safe, space-saving storage
- Small tool holders for measuring spoons and gadgets
- Note clips for recipes and shopping lists
Pro tip:First test the magnetic strength of your appliance. Not all stainless steel turns out to be magnetic as I found out after purchasing 50 dollars worth of magnetic containers. Oops.
Tension Rod Shelving Systems
Fancy some shelving without mucking about with your walls? When spaces are used in unfavourable places and the location works in the most unlikely areas these are made by tension rods that provide immediate storage.
Adjustable rods are held in place with pressure thus they are ideal to people who rent places or those who change their minds more than their bedsheets. I place them in my pantry, between cabinets and under my sink.
Unexpected Placement Ideas
| Location | Best Use |
|---|---|
| Under sink | Hang spray bottles and cleaning cloths |
| Inside cabinets | Create extra shelf levels with small baskets |
What is beautiful about tension rods is that they can be very versatile. Attach S-hooks where you want to hang something or place some baskets and you have mini shelves. They move with you when you move in, no last minute hole patching, no extra costs lost as security deposits.
Installation Success Tips
- Measure twice, buy once – get the right length rod
- Check weight limits before loading up
- Use rubber end caps to prevent wall marks
- Test stability before trusting them with heavy items
Wall-Mounted Fold-Down Shelves
You sometimes need additional space on your counter tops, sometimes you do not. You also get flexibility with these which fold down without robbing permanent space in your mini kitchen.
These wall mounted hinged shelves can fold flat when not needed Installed one near by stove for extra prep space and made next to my stove and it is my most favorite kitchen storage upgrade. It completely disappears when I’m not cooking.
Perfect Uses for Fold-Down Shelves
- Extra prep space during cooking marathons
- Temporary serving area when entertaining
- Coffee station that folds away after morning routines
- Laptop workspace for recipe browsing or video calls
There is a bit of anchoring that is progressed in the wall, but the functional reward is immense. Select a sturdy hinge shelf- the cheaper shelves will begin to droop after a few months.
Corner Shelf Towers
Corners are the neglected areas of mini-kitchens, but corner shelf towers can make those difficultCONNE! beefy shelves that a small-kitchen throne.
They are tall and skinny, and they can fit into corners without stepping in strollers in walkways and they have loads of stuff in them! I keep mine with oils and vinegars as well as all those other specialty ingredients with nowhere to go.
Why Corner Towers Work So Well
- Utilize wasted vertical space in tight corners
- Narrow footprint doesn’t obstruct traffic flow
- Multiple levels for different types of storage
- No cabinet modification required
FYI consider having towers where the shelves are adjustable to give you the space needed just in case you have a need. Bottles which are tall require varying shelf levels as compared to jars which are short.
Smart Loading Strategy
The heaviest items should be stored at the bottom shelves and setting up to the lightest items. This holds the tower steady and everything is accessible more easily. I discovered so after my sun averted tower opted to re-furnish my floor with oil on one cold morning.
Cabinet Door Organizers
The interior of your cabinet doors is an unused storage space. Wall hangers turn unused space into storage space and they can be particularly useful in an otherwise small kitchen where every square inch counts.
My pantry, my sink, and, I even have some door organizers on my upper cabinets. They provide places to store cleaning materials and spices, among other substances, without occupying any cabinet spaces inside the house.
Types That Actually Work
- Wire racks for spices and small jars
- Over-door baskets for cleaning supplies
- Narrow shelves for oils and vinegars
- Hook systems for measuring cups and utensils
The trick is to select organizers which do not compete with whatever you have in the cabinet already. Take measurements of your door clearance, interior depth before installing something.
Installation Reality Check
Some door organizers come with screws; others have adhesive strips, or over door hooks. Choose mount methods based on your cabinet material, and weight needs. Screw in for heavy items, light will work on less permanence.
Stackable Shelf Risers
Stackable shelf risers are the bunk beds of dishware- it doubles your storage without increasing your floor space.
These basic platforms make two tiers of space in a common cabinet. I have them on dishes, canned goods and even my coffee mugs (which could be a little out of control, but that is another topic).
Strategic Placement Ideas
- Dish cabinets for plates and bowls
- Pantry shelves for canned goods and boxes
- Cleaning supply areas under the sink
- Small appliance storage in deeper cabinets
Risers are beautiful in that they are flexible. You can use them in a stackable manner, separate, or rearrange as your storage desire changes. They are sort of the Swiss Army knife of kitchen organization.
Choosing the Right Size
| Cabinet Depth | Recommended Riser Width |
|---|---|
| 12-14 inches | 10-inch risers |
| 16+ inches | 12-inch or expandable risers |
Buy your cabinets in the measurements. Risers that are either too broad or too narrow will simply not fit and those that are too tall will leave no room for your dishes.
Making Small Spaces Work Harder
Small kitchen storage – here is the point about it; it is not really all about fitting more in less. It is about how all items can justify why they deserve to be there by organizing and positioning in a smart way.
Consider and think vertically at first. The height of a wall is always abundant in most small kitchens which have limited ground space. These shelving systems will assist you in getting that vertical space without making your kitchen look cluttered and overwhelming.
Stack your storage facilities. Mix various solutions to have the greatest effect. Attach magnets to appliances, tension reels in cabinets and fold-down shelves on walls. The systems accommodate various kinds of items and storage requirements.
Make your regularly used things available. The most perfect storage solution will be very pointless when you require a ladder in order to get your coffee mug. Daily necessities such as food meals and drinks must be within an eye level and accessible, whereas other seldom used items should be placed at higher levels.
Budget-Friendly Implementation
Installation of each solution does not have to be immediate. Solve your biggest frustration first perhaps because you have no counter space (shelves that fold down) or because you have nowhere to store spices (magnetic strips). Fix one, find out how it works and add the others progressively.
In my opinion, the most effective solution that one can choose when organizing small kitchen storage is to have a range of small solutions as opposed to a single costly one. These seven concepts can do wonders to your small kitchen without spending lots of money, or hiring a contractor.
The golden rule of small spaces to keep in mind is that everything needs to have a place and that place should be somewhat logical in terms of how you really cook and live. Make sure not to impose storage systems that do not suit your habits, because they are bound to cause new anxieties.
Final Thoughts
The size of the kitchen does not present a restriction, it is rather a challenge to come out innovative in terms of storing and organizing. I learned to enjoy cooking small environments, in fact, all I require always finds its place within my reach and I do not spend much time searching different websites.
The following seven smart storage ideas have turned even the smallest kitchen I ever lived in from pathetic to surprisingly good. It gets down to not having fewer things, but smarter places to put them.
Begin with something you are very frustrated about, a solution to that. Perhaps it is the unused area above your sink or the mess that is behind your cabinet doors. After seeing how an intelligent shelving decision can transform things, you will be encouraged to go else where and work on the others.
What you may not realize is that there is more storage potential in your small kitchen than you think, and it takes the right shelving approach to bring it out. Now quit whining about your small area and start utilizing it more to your advantage 🙂