No Cabinets, No Problem: Clever Small Kitchen Storage Ideas

So often the heart of the home, the kitchen is an area where smart storage solutions are super important in creating a functional and stylish space.

With everything from food, to crockery to the latest kitchen gadgets to store, it’s common to find it difficult to find room for everything.

If you’re stuck trying to organise your small kitchen on a budget, fear not!

Below we share 13 of our favourite smart and simple storage solutions for small kitchens for when you’re short on ideas and cabinet space.

1. Install a hanging rail

We’re sure you’ll agree that large utensils such as ladles and spatulas can be tricky to find a home for in any kitchen, let alone one where drawer space is limited.

Installing a hanging rail to your kitchen wall instantly creates a space to store these bulky items that would otherwise take up valuable drawer space. Choose a rail that fits with your kitchen aesthetic and enjoy freeing up your kitchen drawers of any larger utensils.

Bought a new utensil? All you need to do is add an extra hook!

2. Utilise vertical space

If your kitchen is short on cupboard space, making the most of vertical space is a stylish solution for making a small kitchen work for you.

You can easily gain some extra storage and display space by installing shelves onto any blank walls in your kitchen.

Use shelves to organise everything from your decanted foods, crockery and recipe books, making sure to keep the most frequently used items on lower shelves for ease of access when cooking!

This small kitchen storage idea is one of our favourites as it doesn’t only maximise storage space, but it looks stunning too!

3. Contain frequently used ingredients on the countertop

For ingredients you use frequently during cooking sessions such as olive oils, vinegar and seasonings, why not give them a home where they will be easily accessible whilst you’re cooking up a storm.

Use a tray or a basket to contain these items neatly and there’ll be no rummaging through the cupboards next time you’re cooking as they’ll be right on hand!

4. Add freestanding furniture

Investing in some freestanding furniture solutions for your kitchen is a fantastic hack to increase storage capacity whilst adding character in your chosen aesthetic style to your kitchen.

Some of our favourite freestanding storage options for a kitchen include a movable island, a wine rack, shelving for recipe books or a drinks cabinet on wheels!

5. Decant spices to save space

A big obstacle when it comes to organising spices in a pantry or kitchen cupboards is excess or nonuniform packaging.

Spices brought from different shops and brands can come in varying sizes of packaging that can be difficult to consolidate into a space neatly creating a cluttered and uninspiring aesthetic.

Not only do decanted spices look gorgeous, they can save valuable space in a small kitchen too!

6. Add hooks

Adding hooks is a fantastic idea to create additional storage space in a kitchen space where it is limited.

Sticking hooks to the backs of cabinet doors can double up on storage and are perfect for hanging items such as baby bibs, tea towels or utensils.

7. Utilise under counter shelving

Under counter shelving can be easily forgotten but it’s valuable space, especially in a small kitchen, that needs to be made the most of!

This space is perfect for storing larger items such as pots and pans and kitchen appliances that would otherwise take up a great deal of valuable space in smaller kitchen cabinets or clutter up countertops.

8. Contain items in bins

Bins are an excellent way to ensure you’re using all of your kitchen storage space efficiently and are ideal for curbing the clutter.

If your kitchen is on the smaller side or you are short on cupboard or drawer space, why not use bins on open shelves to store anything from condiments to kitchen textiles such as aprons or napkins.

Clear bins are excellent inside cupboards, allowing you to easily see what is inside.

However, if your bins are going to be on display on open shelving or surfaces, be sure to select ones that fit with your kitchen’s aesthetic to provide decoration as well as a functional storage space.

Take a look at our organisation shop to discover our favourite bins and baskets!

9. Don’t be afraid to stack

A common problem we see in kitchen pantries is that the height of the shelving is not being fully utilised.

Why not make the most of shelf space by stacking bins on top of one another. Use the lower bins for backstock items and the the bins on top for items in current use that need to be accessed more easily.

Just make sure you use bins or boxes that are designed to be stacked and always add a label so you know exactly what is stored in each bin.

10. Turn a cupboard into a walk-in pantry!

If you happen to have a cupboard going free in your kitchen, why not turn it into a walk-in pantry, freeing up other cupboard space for crockery, appliances and utensils.

We turned the below cupboard into a stunning walk-in pantry using Elfa shelving units and beautiful matching bins.

11. Add labels

To ensure it is as easy as possible to find what you’re looking for in your kitchen cupboards you should add labels to everything!

This is especially important in a kitchen with limited storage space where items may be stacked or hidden behind one another.

Choose labels that compliment the aesthetic of your kitchen and ideally get ones that you can reuse or easily replace. A label maker is a great investment if you're looking for a sleek finish in your kitchen.

12. Divide up drawers

Kitchen drawers come in a variety of widths and depths and can quickly become disorganised and messy if items are left to scatter freely during opening and closing.

A really quick and simple way maximise storage space and maintain organisation inside of your kitchen drawers is by adding extendable drawer dividers.

They are super versatile, allowing you to create custom sized sections within a drawer as well as being able to be moved if and when you change your organisation.

Well placed drawer dividers will hold items such as tins and jars in place and mark out clear sections within your drawer so you always know exactly where to look for an item.

13. Get pots and pans in order

Pots and pans can be tricky to store, especially when space is limited. It's important to make sure all pans and pan lids are matched up so that you’re not using valuable storage space for a lid with no corresponding pan.

Once all pots and pans are matched up, utilising a pan lid holder can help keep everything in order!

How will you level up your small kitchen storage space?

Happy organising!

We hope that you’ve found these kitchen storage solutions and ideas inspiring and useful! Let us know the results once you’ve tested our ideas to organise your small kitchen.

If you feel you need some support in getting your kitchen organised, don’t hesitate to get in touch, Homefulness is here to help!