10 Smart Storage Solutions for Small Kitchens

We update kitchens of all sizes, and here are my best ideas for getting the most out of any space:

Declutter and Reorganize

Do a complete kitchen clean out and pare down to the items you use. Take everything out of the cabinets. If you haven’t used it in a year, you will likely be OK without it. I give this same advice to everyone – don’t spend money to store or organize stuff you don’t value or use. Once you are settled on what you’re keeping, consider how you put things back. Think about how often you use things and how heavy or awkward they are to remove and put away. Ideally, you want your daily use items near the dishwasher and easily accessible.

Stackable Shelves

If you’re trying to keep your updates minimal, try stackable shelves that you can buy at places like The Container Store or on Amazon. These make great use of vertical space by adding a removable shelf on top of another shelf without having to stack things (and no handyperson skills required). 

Stair-Step Organizers for Cans

Another inexpensive and super easy upgrade we recommend is the stair steps used for storing canned goods. Say goodbye to lost cans and hello to more organized food storage. 

Air Fryer Combos

It seems like almost everyone has an air fryer these days. If you are a convert, look at the toaster oven air fryer combo ovens to free up some counter space. 

Reusable Bottle Organizers

We’re all drinking a lot of water, and we see cabinets overflowing with reusable bottles. If yours seem untamable, look for the organizers that hold and stack the bottles on their sides. These corral the bottles and make getting them in and out much easier without a fuss.

Hidden Trash Solutions

If you’re looking for a bigger change, try to find a way to get the trash can off the kitchen floor. This will open the space and reduce visual clutter. There are lots of trash can, recycling, and composting solutions available, even for the smallest kitchens. 

Accessible High Cabinets

Do you have an unreachable or unusable cabinet above your fridge? There are now inserts explicitly designed for those high cabinets. Your stuff gets stored on the insert, and then it can be pulled out of the depths of the cabinet so that it’s easier to reach. 

Roll-Out Trays for Base Cabinets

Adding roll-out trays to your base cabinets is another way to gain more usable space, especially if you only have one of those shelves that are set back in the cabinet. That shelf can be removed and replaced with a roll-out and a second roll-out at the cabinet's bottom. Almost any cabinet can be updated. The roll-out trays will give you access to everything in the cabinet, and you won’t have to guess where you stored something. 

Wider Drawers with Cabinet Refacing

If you’re open to a cabinet refacing, one of the great ways we make more space is by combining two drawers in the same cabinet into one wider drawer – you gain a few inches of storage space by losing the space between the drawers. 

Transform Kitchen Desk Areas

Another refacing update we often make is transforming an old-style kitchen desk area into more storage with new counter height or pantry cabinets. This makes great use of the space you already have, and the new cabinets can be tailored specifically to your missing storage needs. 

At Kitchen Tune-Up, we specialize in helping you make the most of your space with personalized updates. Whether you’re interested in cabinet refacing, custom cabinets, or other services, we’d love to help transform your kitchen into a more functional and beautiful space.

Contact us today for a free design appointment and estimate!