Small Kitchen Organisation: How to use clever storage solutions to maximise space

Many of the families I work with struggle to keep things organised in their kitchens, especially if they have limited cupboard space.  This often means they have an overflow of items on their kitchen countertops and, as I always say, it’s not a worktop if you can’t easily use it.  

When you organise a small kitchen, you need a plan to make sure every cabinet and shelf works well for you.

In this blog post, I’m sharing clever kitchen storage ideas to help you maximise the space in small kitchens.  You’ll be surprised at the difference using one or two of these ideas will make to your space. 

In this blog:

• Declutter your kitchen

• Create zones

• Prioritise everyday items

• Maximise storage in kitchen cabinets

• Contain small items

• Clear out under the kitchen sink

• Use the vertical spaces in your kitchen

• Multifunctional furniture

Declutter First

The first step in maximising the space in a small kitchen is to declutter anything you don’t need.  Empty out your cupboards (there may be items at the back that you’ve forgotten about) and go through everything one item at a time.  Check expiry dates and discard anything you won’t use (consider food banks or OLIO as sustainable options for unwanted food).  

Remember to include kitchen tools, utensils, mugs, plates and electrical items in your kitchen declutter, there’s no point in storing things you never use.

Ready to get started?  Use my kitchen decluttering tips to get your kitchen sorted using Marie Kondo’s KonMari decluttering method.

Create Zones to keep your kitchen organised

I recommend organising the cupboards in your kitchen into different sections or zones, each dedicated to a different type of meal occasion or ingredients (breakfast, main meal) or occasion so you can easily see what you have. The most common zones I create are:

1. Ingredients: Main Meal, Breakfast, Baking Goods

2. Drinks Zone: Coffee, Tea, Mugs, Glasses

3. Food Prep Zone: Storing utensils close to the worktops where you prepare food

4. Oven Trays and Baking Tins

5. Storage Containers

6. Cleaning and Laundry Products – typically under the sink

Storing similar items together like this helps to avoid scattered storage and prevents buying duplicates/ unneeded items as you can see exactly what you have.

Prioritize Everyday Items in Prime Storage Space

Maximise the space in your small kitchen by keeping only the items you use regularly in your kitchen cabinets. Store seasonal or entertaining in a different place to free up space for everyday items.  

Make life easier by keeping frequently used items at eye level or in easily accessible places, and store less frequently used items on the higher shelves.   

Remove any kitchen gadgets that clutter your workspace.  I prefer to store toasters or mixers in lower cabinets rather than on the worktops, as it frees up space for meal preparation.  Additionally, placing something attractive, like a fruit bowl, on a clear countertop can help prevent the countertop from becoming a dumping ground for random items.

Maximise the shelf space in cabinets with simple organising products

Many kitchens I work in have unused space between shelves – there may be one layer of tins and then a big gap until the next shelf.  Using shelf risers (also known as shelf dividers) will make the most of your kitchen cabinets, creating custom storage for your items by dividing up the shelves in to multiple levels. They also help to make items more accessible as you can easily grab plates and bowls rather than them being piled on top of each other.

I like to use IKEA's Variera shelf insert and the following items from my Amazon favourite products (I receive a small amount of commission on these items at no extra cost to you).

• Expandable shelf risers from

• Bamboo shelf riser

• White shelf riser

• Bamboo spice shelves

• Betterware undershelf baskets

• Corner shelf riser

Another of my favourite small kitchen storage tips is to maximize cupboard space by adjusting or moving the cabinet shelves to fit the items you're storing in the cupboards.

You can fit larger cereal boxes or baking ingredients in cabinets and get them off the kitchen worktops. I always put taller food storage containers on higher shelves as you can still reach them by grabbing the bottom of the box.

Containers are great storage solutions in small kitchens

Storing similar ingredients and items in containers enables you to make full use of the shelf space in small kitchens – you’ll avoid losing smaller items at the back of shelves as you can pull the whole container out like a drawer.

It will help you keep track of the products in each basket, making grocery shopping easier and preventing unnecessary or duplicate purchases.

Kitchen carousels

I’m not a big fan of kitchen carousels (like the one above) as I find they take up more space than the storage they create, however, they can work well in cramped corner cupboards where items at the back can disappear forever!  You’re better off placing items in containers directly on the shelves. 

Sort out your Tupperware storage!

Before deciding where to store your Tupperware or plastic storage containers, take a few minutes to sort through them.

If you have an excessive amount of Tupperware cluttering your kitchen, consider reducing your collection by half. This might sound drastic, but as I often remind my clients, food storage containers are meant to store food. Most of them should be in use in the fridge, freezer, or pantry, leaving little reason to keep an additional 25 containers taking up valuable space in your cabinets or drawers.

Check out "5 Minute Kitchen Organisation - Taming your Tupperware" for my tips on the best way to store your plastic containers - with lids on or off?

Clear out the kitchen junk drawer

With limited storage in your kitchen, every drawer needs to have a practical purpose.  Start by emptying out the junk drawer and only return items that belong there.  Use drawer dividers to neatly organise items such as batteries, charging cables, scissors, sellotape, notepads and pens.  This will make it easier for you to find what you need without having to rummage through the drawer. 

Only store what you use under the kitchen sink

It's easy for the area under the kitchen sink to become a cluttered space for cleaning and laundry products.  

Start by removing any unused products from under the kitchen sink and only replace with the items you use for dishwashing, laundry, and cleaning your kitchen. Any other cleaning products can be stored in the bathroom or utility room.  

Using the vertical space is key to small kitchen organisation

In addition to maximising the storage in your cabinets, remember to use the vertical space around the kitchen. Consider installing over-the-door storage racks, wall-mounted racks, and shelves for additional storage. Hanging mugs, jugs, or chopping boards below wall shelves will free up cabinet space for food.  

You can also hang large items, such as mops, brushes, and ironing boards, on the wall to free up floor space - see my Amazon store for my favourite broom and ironing board hangers (I receive a commission at no cost to you).

Use multi-functional furniture to maximise space in a small kitchen

If you have limited floor space in your kitchen, you might want to consider buying a table that also serves as a storage unit with drawers or shelves underneath. Using collapsible chairs and drop-leaf tables can also help to create more space, as they can be easily stored away when not in use.

Following my small kitchen organisation tips will help you make the best use of the space you have, whilst creating a kitchen that's easy to cook in and keep tidy.

If you liked this blog please let me know in the comments below & share it with someone who'll find it useful!

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Hi! I’m Sue, a professional home organiser and KonMari Consultant based in Hampshire, UK. I had the privilege of training with Marie Kondo and by using her methods, I help growing families and empty nesters Rightsize their Homes.

We declutter and organise to clear space and time so they can get on with the important job of enjoying life.

Are you ready to start living A Life More Organised?

For a no-obligation chat about how I can help, please get in touch

sue@alifemoreorganised.co.uk

m: 07740 782575 www.alifemoreorganised.co.uk

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Rightsize your home - helping families declutter, organise or downsize