Make The Most Of Your Space In A Small Kitchen

If you follow me on Instagram and watch my stories, then you know that I love to cook. I love kitchen gadgets even more and have all types of thingamajigs to help me whip up a meal. There’s always a new appliance that I’m looking to add to my collection. But I have a small kitchen and storage space is at a minimum. One day I’m going to have me a big ol’ kitchen with an island and plenty of room to get my cook on. I’m speaking it into existence. In the meantime though, I’ve learned how to make the most of my space in my small kitchen and keep things super organized. I’m going to share my tips with you guys to help you get your kitchen in order right in time for the holiday cooking. It makes things so much easier when everything is at arms reach and not tucked away. Continue reading to see how I organize my small kitchen and get tips on how to organize yours.

SIMILAR BAKERS RACK 

Steel shelving is your best friend. Especially if you’re like me and short on cabinet space. It’s the easiest way to get a shelving unit without drilling into the wall. I want my security deposit back so I ain’t fittin’ to do all that. It is also strong enough to hold everything you’ll be piling on it without caving. So I created an open shelving system in my kitchen with a steel bakers rack, 5 tier rack and microwave cart. All of the pieces fit nicely together as if it were a set. Not only does steel shelving provide extra storage, it also provides additional counter space. Which as you may have guessed I’m short on as well. I use the extra counter space on my bakers rack to store my coffee pot, blender and stand mixer.

HOOKS | 16 OZ MASON JARS | MINI CROCK POT

Handy hooks makes it easy to grab a mug or baking utensils, and coffee and tea is just a reach up. Along with olive oil, cooking wine, cookbooks and a few other kitchen gadgets like my mini crock pot that I use to make my overnight steel cut oats.

COFFEE MAKER | BLENDER | STAND MIXER | CROCK POT

I have all of the appliances I need to make everything from coffee to cake right next to each other. On the next shelf I have colanders and mixing bowls, a crock pot and a George Foreman grill. I don’t use that grill anymore at all since I invested in a grill pan. So it’s looking for a new home.

The bottom shelf is home to a salad spinner, bamboo steamer and baskets to hold my onions, garlic and potatoes.

5 TIER STEEL RACK

Next to the bakers rack I have a 5 tier steel wire rack. This is the workhorse of my small kitchen. The top shelf holds my dutch oven and stock pot along with serving items.

I have dishes stored on the next rack so I can just grab them and keep it moving while fixing plates. Below the dishes is my toaster oven and bread box.

LARGE HOOKS | LARGE SKILLET | SMALL SKILLET

Hooks is your next bestie after steel shelving. They can be used to hang so much stuff that may not otherwise have a home. I use them to hang my cast iron skillets, grill pan and other kitchen necessities from the side of the rack. Like oven mitts, cutting boards, my rolling pin and a fry screen.

The next two shelves holds the rest of my pots and pans. There’s also a huge crock pot collecting dust on the bottom shelf. Since I no longer eat meat this size is just way too large for me. So I’m looking to find her a new home as well. I may replace her with an instant pot or pressure cooker though.

SIMILAR MICROWAVE CART | RECYCLE BIN | TRASH CAN

The final piece to my open shelving system is a microwave cart which stores my microwave. Duh lol. But the pull out drawer stores my barely used appliances along with a fire suppressant canister in case of emergency. I use the bottom shelf to store paper towels, a recycle bin and my breakfast in bed tray. I have an ironing board and stick vacuum stored in the corner between the microwave cart and fridge. The top of the microwave gets used as storage as well and I keep my knife block, paper towels and kitchen phone up there.

Speaking of the corner, that side of the microwave cart has a storage basket. I use it to store food storage tools and my cookie sheets. My cooling racks are hanging on the other side of the basket from tiny built in hooks.

When you’re short on storage space you’ll create storage any and everywhere. I use the tops of all of my cabinets to store items that I don’t need everyday like roaster pans and cake tins. I also use the top of the fridge to store my electric griddle (in the back) and snacks. The cabinet itself holds vases, paper plates and such.

My oven is even used as storage when not in use. I keep my pizza stone and a large baking pan in there which is screaming for me to throw it out. It’s too perfect for roasting veggies though for me to part ways just yet.

The other wall in the kitchen is where my stove, counter and sink is. I have a pass-through window from my kitchen to my dining area. I store glasses, more mugs and my mason jar collection in the cabinet above the stove.

My kettle lives on the stove. There is absolutely no reason to put it elsewhere. I keep a bin of cooking utensils right next to the stove with a wire basket full of fruits and veggies next to it.

Having this big bowl of fruit on the counter helps us to choose healthier snacks since it’s one of the first things we see when entering the kitchen. When I need to free up the counter I move it to the dining area table.

DISH RACK

To maximize my counter space I use an over the sink dish rack instead of one that sits on the counter. I can’t believe that I waited so long to do this since my old dish rack took up half of the counter space. The over the sink dish rack holds less dishes. But this is not a bad thing as it encourages washing right away.

KITCHENAID SPIRALIZER | WAFFLE MAKER

The under counter cabinet is used to store mostly pyrex and other glass dishes. Along with my waffle maker and spiralizer attachment for my stand mixer. I’ve learned that immediately recycling takeout containers and not saving them keeps the space uncluttered . I also don’t buy plastic storage containers as they’re not the healthiest option. I just keep a few containers in case I’m sending food out on a whim as I don’t loan out my glass containers.

32 OZ JARS | 24 OZ JARS

Speaking of glass containers, I use mason jars to make the most of my space in my one food storage cabinet. I store all of my grains and dry beans in the jars and I have a nice selection. This display is three rows deep. I do my best not to keep plastic bags and boxes in my pantry cabinet for this reason. Besides, the glass is so pretty to look at and makes it easy for me to find what I’m looking for. The lids are also labeled with a sharpie.

GLASS JARS

I use large glass jars to store flours and sugars. Storing things like grains and flours in glass keep the cabinet uncluttered since there’s not bags all over the place. It also keeps food air tight and keeps any creepy crawlies out.

SPICE RACK

I keep the majority of my spices on the wall right next to the cabinet. Those that don’t fit like my beloved Slap Ya Mama is stored in the cabinet. This freed up some much needed real estate. Best of all I can find the spice I need immediately without rummaging through the cabinet.

UNDER SINK ORGANIZER

Last but not least. I use an under sink organizer with pull out drawers to keep cleaning supplies organized. Laundry supplies is stored in the other side of this cabinet. That’s it. I hope that you’ve gained some insight on how to organize your small kitchen after reading this lengthy post. If not, I hope you at least enjoyed the tour of my kitchen lol. You can take a tour of my living room here next!

Do you have any tips for organizing a small kitchen? Leave them in the comments!