Life Changing Kitchen Storage Solutions
Moving is typically three parts exciting, two parts stressful, and one part: what in the world am I going to do with all of this stuff??
In case we haven’t met, I’m Tasha, the business manager for the I Heart Planners team! About a month ago I moved for the 8th time in three years. I love cooking for a crowd and baking new “experiments”, so having a functional and spacious kitchen is important to me.
My most recent kitchen? Not so spacious.
That left me asking a very important question: How do you maximize storage in a small kitchen?
It’s been an adventure and some trial and error getting it all set up, but I’m so excited to show you how I made the most of my 70 square foot kitchen!
We also have an extra special treat for you today! I have a Meal Prep printable from my signature Recipe Kit, which is one of my very favorite kits! You can get this FREE printable by clicking below to claim yours!
And if you'd prefer a video walkthrough of my kitchen set up, we've got that for you too and you can click below to view.
And just a friendly reminder before we jump in that this post does contain affiliate links, but I hope that you can find products that you love and use on a daily basis to make your kitchen beautiful and functional!
1. Store hand towels in hanging baskets
If you’re running low on drawer space, roll up your hand towels in a cute little hanging basket. Bonus points if the colors match your decor!
2. Stack your silverware
This silverware organizer from Joseph Joseph is my FAVORITE! It saves so much space in comparison to a standard silverware organizer.
3. Hang spice racks to open up pantry space
What could be better than using mini mason jars to store your spices? Just hang them on the wall so that it frees up your cabinet space!
4. DIY Coffee Bar/China Cabinet
Not having a pantry can pose quite a problem in terms of cabinet space, but an inexpensive shelving unit, some shelf liner, and a coffee pot can make for an adorable coffee bar doubled as a china cabinet.
5. Use flexible cutting mats
Cutting boards are so last year and take up lots of precious space. This two pack of cutting mats from IKEA was only $2! Can’t beat the savings – both monetarily and logistically!
6. Hang your kitchen utensils
Ever notice that most of your kitchen utensils have a little notch at the top? With just a hammer and nail you can add some cute and functional decor to your kitchen wall – and say goodbye to those pesky utensil canisters!
7. Or stack them on top of each other
Another great product from Joseph Joseph is this set of stackable kitchen utensils. Same amount of space for one utensil or four – it’s a win all the way around!
8. Use a pan organizer for lids and frying pans
Pots and pans are the worst culprits when it comes to taking up real estate in the kitchen. Keep the lids and skillets out of the way with a sideways pan organizer.
9. Use over the cabinet space for dry goods
A place that is often overlooked is that gap between the cabinets and the ceiling. Dust it off, grab your favorite canisters and some cute labels, and keep your dry baking goods out of the way.
If you're still a fan of the good, old-fashioned recipe books, over the cabinet is a great place to store those too! And if you're looking for some new recipes to try, don't forget to grab your free copy of the I Heart Planners team's favorite recipes!
10. Use over the refrigerator space for appliances
Where oh where do you keep an Instant Pot, a Crock Pot and an electric skillet (the list could go on…) How about on top of the refrigerator? There’s so much typically unclaimed space up there!
11. Invest in a step stool
Worried about reaching those up-high items? Invest in a collapsible step stool. When it’s not in use, fold it up and tuck it in an out-of-the-way place.
12. This Wraps and Baggies Organizer
If you don’t have one of these wraps organizers, and you're running low on drawer space the look into getting one! It’ll keep all your wraps and baggies organized and mostly stacked concisely together.
13. Over the door baskets
Have a recessed cabinet shelf? Hang an over the door basket to fill all that air-space when the cabinet door is closed.
14. Use the sides of your cabinets (and command hooks!)
If you have any vertical space at all, use it! Command hooks are great for hanging lightweight items like strainers and small saucepans.
15. Have an onions and garlic basket
Save yourself the hassle of cleaning up all those little bits of crusty onion skin that flake off so easily and store those items in a basket with a solid bottom so you can dump out any crumbs easily.
16. DIY Recessed Lighting
The one thing that opens up a kitchen more than any other is light! Grab a few battery-operated touch lights and throw them up under the cabinets with some command strips.
17. Only Buy What You Need
If you’re running low on pantry space, take extra care to not stock up no matter the sale – it’ll just lead to cramped, overflowing shelves that are difficult to use. Buy only what you need and will use and you’ll be amazed at how much pantry space you actually do have.
18. Nestle your rolling pin
Is your rolling pin wreaking havoc in your utensil drawer? Make sure it’s nestled securely between other, heavier items so it won’t roll around and upset everything in the drawer.
19. Hang your potholders
Are you catching the theme? Anything that you CAN hang, you should hang!
20. Store your sponge with your soap
A great way to keep a grimey sponge off the side of your sink is to get a soap dispenser with a built in spot to store your sponge.
21. Use nested food storage containers
Make sure that the food storage containers you are using easily stack or nest inside each other to save yourself the hassle of storing them all separated out and on top of each other.
22. Hang extra shelves
If you need more shelf space, try hanging an inexpensive utility shelf. It’s a great way to snag some extra storage space that is up and out of the way.
23. Keep It Clean
A clean space always looks like a bigger space, so keep those dishes out of the sink and those groceries put away so you can actually use all the space you have to work with.
At the end of the day, your kitchen is for cooking! Make it as pretty or as messy as you’d like as long as you love it and can cook in it! Looking for some inspiration for what to start cooking? Click below to get a collection of the I Heart Planners team’s favorite recipes for free!!
Do you have a kitchen storage hack that I missed? Let us know in the comments!
Copyright 2024, Get Organized HQ.
Antionette Blake Says
Yes, we just sold our McMansion and are living temporarily in an apartment until our Forever Home is built.
We have must less space and have used many of these hacks as we did when we lived in our first apartment in the early 90’s – some things you never forget!
Ree Says
What did you use to label the mason jar spices? Lovely!
Tasha Whitsitt Says
A Silhouette – or you could use a Cricut, as well.
Roberta Says
What is the font you used? Is that a type of vinyl? Soon as I saw this I wanted to do it.
Tasha Whitsitt Says
It is the Sacramento font and I used a Silhouette to cut it out
Teresa Faile Says
Additional tip to #22 Hanging Shelf. I would buy some “S” hooks and hang those coffee cups under the shelf. Then that frees up the shelf for other items.