Key Steps:
- Rotating shelves help you maximise space and have easy access to items that would normally get stuck at the back of the cupboard.
- Make it easier to find the utensil you’re looking for by using drawer dividers to arrange utensils in sections.
- Kitchen storage can be about décor as well as practicality, read on for useful storage solutions that look great too!
Wouldn’t it be lovely to have a massive kitchen area where space and storage was never an issue? Of course it would, but unfortunately most of us don’t have this luxury, and we’re left hunting down even the smallest of free spaces to store our plates, cutlery, baking equipment, and food and drinks. However, clever kitchen storage solutions are actually relatively easy to come by, inexpensive to purchase, and simple to install. These storage ideas can really free up space, leaving your worktops and counters clear and decluttering your kitchen. Here are some kitchen storage ideas to get you started:
Make Use of Kitchen Storage Cabinets
Most homeowners have storage cabinets in their kitchen, but many of us don’t use these cabinets to their full potential. Take a look in your kitchen storage cabinets now. Is everything well organised and neatly stacked, or have items been clumsily thrown in and the door hastily shut? Also take a look at the average size and height of the items in the cabinet. Are they big, reaching all the way up to the top of the cupboard, or are they typically very short, leaving big gaps above them?
The first thing you need to do is organise your storage cabinets if you haven’t done so already:
- Stack items in a regulated manner
- Next, if you’re wasting half of the cabinet due to short items, consider some shelving for inside the cabinet, giving you two, three, or even more storage surfaces instead of one.
- Finally, don’t forget the inside of the cabinet door! Adding baskets to the doors can be great for holding small and light objects.
Put Up Some Kitchen Shelving
While wall art may make your kitchen look good, you need to ask yourself whether aesthetics or practicalities are more important in the kitchen. Large wall spaces are ideal for kitchen shelving, and there are many kitchen shelving ideas to choose from that will fit in with your existing decor, such as wooden for farmhouse-style kitchens, steel for industrial kitchens, or painted plastics to meet colour scheme requirements. Ideally, you want to add as many shelves as you can reasonably get away with in your size and style of kitchen. Here are some suggestions of what to store on kitchen shelving:
- Pots and pans with lids can be housed on open shelving, though it’s best to avoid keeping plates and bowls out in the open as they could accumulate everyday dust and dirt.
- Many people like to decant their dry food products and long-lasting items such as oils and vinegars into attractive containers and keep them on display on shelving units as a way of combining organisation and decor into one.
Get Drawer Dividers to Maximise Kitchen Storage
Drawers are an excellent way to declutter a kitchen, and are perfect for holding small items such as utensils and cutlery – but if they’re not used to their full potential, these drawers could just be hiding even more kitchen chaos. Drawer dividers are the solution here, and the best part is, no one will see them so you don’t need to spend a fortune on an expensive one. A simple plastic divider will do the job. Not only does this save room in the drawer by keeping items stored in a regulated fashion, it also means you don’t need to spend time rummaging around for the correct utensil – you should instantly know where to find it. Don’t forget, kitchen organisation is all about having a designated spot for everything.
Turn Pots and Jars Into Kitchen Storage
Decanting items such as dried pasta, rice, grains like couscous and quinoa, vinegars, oils, salts, and flours from their original packaging into stackable containers can not only save on space, it can also make your kitchen look great. Some homeowners choose to buy special plastic containers for this, but you can use whatever you want. In fact, old jam jars, glass bottles, and plastic takeout containers are ideal. Don’t forget that this is also an excellent way to keep foods fresher for longer, so it could even save you money in the long term!
Be Open Minded When Considering Kitchen Storage Ideas!
When looking for kitchen storage solutions for your home, try thinking outside the box a little. There is no one-size-fits-all solution as it will depend upon your kitchen size, shape, and decor, but there are plenty of little devices and tips and tricks you can use to help create more space, declutter the worktops, and organise your cookware. Here are some things worth considering:
- If you’re short on floor space, try installing a pull-out waste bin. It sits under your kitchen counters, allowing you to keep your kitchen clean whilst not compromising on space.
- Lots of wall space but no drawer space? Mount a magnetic strip to your wall for holding knives. Be sure to mount it high up, out of the reach of children.
- For storing wine and other bottles, look for a tall holder that utilises space upwards, rather than one that takes up large amounts of floor or surface space.
- Corner shelves are perfect for holding small items. They take up very little space and are ideal for small but frequently used items, such as spices.
- Get more use out of the space in your corner cupboards by adding rotating shelves. It makes life easier for you by giving easy access to items that would normally become lost at the back of the cabinet.