Got a tiny kitchen in your rental? No problem, here are 20+ Small Kitchen Storage Ideas that are perfect for rentals or any apartment with a small kitchen!
Have you ever thought about why the kitchen is called the heart of the home?
Well, for starters, the kitchen is the room that sees the most action in the house – yes, more than the bedroom! It’s the place where you satisfy your most basic need – food for sustenance. It is the place that makes or breaks your health, it is where creativity flows and where families get together.
Yes, the kitchen is the most special place in the home, but sometimes we wish our kitchens were a little different than the ones we have. This is especially true if you are a renter, since unlike moving furniture elsewhere in the house, you can’t really make major structural changes in the kitchen.
If you find yourself trapped in a small rental kitchen with very little storage, don’t worry – there are still ways to make the most of the available space! Along with less storage, less working space is also a challenge in smaller kitchens. That’s why we’ve got some tips today that’ll help maximize the storage in your small kitchen so that your counter is free for you to work. And yes, they’re renter-friendly, so your landlord should not have a problem!
20+ Small Kitchen Storage Ideas for Rental Apartments
1. Use shelf risers
This is the easiest, most budget-friendly way to instantly get extra space in your shelves. Most rentals have large shelves that aren’t very practical. You can get shelf risers made of wire or bamboo to double the storage space without worrying about breaking delicate items. If your shelf is really high, get shelf risers with multiple tiers.
2. Get Lazy Susans
Got a shelf that’s so deep you can’t access what’s at the back? Lazy Susans to the rescue! Now I have no idea who Susan is or why she’s so lazy, but this little organizer is a boon for organizing things in small spaces and deep shelves. It ensures access to everything you place on it. You also get double decker turntables for high shelves.
3. Use the space under a shelf
Just like you can make the most of space on the shelf, you can also utilize the space under it. These wire racks fit neatly on a shelf so you get an extra mini-shelf under it, making use of all that emptiness underneath. This is great for smaller things like coffee mugs or extra cleaning cloths.
4. Use skinny containers
When you have limited storage space, you need to be smart about organizing your things. They all need to be visible and accessible, while also making the most of the available shelf space. A trick for utilizing deep shelves is to use narrow containers. This way, the smaller width of the container ensures you can fit more on a shelf.
5. Use a pan organizer
Pots and pans are something you use everyday, which means that they need to be easily accessible. If you care for them well, they’ll last you a long time too, which is why it makes sense to invest in a pan organizer. These are usually adjustable, so you can fit in pots and pans of any size. They work when placed horizontally or vertically, so you can use it any way you like.
6. Get stackable containers
One important tip we’ve often heard to maximize storage space is to use square or rectangular containers rather than round ones, to avoid waste of space. Building on this tip, it also helps to get stackable containers and baskets. Not only do they effectively use space, they’re also more stable and won’t result in things toppling every time you reach out to get something.
7. Utilize the space under the sink
Ah, the ‘under-the-sink’ space, the most neglected! Most of us use this area for cleaning materials or trash bags, just dumping random things into an unorganized space. However, if you plan properly, this can be an extension of your kitchen storage. Adjustable stands like this one or tension rods can help store bulky kitchen items here.
8. Make the most of your drawers
However your small your kitchen is, you’re bound to have a few drawers, so make the most of them! A common mistake we make is getting any random divider and trying to stuff our things into it. Instead, measure out your drawer and plan carefully how you want to arrange your things in it. Draw a rough plan and then look for dividers that fit.
9. Opt for collapsible items
When you’re short on space, collapsible or foldable things are a real life saver. You get many collapsible items these days – baskets, colanders, bowls, dish racks. Some of these are silicon, while some are steel. Many of these also come with hooks that help you hang them somewhere when not in use, making storage a breeze.
10. Mount a dish rack above the sink
Are you struggling with finding space for just-washed dishes, and then for dry dishes? Why bother when you can combine the two? Install a dish rack above your sink, so you can place your washed dishes on them. The water will drip straight into the sink, and you can access them whenever you need. There are dish racks that you can drill, but there are also those that have stands and that hang from rods.
11. Hang your produce
Clunky trolley baskets take up a lot of space, which is a problem with small kitchens. Instead, get vegetable bags made of net or mesh and hang up your produce. Keeping them at eye level not only frees up floor and counter space, but it also ensures that they get used up before they go bad!
12. Get a rolling cart
In a small kitchen, counter space is a premium feature, which means you can use all the extra space you can get. But how do you get this in a rental apartment? Well, that’s where rolling carts come in! Not only do these provide storage below, but you can use the top as an extra surface to chop or prepare food. Wheels means you can move it to any where you want in the kitchen. It can also serve as a permanent spot for your coffee maker, microwave or Kitchen Aid.
13. Bring in a high open shelf rack
These open shelves are perfect for rental apartments, since you don’t have to bother with mounting shelves on a wall and they make use of vertical space. Plus, they’re multipurpose, so you can use it anywhere in your home. One thing to remember with open shelves is that you have to keep them tidy so things aren’t falling off. use large baskets to corral like items and to keep the display looking good.
14. Fill narrow spaces
15. Use command hooks
Command hooks are a renter’s best friend, and the uses are just endless! Command hooks are available in all sizes, to hold different amounts of weight. Use them to their full potential by sticking them everywhere in your kitchen – inside cabinets, inside doors, above or under shelves. Even if you don’t use the hooks, you can use Command strips to stick things like magnetic knife racks on the wall.
16. Get suction hooks
After command hooks, suction hooks are the next best thing, especially if you have a lot of tiled wall in your kitchen. They can hold a reasonable amount of weight, and they are available in many varieties – plain hooks, corner shelves, single shelves or tiered shelves. Perfect for the sink area!
17. Hang a utility rod
Okay, this isn’t exactly a drill-free method, but if your landlord is okay with a couple of holes, this is a great solution to hold a number of kitchen items. You can hang pretty much everything on these rods, from your chakla-belan to utensil holders and pot lids. S hooks as well as hanging accessories are available in various metals, and you can choose any you like.
18. Hang a pegboard
Like rods, peg boards are also a multipurpose kitchen organizer. You may need to drill a couple of holes into the wall, but you’ll then have an organization system that you can customize to your liking. You can also paint the peg board for a fun pop of color in your kitchen. This is great for bulky things like pans, colanders and box graters.
19. Use the insides of cabinet doors
Don’t forget the insides of your cabinet doors – that is prime real estate right there! The insides of cabinet doors are much more accessible than the deep recesses of the cabinets themselves. You can use command hooks to hang pretty much anything on these doors, as long as they’re not too heavy. Perfect for measuring cups and spoons as well as cleaning tools.
20. Make use of your fridge
No, we’re not talking about the inside of the fridge, but the outside! Fridges have magnetic surfaces, making them perfect for magnetic spice racks, magnetic hooks and other similar organizers. There are also organizers that hang from the top of the fridge and don’t need a magnetic surface. These organizers hold a lot, from paper towels to bottles.
21. Use the tops of cabinets
While not the most accessible place, the tops of your cabinets can hold a lot of things. Use occasionally used items like festive crockery, large pots or party supplies. If storing smaller stuff, use baskets to keep the items contained. Having a row of similar looking, labeled baskets will have your small kitchen looking super cute.
22. Don’t forget the sides of cabinets
Still with the cabinets here, but we’re now talking about the sides. This place often gets ignored, but that is a lot of space for you to hang stuff! If you can, drill a rod and hang things with S hooks. Else, go the Command hook route and hang all those kitchen tools that seem to occupy a lot of space in drawers. Anything to keep the counter top free!
23. Use over-the-door hooks
No one would consider the kitchen door a place for storage, but it’s a great spot! If you have an open plan kitchen without a door, this can also apply to the door of your utility area or store room. Over the door organizers like these can make use of all that space on the back of the door to hold large containers of food. You can also hang hooks here for aprons, grocery bags and the like.
24. Borrow space from the next room
If your kitchen is tiny but you have some extra space in the dining room or whatever room is next to it, go ahead and consider it an extension of your kitchen! You can have a rolling cart here or place a rack for the microwave. Having the fridge outside the kitchen is too inconvenient, but you can have a coffee counter setup here.
25. Follow the container method for organizing
The first time I heart about the ‘container method’ was on The Minimal Mom. She says that you use the size of a container to decide how much of a thing you should have. For instance, let’s say you have a basket dedicated for snack packets. According to the rule, you shouldn’t buy more than that basket can hold. If you follow this for every basket or box in the kitchen, you won’t have too many things that you’re struggling to store and organize.
A small kitchen may first seem like a curse, but I personally like small kitchens. I feel they make the work flow faster as everything is within easy reach. It also cuts down on the stuff you own, which automatically translates into less time spent maintaining those things. Not to mention how fast cleaning the kitchen will be!
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5 Comments
That’s lovely. I was actually looking for more space in my kitchen!
I totally love your organization hacks! You make everything look so effortless. Only we know that it actually isn’t 😛
This is amazing~ I am using quite a few of these ideas at home 🙂
I love the tips im using few of the tips already. I like the stackable shelves
Wow i m in love with these hacks… Buying over the sink, utensil dryer asap