Small kitchen storage hacks
Small kitchen storage hacks that actually work
Small kitchens don’t lack space. They lack organization. A 100-square-foot kitchen can function as well as one twice its size if every surface, wall, and cabinet interior is doing a job.
Here are fifteen storage ideas sorted by where they actually go — not another vague listicle of “use baskets!”
Zone 1: Countertop — clear it or lose it
Counter space in a small kitchen is real estate. Every item sitting on it needs to earn its spot by being used daily. Everything else goes in a cabinet, on a wall, or out of the kitchen.
The counter audit
Keep on the counter: coffee maker, knife block, dish soap, one cooking utensil crock. That’s it.
Move off the counter: toaster (cabinet shelf), stand mixer (lower cabinet), paper towel roll (wall-mounted or under-cabinet), fruit bowl (hanging basket instead).
Hack 1: Under-cabinet appliance shelf. Mount a small shelf under the upper cabinets to hold the toaster and keep the countertop clear. Cost: $15–$30 for a bracket shelf, or free if you repurpose a small cutting board.
Hack 2: Magnetic knife strip. Replace the countertop knife block with a wall-mounted magnetic strip. Frees up roughly 6×4 inches of counter space — which matters when you only have 12 square feet of it. Cost: $10–$20.
Hack 3: Sink cover cutting board. A custom-fit cutting board that covers the sink when it’s not in use adds temporary counter space. Available on Amazon for $20–$40 or cut to size from a thick plastic board.
Zone 2: Cabinet interiors, double the capacity
Standard kitchen cabinets waste about 40% of their interior space because everything sits on a single shelf with air above it.
Hack 4: Shelf risers (stackable). Metal or plastic risers create a second tier inside cabinets. Stack plates on the bottom, bowls on the riser. Cost: $8–$15 for a set of two.
Hack 5: Over-the-door cabinet organizers. The inside of every cabinet door is wasted space. Adhesive-mounted racks hold pot lids, spice jars, cleaning supplies, or cutting boards. Cost: $10–$20.
Hack 6: Lazy Susan in corner cabinets. Corner base cabinets are the worst-designed feature in kitchens. You can’t reach anything in the back. A two-tier Lazy Susan turntable puts everything within arm’s reach. Cost: $15–$35.
Hack 7: Tension rod dividers. Place a spring-loaded tension rod vertically inside a cabinet to create upright dividers for baking sheets, cutting boards, and trays. Cost: $5–$8 per rod.
Zone 3: Walls, the forgotten storage surface
In a small kitchen, walls are storage. Every square inch between the counter and the upper cabinets (the backsplash zone) plus the walls flanking the window can hold something useful.
Hack 8: Pegboard panel. A 2×4 foot pegboard mounted on the wall holds pots, pans, utensils, and small shelves with hooks. It’s fully customizable and rearrangeable. Cost: $20–$40 for the board and hooks. Paint it to match the wall and it looks intentional.
Hack 9: Rail system with S-hooks. A single metal rail (IKEA Fintorp or similar) with S-hooks suspends utensils, mugs, and small pots from the wall or the underside of upper cabinets. Cost: $15–$25.
Hack 10: Floating shelves above the sink. The wall above the sink is almost always empty. One or two narrow floating shelves (5–6 inches deep) can hold daily-use glasses, mugs, or small plants. Cost: $15–$30 per shelf.
Hack 11: Magnetic spice jars on the fridge. Transfer spices from their original containers to small magnetic-back tins. Stick them to the side of the refrigerator. Frees an entire cabinet shelf. Cost: $15–$25 for a set of 12 jars.
Zone 4: Dead space, the hidden potential
Every kitchen has spaces that look useless but aren’t.
Hack 12: Gap shelf beside the fridge. That 3–6 inch gap between the refrigerator and the wall? A narrow rolling shelf on casters fits there and holds spices, canned goods, or baking supplies. Cost: $25–$50 for a premade rolling cart.
Hack 13: Toe kick drawers. The 3.5-inch space beneath base cabinets (the toe kick) can house a pull-out drawer for flat items: baking sheets, cooling racks, placemats. This is a more advanced DIY project but adds a full drawer of storage that literally didn’t exist before. Cost: $30–$80 per drawer.
Hack 14: Top of the fridge bins. The top of the refrigerator collects dust and random objects. Place two labeled bins up there for items you need monthly, not daily: specialty baking tools, extra paper products, seasonal items. Cost: $10–$20 for two bins.
Hack 15: Over-the-sink dish drying rack. Replace the countertop dish rack with a shelf-style drying rack that spans the sink. Dishes drip-dry directly into the sink, and you reclaim 2 square feet of counter. Cost: $20–$40.
Storage hacks ranked by impact in small kitchens
| Rank | Hack | Cost | Space saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Counter audit (remove items) | $0 | 2–4 sq ft counter |
| 2 | Shelf risers in cabinets | $15 | 40% more cabinet space |
| 3 | Magnetic knife strip | $15 | Counter space |
| 4 | Pegboard or rail system | $25 | Full wall utilization |
| 5 | Over-the-sink drying rack | $30 | 2 sq ft counter |
| 6 | Gap shelf beside fridge | $35 | Dead space reclaimed |
| 7 | Lazy Susan in corners | $25 | Corner cabinet access |
| 8 | Magnetic spice jars | $20 | One cabinet shelf |
Video guide
Watch this helpful tutorial for a visual walkthrough:
Video by Tidy Style Home on YouTube.
What to skip
Don’t buy: Drawer organizer inserts until you’ve done the counter audit. Most people organize clutter rather than removing it.
Don’t install: Pot racks hanging from the ceiling in kitchens with under 8-foot ceilings. They’ll make the room feel smaller, you’ll bump your head, and grease accumulates on everything hung above the stove.
Don’t believe: “Over-the-door pantry organizers solve everything.” They work for lightweight items (spices, packets) but sag under cans and bottles. Check the weight rating.
The best small kitchen storage strategy isn’t buying more organizers. It’s removing items you don’t use, moving rarely-used items out of the kitchen entirely, and then organizing what’s left into the dead spaces you didn’t know you had.
Bottom Line
Small kitchen storage is about using vertical space, door backs, and cabinet interiors that most people waste. The inside of cabinet doors, the sides of cabinets, the space above upper cabinets, and the underside of shelves all hold storage potential. Start with the three cheapest fixes, hooks inside cabinet doors, a magnetic knife strip, and a shelf riser, then add more as you identify specific pain points.
Sources
- Real Simple, Small kitchen organization ideas
- Better Homes & Gardens, Small kitchen storage solutions
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I maximize storage in a small kitchen?
Use vertical space: mount shelves above countertops, add hooks inside cabinet doors, and use stackable shelf risers inside cabinets to double usable height. A magnetic knife strip frees up an entire drawer, and over-the-door organizers turn dead space into storage.
What is the best way to organize a small pantry?
Use clear, labeled containers for dry goods, they stack more efficiently than boxes and bags. Group items by category on each shelf. Use turntables (lazy Susans) in corners for spices and condiments. Door-mounted racks hold smaller items like spice packets and foil.
Are open shelves good for small kitchens?
Open shelves make a small kitchen feel larger by eliminating the visual weight of upper cabinet doors. The trade-off is that everything on them must be attractive and organized, open shelves expose clutter. Use them for matching dishes and glasses; keep messy items in closed cabinets.