Tiny Kitchen Storage Solutions to Maximize Your Small Workspace

A cook needs to cook like a painter needs to paint. Cooking is an artistic urge that needs expression. When a creative cook inherits a tiny kitchen, this can seem like the end of the world. Small counters, lack of cabinet and storage space, and combined kitchen-dining areas can be soul crushing to the creative chef, for whom cooking is a passion – not just a means for sustenance.

Even for the average person, a tiny kitchen can be a serious hindrance to preparing meals. If you are among the disadvantaged, please don’t despair, as we’ve got some great storage ideas to maximize your kitchen space and transform your small kitchen into the workroom of your dreams.

Collapsible Kitchen Accessories and Containers

Collapsible kitchen accessories and containers, usually made of silicone or other rubbers, fold flat for easy storage and expand into full-sized, utility items when you need to use them. Collapsible strainers are fantastic kitchen additions, as colanders are known space hogs in your cupboard. This one has slide-out handles for easy handling.

Oval Food Canisters

Oval food canisters take up less lateral space on your counter or in your cupboard, maximizing storage space while keeping dried goods fresh. They have removable silicone gaskets and latched lids for airtight storage. Clear glass makes it easy to view your contents, plus these make colorful counter displays if you lack cupboard space. Add labels for flours and dried goods that you’re likely to confuse (like all those green powdered smoothie additives).

Kitchen Carts

Kitchen carts add extra working space to a small kitchen, while providing additional storage space for utensils, pots and pans. The right butcher block table can eliminate the need for other cutting boards as well. This Catskill butcher block has a backsplash to contain food, a fold-down extension, and durable wheels for mobility. As a bonus, it’s made in the USA.

Over-Door Storage Bins

Over-door storage bins make great use of unused space behind cabinet doors. Simple, lightweight wire and heavier steel ones are available for storing a range of products. This tall over-door organizer fits on standard cabinet doors and accommodates tall items such as plastic wrap.

Over-Door Trash Bins

Over-door trash bins keep trash out of view and yet, accessible when you’re performing kitchen tasks. The over-cabinet door grocery bag holder re-uses ordinary plastic grocery bags for convenient trash disposal – a great way to recycle. Maximizing all the space behind cupboard doors gives you TONS of space you didn’t know you had.

Blendtec and All-In-One Blenders

Using a single appliance for all of your food processing chores can eliminate the need for owning a bunch of different kitchen electrics. The Blendtec can process soups, blend smoothies, puree baby food, whip up ice cream, mix batter and perform a lot of the tasks of many other kitchen appliances. Reducing the number of gadgets you require for food prep will make your small kitchen seem instantly bigger. And, if you have counter space, the Blendtec can sit in the open where you can use it frequently – plus it looks cool in your kitchen.

Ceiling and Wall-Mounted Pot Racks

Stove drawers are never large enough to store all the pans and lids required for the average household cooking needs. And if you’re pressed for cupboard space, pot racks can be a lifesaver. This wall-mounted pot rack has a built-in bookshelf for keeping your cookbooks accessible and includes hooks for pots, pans and even utensils. The ceiling-mounted varieties are the antidote to kitchens with no available wall space.

There are lots of other ways to make your small kitchen more efficient, which we’ll explore in future blog posts. These ideas and products should get you started transforming your space into an organized space you’ll love, however. Of course, you’ll enjoy browsing our Kitchen category for every kind of kitchen organizer, gadget and accessory you need to make your tiny kitchen into the food prep space of your dreams.

Also check out our Cleaning Tips for Single People blog post.
And here’s another small kitchen post with lots of great ideas.

by Laurie H.