Simple Shelf Solutions to Fit Your Petite Kitchen

Having a small kitchen can make storage feel like an impossible puzzle to solve. With some creative solutions, however, you can maximize every inch of space to fit all your essentials. From open shelving to pullout drawers, read on for smart storage ideas to make your tiny kitchen work.

First, assess where you need more room. Take an inventory of pans, appliances, pantry items, and more to identify your most-needed storage spots. Measure cabinets and countertops to find any wasted areas. This will help guide your storage project for the best use of funds and effort.

Shelving Ideas for Maximizing Vertical Storage

Going vertical is key in a petite kitchen. Floor space comes at a premium, so utilize walls, corners, and cabinet doors to stash necessities. Wall shelving ranks among the easiest DIY upgrades for any small kitchen. Before mounting shelves, consider the style of your existing decor. Floating wood boards make a natural match in cottage kitchens while steel ledges and glass inserts suit modern spaces.

Mounted Wall Shelves

Wall-mounted shelves add storage without the bulk of traditional cabinets. Opt for open designs to display pretty dishware, everyday mugs, and frequently used cookbooks. For a uniform look, choose complementary brackets and shelves in the same finish and style. Consider these tips:

• Mount shelves high enough to allow countertop work below.
• Use shelves sized for their contents, such as narrow spice racks.
• Incorporate rails or ledges to keep items from sliding.
• Make sure mounts can support the shelf's planned weight.

When planning your layout, account for lighting. Windows and existing fixtures often dictate ideal placement for task lighting under cabinets. Factor in potential electrical needs before finalizing designs.

Hanging Pot Racks

Gain space by stashing bulky pots and pans overhead. Hanging racks mount to the ceiling or walls above islands, peninsulas, or ranges. Opt for materials like stainless steel or wrought iron with cadelabra-style branches to hold various sizes.

Focus first on your most-used pieces like stockpots, skillets, and saute pans. Sort by size, keeping larger items towards the edges for stability. Consider installing S-hooks or locking wall mounts instead of pot racks above busy cooking zones. These anchor pieces individually with less overhead clutter.

Spice Storage Racks

Vertical in-cabinet organizers provide a place for everything, even small spice jars. Consider slide-out designs on shelves or full-height pull-out units. For door storage, hanging racks keep spices visible and accessible.

When deciding on rack size and layout, note how you cook. Keep frequent ingredients for staple dishes upfront. Consider alphabetical sorting to easily locate spices. Or, mimic grocery store displays with savory spices, like garlic and oregano, grouped separately from sweet flavors including cinnamon and nutmeg.

Optimize Corner Cabinet Space

Take advantage of oft-neglected corner cabinets with these clever storage solutions:

Lazy Susans

Spinning lazy Susan turntables easily bring items in deep corner cabinets within reach. Choose a model sized for the space that can handle everything from canned goods to cleaning supplies. Options with tiered layers double the storage.

Pay attention to weight limits when stocking corner carousels. Center heavier jars and bottles on lower shelves to prevent tipping. For upper tiers, add protective lips to contain lightweight spices, bags, or boxes.

Vertical Dividers

Vertical dividers transform wasted vertical space into neatly organized storage. Slide narrow shelves, racks, and bins into corner spots to hold baking pans, cutting boards, and other slim items.

When measuring corner spaces for dividers, note irregular angles that taper inwards. Custom sizes may better suit the unique shape. Consider rounded organizer bins over rigid shelves if budgets allow. These nest neatly into diagonal openings.

Drawer Storage Inserts

Customize cluttered cabinets with handy pull-out organizers. Designs like slanted bins for foil, parchment, and bags maximize unused gaps while keeping essentials accessible.

Consider your kitchen habits to optimize inserts. Baker's drawers with wide shallow bins suit frequent treat making. Deep divided cutlery organizers work for homes that cook most meals. Take measurements before ordering any custom cabinet inserts to guarantee accurate fits.

Take Advantage of Door Storage

Interior cabinet doors become prime real estate with these crafty ideas:

Pantry Door Storage

Preserve floor space by moving into door areas. Mount pegboard panels, hanging baskets, and custom racks to neatly arrange kitchen tools and bulk dry goods inside pantry doorways.

When planning door-mounted storage, note weight limits for mounting hardware. Overloading materials risk dangerous breakages. Stagger larger, heavier items along lower sections. Use upper areas for lightweight bottles, jars and boxes.

Cupboard Door Racks

Hang slim storage racks, baskets, and customizable inserts on the inside of cupboard doors to utilize otherwise ignored space.

Focus first on corner doors and narrow openings which typically waste the most potential storage. Make sure shelves and hardware don't obstruct door operation or bump surrounding cabinets.

Multi-Functional Cart and Island Ideas

Mobile and multi-functional islands and carts let you recreate cabinet space anywhere. Capitalize on their mobility and versatility with these suggestions:

Kitchen Carts for Extra Prep Space

A kitchen cart on caster wheels rolls wherever you need additional counter area or storage. Models with drawer sets below and cabinets up top maximize functionality while retaining mobility.

When choosing a cart, note dimensions of doorways and aisles to ensure easy maneuvering. Allow ample clearance around workspaces to fully open drawers and doors without obstruction.

Movable Utility Carts

Sturdy utility carts stow food storage containers, appliances, or barware and roll out for each use. Some collaspable designs allow custom sizes and fold away for compact storage.

Consider your floorplan when deciding on utility cart size. Smaller wheeled carts fit tight spaces yet limit storage. Measure their projected homes before purchasing to visualize proportions.

Microwave stands on casters offer an adjustable-height prep surface plus storage for the microwave itself. Free up counter space while keeping the appliance convenient for reheating.

Look for carts sized similarly or sightly larger than your microwave. Allow a few inches of clearance around the housing to prevent overheating. Sturdy locking wheels keep appliances safely in place during use.

While going bigger may seem ideal for kitchen storage woes, strategic organization shows you can indeed fit everything into even the tiniest spaces. Get creative with vertical shelving, cabinet customizations, and movable storage to conquer your small kitchen.