So, you're working with a small kitchen? We've all been there. Whether it's a tiny rental you're living in or a house with basically no room for anything, there are some things you can do to maximize your storage space — fast.
I've been browsing online for small kitchen organizers to use in my space. While my kitchen isn't the smallest ever, I will admit that there's a serious lack of storage space in my cabinets and on my countertops. I've had to be smart with what's available, and bringing in an organizer (or four) helped. By doing this, you'll have a dedicated space for your cans, your sauces, and even for those pesky pan lids, so not only will your kitchen be more organized but you'll be able to cram way more food (and pretty cookware) into this space.
See below for nine great kitchen organizers that you need to use in your kitchen, small or large. We've also got plenty of small kitchen storage ideas if you're not in the market to buy anything new and plenty of cute home organization products to use in your other rooms.
9 small kitchen organizers that you should add to your cart
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For organizing your cutlery
Personally, I couldn't live without having this in my kitchen. Before, my drawer wasn't just untidy, it was overflowing with so many gadgets — the majority of which I actually needed but just didn't have the space to store. Not anymore, though. This divider stores my forks, knives, tablespoons, and teaspoons stacked on top of one another rather than sitting side by side. I now have so much space left in this drawer for things I don't want on my countertop. Plus my drawer no longer looks like a total mess.
If you really want a pantry
Fake it 'til you make it with this pantry-esque organizer that slides over your door — no drill necessary. This way, you can store your cans and more all within reach, and you'll make use of the empty space behind the door. It might not be the same as a walk-in pantry, but it'll do for $32.99.
For maximizing shelf space
If you have built-in shelves in your kitchen cabinets, then you need to buy a couple of these. They make the most of that annoying empty space and you can hold pretty much anything in the baskets. From extra mugs as shown above to your favorite sauces, choose from three different sizes and two colors and slide these onto your shelves for handy storage.
Cabinet door storage
In order to use every inch of space in your kitchen, you'll need to put your cabinet doors to good use. This stylish organizer can help you do so in seconds. Hang it over your cabinet door and use it to hold cleaning supplies or extra bottles of soda. The best part? On the other side is a rail for your kitchen towel. Win-win. It also makes a great under-sink organizer.
Shelves for your shelves
Stay with us: These are shelves you put on your kitchen shelves to maximize their storage potential. You can use them on open shelving or inside cabinets. Either way, they'll help you fit way more in your kitchen. They're made of steel, and therefore can hold plates and other heavy kitchen buys. Lots of people use them for holding twice the number of cans, too.
For keeping your container lids in check
We're all guilty of throwing our meal prep containers into the back of our cabinets and closing the door. Then when it comes to using them, we spend too long trying to find a lid and container that match. Well, not anymore! This clever organizer doesn't take up much space, but it'll keep your lids together and tidy. It has separate spots for different size lids, plus it's extendable, so it should definitely fit in your cabinet or drawer. A little more niche but definitely necessary.
For your spices and seasonings
We're all guilty of owning more spices than we actually need, which means they're just taking up precious storage space. Thanks to this shelf, you can store more spices using less space. You'll be able to see them all so you won't have to take every jar out when you're searching for a niche seasoning. This three-tier shelf expands to fit the width of your cabinet, too. You can also use it for sauces and can fill the empty space above with an undershelf basket.
A way to store your pots and pans
Yes, we've found a way to store your pots and pans without stacking them on top of one another and scratching them. This expandable rack sits in a drawer and puts your pans within reach. It also holds lids, and you can use it for baking trays, too. You can remove sections to fit the size of your cookware, and this way you'll never have to empty a whole drawer to find what you need.
Extra countertop storage
If countertop storage is what your kitchen is lacking then you need this eco-friendly Amazon buy. It adds three tiers to your countertop and it has hooks for kitchen towels, too. Place it in the corner of your kitchen to maximize space and showcase your favorite mugs. Place a plant on that top shelf to add more life to this space.
How we chose these small kitchen organizers
Hi! I'm Annie and I carefully handpicked these organizers, based on customer reviews, price, and most importantly, how handy they really are. I have a medium-sized kitchen in my apartment, although the storage space (cabinets and countertops) I have to work with is minimal. This means I have no choice but to be creative when it comes to storing my cans, stacking my spices, and keeping my cutlery in order. All of the organizers I featured above I would definitely buy for my own space, and some of them I actually already own.
Happy organizing!
What are the must-have kitchen organizers for a small space?
If I had to choose three types of kitchen organizers, then it would definitely be a cutlery drawer organizer, under-shelf baskets, and something to hold your pots, pans, and lids.
What is the best way to organize a small kitchen?
We've got an abundance of kitchen storage ideas for you to scroll through and save for later, but in short, there are a couple of things you'll want to do now if you're looking to reorganize your kitchen cabinets and countertops:
1. Get everything out of your cabinets and put it on your countertops or on the floor. Clean out your cupboards.
2. Sort through what you have and put them into piles based on things that are similar. Put anything you consider an "extra" into a separate pile. For example, excess cutlery, pans, mugs, and plates.
3. Think smart when choosing where things will live. For instance, make sure your mugs are kept in a cabinet below or above your coffee maker. Put things that you use less (think certain types of glassware or serving plates) higher up.
4. Put anything you don't want on your countertops or open shelving into a cabinet. Stack anything that you can.
5. Place things you don't mind showing on your countertops. Make use of a storage container for a more seamless look.
6. Identify any empty spaces outside of cabinets that you can use, and look for an organizer that will fit this space.
7. Donate any unopened cans to your local food bank and take kitchenware you've not used in a while to your local thrift store.
How should I arrange my appliances in my small kitchen?
You're going to have to be space-savvy with appliances, which means that anything you don't use often will need to be stored away. Keep anything you use daily on your countertop and make use of corners where an appliance is square in shape. It's easy to make your countertops look cluttered with appliances, so you might want to give any that you rarely use to friends or family members. Or better yet: invest in multi-purpose appliances.
To hide wires, which can take up a deceptive amount of room on a countertop, buy a cord organizer (like these ones from Amazon (opens in new tab)) and stick them to the back of your appliance.
Where outlets are a problem, get yourself an extender that's not an eyesore (like this one from Amazon (opens in new tab)) as this means you can nestle your appliances together.
I've also listed some of my favorite Amazon organizers for your home, whether you're a Prime member or not.
