How to Organize a Small Kitchen (2024)

As a professional organizer, I have some tried and true tricks up my sleeve to help you get your small kitchen organized (even if it seems impossible at the moment). The following small kitchen organization ideas will help make your kitchen look larger, hold the things you need it to, and allow you to enjoy cooking, meal prepping, or, perhaps, eating in it. Even if that means standing over the counter while doing so.

Do a Deep Declutter

Before organizing anything, it’s smart to go through your things and see what you can get rid of to make room. My guess is that you have more reusable water bottles, coffee mugs, or wooden spoons than you need. Individually, they don’t take up much space but when you’re dealing with a small kitchen, every item counts. Make a box of donations every so often and I can guarantee you’ll feel the space open up.

Store Seasonal Items Away

Anytime I’m organizing a tight kitchen, I take note of the items that aren’t used frequently. The Christmas cookie cutters, the turkey roasting pan, and the set of outdoor serveware that only comes out in the summertime don’t need to live in the kitchen year-round. I suggest finding a spot elsewhere in the house to keep them such as the basem*nt, garage, storage space under the stairs, or a hutch in the dining room or nearby hallway. This will further free up space in the kitchen for the daily essentials.

Choose the Right Organizers

Don’t get me wrong, spring-loaded bamboo dividers are one of my all-time favorite organization products. But when your kitchen drawers are extra narrow, they’re going to waste precious space instead of keeping cooking tools tidy. So it’s best to skip them and opt for thin acrylic inserts that you can arrange to fit the dimensions. Rather than using a traditional utensil holder, consider a compact cutlery tray that is a fraction of the width. Or choose a small two-tier lazy susan instead of a larger solo turntable.

Embrace Risers

One organization supply that I swear by to maximize space is any kind of shelf riser. The flat (and sometimes adjustable) type will allow you to comfortably fit more plates, bowls, and glasses in a small cabinet. Tiered can and spice jar risers are a lifesaver if your pantry must also be within the kitchen.

Roll in a Cart

This method is ideal for kitchens with minimal countertops and storage but that have floor space. An island or microwave cart on wheels can add room for you to chop veggies and tuck away your cutting boards and knives. Find one that has the right features for you, whether it be open shelving, drawers, hooks, or a drop-leaf table.

Add Shelving

If your small kitchen has some empty wall space, take advantage of it by installing open shelves for added storage. Alternatively, you can wheel in a tall, narrow cabinet for the same effect. Use it to create a freestanding pantry (with containers to conceal visual clutter) or floating shelves for dishes and drinkware.

Use the Back of Doors

Fortunate to have a separate pantry in the kitchen? Or the room has its own entryway door? Don’t hesitate to use it as storage. Hang a back-of-the-door organizer with baskets on the inside and organize snacks, spices, vitamins, baking goods, and more. An even easier (and cost-effective) method is to attach adhesive hooks inside cabinet doors to hang oven mitts, measuring cups or spoons, or cutting boards. Look for paper towel or trash bag dispensers that can stick to the inside cabinet door under the kitchen sink.

Decant What you Can

While buying in bulk is a money-saving and eco-friendly habit, it’s impractical to store oversized bags of rice or a pack of two dozen pack of individual pretzel bags in a small kitchen, This is where the art of decanting comes in handy. Not only are air-tight storage containers a great way to prevent food waste, they also save a great amount of space. Fill a modular set with dried goods and snacks, stack them on a shelf to keep them compact, and then store the rest of the bulk items elsewhere in the house.

Rethink the Layout

This idea can go two ways. One, if you’re gearing up to do a minor renovation, i.e. the floor plan isn’t changing but you’re updating the existing features, go into it with savvy storage solutions on your wishlist. Include deep pull-out drawers, take cabinets to the ceiling, and tack on shelves in corners or the side of the island. Two, reorganize your existing kitchen to work with your flow. Place pots and pans near the oven, stow colanders by the sink, and organize food storage containers close to the fridge to quickly pack away leftovers.

Keep Counters Clear

Lastly, go the extra mile to keep countertops free of clutter. Any type of disorganization will be much more noticeable in a small kitchen. Keep out only the essential appliances, like the coffee maker, and place the less frequently used ones in high or low cabinets. Add a small, aesthetic tray next to the stove and corral a crock of kitchen tools, a bottle each of oil and vinegar, and the salt and pepper grinders onto it. Take a few minutes at the end of each day to tidy up or remove anything that doesn’t belong on the counters so you can start tomorrow with a clean slate.