If you're looking for kitchen storage ideas that actually make a difference, then, of course, we have you covered. We are big advocates of efficient storage as it is the key to creating a truly functional space that works seamlessly.
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Keeping your kitchen in order our handy (fully achievable and affordable) ideas below will not only save time finding what you need when it's time to cook, but it will also make your kitchen far easier to deep clean too. From kitchen islands to bespoke shelving to nifty utensil containers here are some smart hacks that are sure to meet all your kitchen storage requirements.
And to discover more kitchen ideas and design know-how, take a moment to check out our feature. If you are after kitchen design advice we have an ultimate guide that will talk you through, step by step, everything you need to know.
Freestanding kitchen storage ideas
Freestanding furniture is a popular kitchen storage idea in homes with limited space or wonky walls. The flexibility of an extra workstation can be a huge help if you’re a little short on worktop space too, or could use another place to store heavy cast ironware. Keep reading for all our freestanding kitchen storage ideas...
And if you want any more tips on designing a freestanding kitchen, check out our feature.
1. Use vintage finds as freestanding kitchen storage
When you are looking for kitchen storage ideas, don't forget that many great storage options are not kitchen specific – some solutions look equally at home in a dining area or living space, making them well suited to open plan spaces.
If you're designing a vintage kitchen, or a homely traditional kitchen, it doesn’t get much better than a characterful kitchen sideboard to accommodate stacks of plates, glassware and table linens. Sideboards were popular in Mid-century interiors too and become fashionable again, so you can find some great second-hand versions in charity shops or at auctions.
Check out more vintage furniture ideas with our guide to storage for period homes.
2. Add extra kitchen storage with a kitchen island
What’s not to love about a kitchen island? They look great and can be fab kitchen storage solutions, so if you’ve got the room go for it. You don’t even have to have one build in, there are loads of free standing options out there that can fit seamlessly into your current space. Just go and take a look at our clever kitchen island ideas...
3. Pick out freestanding industrial-style kitchen storage
The industrial-style kitchen is favoured by many homeowners as it can work well in both old and new homes. What's more, it works best when everything doesn't match, meaning you instantly create an eclectic look that can adapt with your kitchen storage needs. Look for repurposed storage from workshops, greengrocers or even factories, or hunt down crates and rack shelving to keep everything tidy.
4. Use a kitchen trolley for (manoeuvrable) storage
Something of a chameleon in the kitchen, kitchen trolleys are as suited to life as a butcher's block as they are as a spot for vegetable (or wine) storage. This Black Metal Kitchen Trolley from Not On The High Street is a great example of a piece that packs a punch in terms of functionality – hello, sturdy table top and storage space – while working as a beautiful piece of furniture in its own right.
Check out more kitchen of the best kitchen trolleys in our buying guide.
5. Invest in a free-standing pantry
If you love the idea of a walk-in-pantry, but just don't have the space, you can still have somewhere to hoard your ever-expanding collection of chutneys and sauces. A free-standing pantry will provide plenty of kitchen storage, plus they look gorgeous. We are obsessed with this pink one from Neptune.
You could of course get the look on a budget by turning an old cupboard into a freestanding pantry. See they do make for very stylish kitchen storage solutions...
Kitchen cabinet storage ideas
When you're designing a kitchen, the configuration of your cabinetry – drawers, cupboards and shelves – should be your number one priority. Once you've got the interiors right, you can really concentrate on its looks. Find kitchen cabinet design ideas in our guide.
6. Choose drawers as well as cupboards
Forget about having to stoop and rummage through a cupboard for that colander/grater/lasagne dish. Pile everything neatly into drawers, instead. This kitchen storage idea is both easier and tidier – especially if your drawers range in size, from slim (for cutlery) to medium (for kitchen linens) and large (for pots and pans).
We love fitting dividers in our kitchen drawers to neatly wrangle pan lids, plastic containers and cake tins. Again, this is where our good friend pegboard comes in handy as you can line the bottom of the drawer with the board, using dowels to separate items.
7. Pick storage with sliding doors to save space in a small kitchen
Looking for a kitchen storage ideas for a small kitchen? A cabinet with sliding doors provides the perfect place to throw general kitchen clutter when you have guests coming over. If you have a very small space, you will also find that a sliding door is easier to negotiate than standard cupboard doors when they are flung wide open.
There's plenty more where that came from over in our small kitchen storage ideas feature.
If you like the idea of sliding doors on your cabinets but you want a mix of open and closed kitchen storage why not copy this kitchen cabinet idea and have sliding doors that can slot individually across the entire run? In this kitchen, designed by Cream & Black, the cabinet doors run along a rail so you can switch up which areas they cover.
8. Think about the more niche kitchen storage ideas
If you’re investing in a whole new kitchen, think about those extra features that will help to keep your worktops clear. Narrow storage for chopping boards or baking trays will keep them out of the way of prep areas, without cluttering cupboards. You might also want to use small nooks for bottle racks or even a bin cupboard.
This kitchen by Olive & Barr includes clever integrated storage for trays – a savvy alternative to keeping them out on your work surface, collecting dust.
Check out how in this Ikea kitchen, their Vadholma units have been used to add specific storage for drinks bottles and cooking books. Useful and looks cool.
Need a bit more space for your ever growing collection? Maybe think about adding a wine room or wine cellar...
9. Add slide in crates for fruit and veg
Even the most luxurious kitchen needs to be functional. Keen cooks will know that a lot of fruit and veg do much better when stored out of the fridge, but how do you store your veggies in a sleek and smart kitchen? Well, Smallbone of Devizes have found a practical and good-looking kitchen storage idea – bespoke crates that slide right into the open cabinet shelves.
If this gorgeous kitchen takes your fancy, you are going to want to go and check out our luxury kitchen design ideas too.
10. Incorporate a smart corner unit for recipe books
Kitchen cabinets tend to come in standard sizes (unless you go bespoke) meaning you might have a little extra room at the end of the run of cupboards. If this is the case, a slim bookshelf is the perfect kitchen storage idea as it will maximise the space and keep your favourite recipes nearby.
When it comes to kitchen storage ideas, book storage should never be overlooked. This Roundhouse kitchen does just this, creating a neat shelving unit perfect for showing off those cookery books.
11. Build in storage to house smaller items
Even large and luxurious kitchens can suffer from clutter, and it's small items such as keys, notes, and magazines are usually responsible for the untidiness. Keep your kitchen serene and clutter-free with a clever storage solution, such as this brilliant built-in key and magazine rack by Guild Anderson.
12. Add interest with glass door cabinets
It’s all well and good hiding away your unsightly clutter, but a kitchen made up of just solid walls of cabinetry risks becoming a bit bland. Incorporate some glass fronted cabinets too, to break up the rest of the cabinetry and pick out your nicest bits of crockery or glasses to display – it's an easy way to add load of interest and personality to the space.
Built-in kitchen storage ideas
Why build in? Doing so won't just create a more streamlined, hygienic kitchen, it'll help you make the most of every inch of space, too – which means it's the perfect option for if you are designing a small kitchen in particular.
13. Design a streamlined kitchen
Concealed kitchens are a big interior trend for 2020. With living spaces getting smaller and storage getting smarter, clean, minimalist kitchens are getting increasingly popular. Items that once cluttered worktops – kettles, plug sockets, knife blocks, even taps and sinks – can now disappear into flush cabinets and uninterrupted surfaces to make the most of all space available. Nifty no? Perfect for open plan kitchen diners or for small kitchen design, they are great for creating a streamlined look in a contemporary kitchen, too.
14. Got the space? Add a larder or pantry
Pantry storage can be a thing of beauty that helps you organise your space to make it feel bigger and neater. If you have got the room, factor in a separate area in your new kitchen's design for a larder – and you can check out our pantry and larder storage ideas to keep it all super-organised.
No room for a dedicated walk-in pantry? No problem, there are loads of freestanding pantries that you can incorporate into your kitchen design.
15. Zone your workspaces and kitchen storage
We all tend to keep our cleaning products (see our must-have list) under the sink, and maybe have a rack of condiments and oils right next to the oven, but have you zoned your storage to match your workspaces? Where practical, it can be a great idea to try and give each area of worktop a dedicated role. Maybe you have a favourite place for food prep near the sink, but you like to bake with a view into the garden? Either way, keep the utensils and ingredients you need in cupboards close-to-hand.
If you are entertain in your kitchen, think about this too. Make sure drawers of spare crockery are close to hand, or glasses are always within easy reach.
16. Make space for a utility room
Not a kitchen storage idea per se, but if you are in the stages of planning a kitchen extension, you will kick yourself for not including a dedicated space for doing the laundry. A utility room will not only keep white goods and noisy appliances out of the kitchen, but also provides space to hide away all of your cleaning products.
It doesn't need to be huge – enough space for the washing machine and a few shelves will be practical and help declutter your main kitchen. Check our guide to planning and designing a utility room for more tips.
Kitchen wall storage ideas
Utilising your walls to add kitchen storage is a great idea if you are working with a small space. Even if you have been blessed with a large kitchen, having stuff on the walls (open shelving, spice racks, etc.) adds interest to your kitchen while still adding plenty of extra storage.
17. Choose modular shelving systems for an adaptable kitchen storage idea
For minimalist interiors, modular shelving is a nice fit. Customisable and flexible, these storage systems can be dressed up or down to suit any kitchen style. What's more, the shelves can be moved around to adapt with your storage needs.
Scandi brand String provide different storage options; the system pictured includes accessible shelves for pots and pans, as well as multiple rails and canisters for stashing utensils. You can also find similar modular shelf systems at Ikea and look out for Elfa shelving.
18. Display kitchenware on open shelves
If modular shelving is too open for your kitchen storage needs, you can still put your favourite possessions on show by including open shelves or glass doored cabinets. Including cube open shelving units is a nice way of breaking up walls of cupboards, while providing enough room to offload those cookery books, spare vases and random ornaments.
19. Add shelves above and around your kitchen windows
While a window may mean a break in cabinetry, you can still use the space around the window for shelving. A slim shelf above the window is a great storage option for small items. Or, if your kitchen happens to feature a generous windowsill, use that for storage too. Colourful utensil containers, potted herbs and dishwashing accessories can all live here.
20. Hang utensils to save drawer and cupboard space
Suspending a rail above your worktop is a fast, easy and cost effective kitchen storage idea. This is the perfect way to hang those awkward pots, pans, measuring cups and sieves that often clutter up your cupboards.
The slated shelves in this kitchen have butchers hooks hanging from them, doubling up the storage. It frees up the kitchen drawers and makes a feature of practical items.
21. Choose a pegboard to keep essentials handy
A simple piece of pegboard solves many a kitchen storage problem, saving you valuable time in the morning. Use it to store your keys, baking utensils or those elusive kitchen scissors. What's more, it can be adapted with your changing storage needs as you can not only use it for hooks, but also to create shelves.
Pegboard organisers can be bought from a number of retailers, but you can also buy pegboard and dowels from your local DIY store to make your own.
22. Add racks and rails to up your kitchen storage on a budget
Creating a stylish kitchen on a budget? Smaller kitchens need plenty of clever but affordable storage that won't waste valuable floor space. So, look to the walls and see where it might be possible to squeeze in a rail or perhaps a high up rack that you can hang utensils from.
Ikea are, as always, full of smart and thrifty kitchen storage ideas and produce a number of stainless steel and powder-coated rails than can be simply fixed to walls. You can then add hooks or even small buckets to hold all manner of items. For example, rather than taking up valuable worktop, why not hang a washing up caddy above the sink?
23. Customise your wall shelves to suit your needs
Know exactly where everything is and keep everything at hand with some customised wall shelves. The owner of this gorgeous kitchen (check out the full tour of this retro kitchen for loads more inspo), built their shelving based on what it was to hold. Knives? Spoons? Tortoise ornaments? You could actually DIY a couple of these really easily, just drill some holes that are wide enough for spoon handles into some floating shelves, and you are sorted.
Kitchen storage accessories
Kitchen storage accessories are important for keeping the small stuff neat. They're a must-have in all kitchens for practical reasons but they need to be good-looking as well as functional if they are to be on display. Here are a few of our favourite small kitchen storage ideas – but check out our Mason jar storage and display ideas, too.
24. Hide the small stuff in jars and tins
For open shelving, invest in attractive canisters for utensils, and jars for pulses, grains, teas and ground coffee. Not only will this eradicate unsightly packaging, but helps keep ingredients fresh. Choose glass for the likes of pasta, rice and cereals so you can see when you need to restock. Storage canisters are also another way to add pattern and interest to a neutral kitchen scheme.
Check out these nifty storage jar ideas for more inspiration on how you can use the humble glass jar as decorative storage for your kitchen shelves.
25. Double your kitchen cupboards' capacity
If the shelves in your kitchen cupboards have large gaps between them, use Ikea shelf inserts to create extra levels and practically double the space you have. A clip on basket can also maximise space, similar ones are available from John Lewis.
26. Organise your tins and jar into drawers
Kitchen cupboards can be the place where tins and jars go to die. Bite the bullet and have a sort out of all of all your cans, spreads, tins and condiments. Anything with a label that resembles 'Sarah’s Christmas Chutney 2009', get rid. Store what’s left of your cull in drawer organisers or a tin dispenser so you can always see clearly what you've got to work with.
27. Add kitchen storage to the back of your door
We’ve said it before and we will say it again, don’t forget to put the back of your kitchen door to good use. This space is easy access, so store things like smaller snacks or frequently used spices – you can just grab them and go without have to wrestle with a mountain of tins.
Door storage unit from Elfa.