How to Make the Most of a Small Kitchen

Make your small kitchen work for you by maximizing limited storage and prep space.

Many homeowners and renters with tiny kitchens are frustrated by a lack of storage and prep space. These great small kitchen organization ideas will have you cooking up a storm in no time.

Walls are for Storage, Not Décor

Small kitchens need smart storage ideas for everything you use to prep and serve meals. One of the most efficient uses of space is to turn your walls into storage solutions. For example, pegboards installed on open wall space will function as hanging racks for large utensils, cutting boards, and potholders. In addition, you can install double-duty shelving at the top of the walls for hanging additional items and stashing away rarely used appliances and large platters and bowls.

A Towel Bar Adds Storage Over the Sink

If you have a window over your sink, an easy project to add storage space is to hang a towel bar in front of it. You can buy clips to add to the towel bar for dish towels, hang a small shelving unit, or add hooks to store small utensils.

Cover the Sink for Extra Prep Space

When you’re not using it, there’s no reason to let the sink take up valuable counter space. Instead, buy a cutting board to sit on top of your sink for additional prep or serving area, or have one custom-made to fit the space if you install new countertops. Every extra inch of counter space will make cooking that much easier.

Drawer Organizers are Invaluable

If your small kitchen lacks drawer space (and what tiny kitchen doesn’t?), keeping your drawers organized is the only way to maximize their usefulness. Dividers make it easy to sort your silverware and serving utensils. Don’t overstuff drawers, especially with items you don’t often use – you’ll end up forgetting what you have.

Cabinet Doors are Bonus Storage Space

Use the inside of your cabinet doors to create a storage area. Attach hooks for keys, small shelves for spices and other small bottles, a sturdy envelope for coupons, and a rack for storing aluminum foil, plastic wrap, and similar items inside your cabinet doors. For the cabinet doors under your sink, install towel racks for dishtowels and additional shelves for cleaning products. If you have a pantry, you can do the same thing with its door as well.

Baskets and Clear Containers are a Must

Keep your pantry and cabinets organized with baskets and clear containers. This will help you keep similar items corralled together and will also allow you to keep track of what you have so you can avoid buying duplicates and taking up valuable storage space with things you don’t need. Use labels to identify what is in each bin or basket so you don’t confuse the sugar with the salt.

Use Your Oven for Storage

A helpful tiny kitchen hack is to use your oven to store the cookware you use when you cook in it. Casserole dishes, cookie sheets, Cast iron pans – whatever you use for cooking in your oven should be stored in your oven.

Steal Space from Other Rooms

No rule says kitchen items have to be stored in the kitchen. Instead, take space from other rooms to store items that you don’t use all the time to free up room for things you use on a day-to-day basis.

Some ideas for storage include:

• Keep your wine glasses on a bookshelf in your living room
• Stash extra sets of dishes, like holiday designs, in storage bins under your bed
• Put extra canned goods in your garage

Make as Many Items Double-Duty as Possible

Small kitchens need inventive ways to be as functional and user-friendly as possible. It may be tempting to get every new gadget and tool you find, but it’s better to use things in more than one way. For example, glass mixing bowls can be serving bowls. Or you can buy an all-in-one steamer/air fryer/slow cooker instead of having a different appliance for each process.

Fold Up Your Table

If your eating area is in your kitchen, keep your table and chairs from crowding your space while cooking. You can install a table that attaches to the wall and folds up when not in use, along with folding chairs.

Contact Art of Drawers to Design Your Tiny Dream Kitchen

With customized storage solutions from Art of Drawers, you can make even the tiniest kitchen work. Art of Drawers will create a space so you’ll be able to meal prep, cook meals, and clean up messes with ease. With a customized organization system, your small kitchen will work in a big way for you and your family.

For more information or to schedule a free design consultation, please contact us online or at 770-800-8410.