What Are the Best Small Kitchen Storage Hacks?
A small kitchen feels like being on a cooking show. You know, the ones where everything spills when you open the wrong cabinet.
I’ve been there. I once dropped a whole stack of bowls while reaching for paprika. Good times 🙂
You want a kitchen that’s cute, organized, and easy to use. No more playing Tetris with your plates after washing dishes! The good news? Small kitchens can actually work better than big ones if you use smart storage hacks.
So grab your coffee or that snack you hid above the fridge. Let’s fix this tiny kitchen chaos together.
1️⃣ Maximize Your Wall Space Like a Pro
If you only store things inside cabinets, you miss a ton of storage gold. Your walls are huge opportunities.
What can go on the wall?
- Magnetic knife bar
- Spice shelves
- Hanging rails with hooks
- Mounted pot racks
These keep your countertops open while making your kitchen look intentional and stylish. Ever wonder why restaurant kitchens use walls for storage? Because it works fast and saves space.
Amazon Pick:
HMSEY Magnetic Knife Strip – Sleek stainless steel that frees a whole drawer.
Need an Inspiration : 7 Small Kitchen Remodeling Ideas That Actually Make a Difference
2️⃣ Use Over-the-Sink Shelving
You know that empty space above your sink? That’s prime real estate.
These shelves hold:
- Soap and cleaning supplies
- Mugs
- Small plants
- Sponges you pretend you replace often (no shade)
They add storage without taking up any countertop space. Magic.
Amazon Pick:
iDesign Over-the-Sink Shelf – Adjustable and sturdy. I love this thing.
3️⃣ Install Under-Shelf Baskets
Ever open a cabinet and see a wide open space under your bowls? Yep, that’s wasted storage. Under-shelf baskets slide in and turn one shelf into two.
Use them for:
- Foil, cling wrap, parchment paper
- Tea bags and coffee pods
- Plates and small bowls
FYI, these help you avoid stacking dishes to dangerous heights. We all know that tower that wobbles.
Amazon Pick:
SimpleHouseware Under Cabinet Basket – Affordable and holds surprisingly a lot.
Read More :
4️⃣ Get Roll-Out Kitchen Drawers
Deep cabinets hide things. A roll-out drawer brings everything right to you. No more crawling in like you’re looking for Narnia.
Perfect for:
- Pans
- Small appliances
- Extra food containers
Why make kitchen life harder than it needs to be?
Amazon Pick:
Seville Classics Roll-Out Sliding Drawer – Smooth glide and a strong build.
5️⃣ Add a Slim Rolling Storage Cart
Got that weird 6-inch space between your fridge and wall? Make it useful!
A slim cart stores:
- Canned goods
- Oils and condiments
- Spices
It slides out like a sneaky little pantry and disappears when you don’t need it. Love that.
Amazon Pick:
SPACEKEEPER Slim Rolling Cart – A fan favorite online.
6️⃣ Go Vertical with Stackable Shelves
Vertical space is your best friend. Stackable shelves let you use every inch of your cabinet height.
Great for:
- Mugs
- Bowls
- Pantry snacks
Ever wonder why tall cabinets have only one shelf? Because manufacturers don’t live in small homes, apparently.
Amazon Pick:
Smart Design Stackable Cabinet Shelf – Helps your kitchen feel twice as big.
7️⃣ Use Clear Bins for Absolutely Everything
Clear bins keep your pantry from turning into a black hole where snacks disappear forever. 🙂
They let you:
- See everything
- Group like items together
- Easily pull out whole categories
Label them for extra boss-level organization.
Amazon Pick:
Utopia Home Clear Pantry Organizer Bins – Sleek, stackable, and sturdy.
8️⃣ Hang Your Mugs to Free Cabinet Space
Why let mugs hog all your cabinet space? They love hanging out anyway.
Hooks or mug racks keep coffee essentials in one spot so mornings actually feel organized. Imagine that!
Amazon Pick:
Mug Tree Rack by Neat-O – Stylish and useful.
9️⃣ Magnetic Spice Containers… on Your Fridge
Your fridge door isn’t just for kids’ drawings and takeout menus. It can hold spices in magnetic jars.
This frees a whole cabinet and puts spices where you can actually find them.
Amazon Pick:
Gneiss Spice Magnetic Jars – Cute and functional.
1️⃣0️⃣ Foldable or Nesting Cookware
Small kitchens hate bulky cookware. Nesting bowls and collapsible colanders save so much space.
Ask yourself: When was the last time your giant salad bowl actually helped you? Exactly.
Amazon Picks:
- Joseph Joseph Nested Bowl & Measuring Set – Space-saving superstar.
- . Longzon Collapsible Colander – The coolest space-saver IMO.
1️⃣1️⃣ Over-the-Door Storage Racks
The inside of cabinet doors secretly want to help. Let them.
Hang racks for:
- Cutting boards
- Pot lids
- Cleaning sprays
- Foil & wrap
Bold move: store ugly items there so guests never see them.
Amazon Pick:
12. DecoBros Over-Cabinet Door Organizer – Compact and smart.
1️⃣2️⃣ Tiered Shelves for Spices and Cans
One-level shelves waste so much storage. Tiered shelves mean you can see everything without playing hide-and-seek.
Perfect for drawers too.
Ever found three chili powders because they hid behind pasta sauce? Yeah. Tiered shelves fix that.
Amazon Pick:
YouCopia SpiceStep Organizer – Makes shopping duplicates a thing of the past.
1️⃣3️⃣ Lazy Susans = Instant Space Booster
Lazy Susans spin like a boss. They use circular space you’d never use well otherwise.
Where to put them?
- Corner cabinets
- Fridge shelves
- Under the sink
Simple tool. Huge upgrade.
Amazon Pick:
Copco Non-Skid Lazy Susan – The turntable your kitchen deserves.
1️⃣4️⃣ Drawer Dividers That Actually Divide
Junk drawers grow when you don’t control them. Drawer dividers fix that mess fast.
Use them for:
- Utensils
- Cooking tools
- Bag clips that seem to multiply overnight
Organization doesn’t have to be complicated.
Amazon Pick:
Bambüsi Bamboo Drawer Dividers – They adjust to fit perfectly.
1️⃣5️⃣ Airtight Food Containers for Pantry Zen
No one loves half-open cereal bags balancing on a can of soup. Airtight containers keep food fresh, easy to see, and easy to stack.
Plus your pantry instantly looks Pinterest-ready.
Amazon Pick:
Chef’s Path Airtight Container Set – Perfect sizes and great labels.
1️⃣6️⃣ Under-Sink Storage Rack
That area under the sink doesn’t only exist for lost sponges and mysterious leaks. Add an adjustable rack to store cleaning supplies neatly.
Ever knock over a cleaning spray then pretend it didn’t happen? Under-sink racks help.
Amazon Pick:
Simple Trending Under-Sink Organizer – Two tiers. Big upgrade.
1️⃣7️⃣ A Pegboard Wall for Tools You Actually Use
Pegboards aren’t just for garages.
This storage wall holds:
- Spatulas
- Oven mitts
- Pots
- Measuring cups
It doubles as décor when you color-coordinate items.
Amazon Pick:
Wall Control Metal Pegboard – Modern and strong enough for pans.
1️⃣8️⃣ Overhead Hanging Pot Rack
If you’re a cookware collector (aka you buy pans for fun like me), hanging them frees cabinets and adds personality.
And yes, it makes you look like a chef. Celebrity-moment unlocked 😎
Amazon Pick:
Cooks Standard Ceiling Mounted Pot Rack – Holds a ton.
1️⃣9️⃣ Corner Shelves That Actually Work
Corners love wasting space, especially in tiny kitchens. Corner shelves solve that.
Use them for:
- Coffee corner setup
- Snacks you grab often
- Cute display dishes
Amazon Pick:
SONGMICS Corner Shelf – Modern design with nice height.
2️⃣0️⃣ Label Everything to Stay Organized
Sounds boring, but labels keep your system working after the first week.
Bonus? You never grab sugar instead of salt again. That’s a win.
Amazon Pick:
Talented Kitchen Pantry Labels – Clean and classy font.
Final Thoughts: Your Small Kitchen Can Be a Superstar
Small kitchens aren’t the problem. The real problem?
Trying to store everything the same way big kitchens do.
When you:
- Use walls
- Roll out hidden spaces
- Go vertical
- Label like a champ
Your tiny kitchen becomes a well-oiled cooking machine.
Try a couple of these small kitchen storage hacks this week and see how quickly everything feels easier. You’ll open those cabinets with confidence instead of fear (been there too many times :/).
One last thought: Organizing isn’t about perfection. It’s about making your kitchen work for you. And IMO, that’s the best hack of all.
