Tips for saving kitchen space
Many people struggle with the problem of a small kitchen—pots and pans clutter the countertops, seasoning bottles are toppled over, finding tools takes ages, and there’s barely room to turn around while cooking. Actually, there’s no need to demolish walls to expand. With a few space-utilizing tips and smart organization, even a small kitchen of just a few square meters can become tidy and spacious, making cooking more enjoyable. Today, we’ll share eight proven space-saving techniques, from countertops to cabinets, from walls to corners, to help you maximize every inch of your kitchen space!
Many people struggle with the problem of a small kitchen—pots and pans clutter the countertops, seasoning bottles are toppled over, finding tools takes ages, and there’s barely room to turn around while cooking. Actually, there’s no need to demolish walls to expand. With a few space-utilizing tips and smart organization, even a small kitchen of just a few square meters can become tidy and spacious, making cooking more enjoyable. Today, we’ll share eight proven space-saving techniques, from countertops to cabinets, from walls to corners, to help you maximize every inch of your kitchen space!
1. Vertical Wall Storage: Turn “Unused Walls” into “Storage Areas”
Kitchen walls are often overlooked, but they’re actually hidden storage treasures. Using the wall for vertical storage frees up countertop space by “hanging” items, making them easily accessible and visible. 1. Hanging Rod + Hooks: Store Spatulas, Spoons, and Aprons
Install a stainless steel hanging rod (the length depends on the wall dimensions; 60-80cm is generally sufficient) on the wall next to the stove. Use it with removable hooks to hang frequently used spatulas, soup spoons, and colanders, as well as cooking aprons and oven gloves. The hooks can be adjusted to fit as many items as you like, and can be removed when not in use to keep the wall tidy. Choose hooks with non-slip silicone to hold heavy items without dropping them or scratching tool handles.
2. Pegboard: Flexible Storage for Seasoning Bottles and Small Kitchen Utensils
If you have ample wall space, a pegboard is a smart choice. It can be easily customized with hooks, shelves, and storage boxes. For example, add a few small shelves for frequently used seasoning bottles (such as salt, sugar, and pepper); hang a few small storage boxes for paring knives, fruit knives, and scissors; and add a few small hooks for paper towels and plastic wrap. The advantage of perforated boards is their flexibility. You can adjust the placement of accessories based on the size of your items, allowing you to arrange them however you like. They’re also aesthetically pleasing, and different colors can complement your kitchen’s style, transforming the wall into a decorative area.
3. Magnetic Strips: Store Knives and Metal Spice Jars
Install a magnetic strip on the wall next to your cutting area to store kitchen knives (such as slicing knives and fruit knives). This saves space compared to traditional knife blocks, doesn’t trap dirt, and is easy to clean. Choose a strip with strong suction to ensure your knives stay put. Choose stainless steel, which is magnetic, otherwise they won’t stick. Metal spice jars (such as olive oil and vinegar bottles) can also be attached to the magnetic strip and placed next to the cutting area, making them easily accessible when cooking, eliminating the need to return to the mixing area.
2. Countertop “Streamlined Storage”: Keep only frequently used items, and hide the rest
The countertop is the core work area of the kitchen. If it’s cluttered, there’s no room to put down your food while you cook. Therefore, the key to countertop storage is “streamlining”—keep only items you use daily, and store anything you use occasionally in cabinets or drawers, keeping the countertop “empty” (leaving at least two-thirds of the space empty).
1. “One-Minute Rule”: Determine whether items should be kept on the countertop
To determine which items should be kept on the countertop, use the “one-minute rule”: Items you use every day for cooking and take no more than a minute to access, such as electric kettles and rice cookers (which are used daily and are large, making them convenient to store on the countertop), and frequently used cutting boards (used daily for chopping vegetables). Items you use occasionally (e.g., once or twice a week), such as juicers, bread makers, and ovens, should all be stored in cabinets or wall cabinets, and removed only when needed.
2. Multi-layered storage racks: “Create space upwards” by stacking dishes and seasonings
If you absolutely must keep some items on the countertop (such as dishes and seasonings), use multi-layered storage racks to “expand upwards.” For example, consider a two-tier dish rack on your countertop. Stack washed dishes and plates on the rack, saving half the space compared to stacking them directly on the countertop. Alternatively, consider a three-tier spice rack, where you can organize spice bottles by frequency: salt and sugar for daily use on the first tier, soy sauce and oyster sauce for occasional use on the second, and chili powder and cumin powder for less frequent use on the third. This creates a neat and space-saving storage space. Choose a rack with a non-slip mat for a smooth, slip-free surface, and a gap at the bottom for easy cleaning.
3. Drawer Dividers: Transform a “Cluttered Drawer” into an “Organized Storage Box”
Cluttered countertop drawers waste time searching for tools and space. Use drawer dividers to organize small tools into compartments: for example, one compartment for paring knives and fruit knives, another for spatulas and spoon handles, another for bottle openers and can openers, and yet another for kitchen scissors and tweezers. Choose adjustable dividers that can be freely combined to suit different drawer sizes. Made of food-grade PP plastic, they’re safe and odorless, allowing you to simply rinse them out when cleaning.
3. Deep Utilization of Cabinets: Activating Deep Cabinet and Ceiling Space
Cabinets are the primary storage area in the kitchen, but many people only use their surface space, leaving the deep and ceiling areas wasted. Learning to utilize the deep and ceiling areas can help you store more items without affecting daily use.
1. Pull-out Baskets and Drawers: Pull Out Items from Deep Cabinets
Items deep in cabinets are often “put in and forgotten,” making them difficult to access, requiring you to remove everything in front of them. Install a pull-out basket (such as a double- or triple-layer basket) in your cabinet to store pots, pans, and utensils. Simply pull the basket out, and items deep in the cabinet will automatically come out, eliminating the need to search for them. For example, place a double-layer pull-out basket in a cabinet. Store plates and bowls on the top shelf, and pots (such as frying pans and soup pots) on the bottom. Pull it out to easily see all items and access them. Choose a pull-out basket with cushioned rails for quiet pulling and strong load-bearing capacity, so you don’t have to worry about it deforming when heavy items are placed.
2. Stacking Storage: “Store Pots Inside Each Other” to Save Vertical Space
Kitchen pots, such as woks, soup pots, and steamers, often take up a lot of space. You can store them “inside each other”: Place a smaller pot (such as a milk pan) inside a larger pot (such as a soup pot), and then place the soup pot inside the larger pot (such as a wok). This way, the space that originally held three pots can now accommodate five to six. Remember to place paper towels or silicone mats between pots to prevent scratches. Especially for non-stick pans, be sure to use a soft mat to protect the non-stick coating. 3. Top Cabinet Storage Boxes: For Rarely Used Items
The space at the top of the cabinet is high and rarely used. It can be used to store rarely used items, such as large bowls and plates used only during holidays, as well as baking tools (such as cake pans and piping bags) and disposable cutlery. Place several lidded storage boxes on the top of the cabinet (choose plastic, which is lightweight, easy to handle, and waterproof). Categorize your items into these boxes and label them (e.g., “Baking Tools” or “Holiday Cutlery”). When you need them, simply stand on a stool and retrieve them. Avoid overly large boxes, as they will be difficult to access. Ideally, keep them under 30cm tall.
4. Corner Utilization: Turning “wasted corners” into “useful areas”
Kitchen corners (such as cabinet corners and the corner next to the refrigerator) are often “storage dead spots” that are difficult to utilize. However, with the right tools, these corners can be transformed into valuables. 1. Corner Pull-Out Baskets: Utilize Cabinet Corners
Cabinet corners (such as those in L-shaped cabinets) are deep, making it difficult to reach items. Many people simply use them as a “clutter dump.” Installing a corner pull-out basket (such as a “Little Monster” pull-out basket or a rotating pull-out basket) can easily solve this problem. Corner pull-out baskets rotate to release items, making them easy to access. They can also hold a wide range of items, such as large soup pots and steamers, as well as rice, noodles, and oil. Choose a corner pull-out basket with silent bearings for quiet rotation and strong load-bearing capacity, making it easy to store heavy items.
2. Gap Shelves: Utilize the Gap Between the Refrigerator and the Wall
There’s often a gap (typically 5-15cm wide) between the refrigerator and the wall. This gap is both a waste to discard and inconvenient to use. Place a gap shelf (about the same height as your refrigerator, with the width adjusted based on the gap size) to store stored beverages (such as mineral water and cola), snacks (such as biscuits and chips), as well as kitchen paper and trash bags. Choose a gap shelf with multiple layers, such as 3-4, to accommodate more items. It also has wheels on the bottom for easy sliding. Simply pull the gap shelf out when you need to access items.
3. Folding Storage Rack: Utilize the “Corner Floor”
If there’s space in the corner of your kitchen, place a folding shelf to store washed vegetables and fruit, or stored potatoes, onions, and carrots. Folding shelves can be tucked away when not in use, tucked away behind a cabinet or door, saving space. When in use, they can be unfolded to accommodate a wide variety of items, provide good ventilation, and keep fruits and vegetables from spoiling. Choose metal folding shelves for their strong load-bearing capacity, resistance to rust, and ease of cleaning with a damp cloth. 5. The “Principle of Simplification”: Less but Better Saves Space Rather than More and More Clutter
Many people lack kitchen space because they have too much stuff. Many items are bought and used only a few times before being left unused, taking up a significant amount of space. Therefore, the fundamental way to save space is to streamline your collection, keeping only what you truly need—a minimal but better approach. 1. “De-Shrinking”: Get rid of “unused, broken, and redundant” items
Periodically (for example, every three months) perform a “De-Shrinking” in your kitchen:
Get rid of “unused items”: Examples include spices that have been sitting unopened for six months, baking utensils you only use once a year, and cutlery you no longer like.
Get rid of “broken items”: Examples include spatulas with broken handles, leaky bowls, and rusty knives.
Get rid of “duplicated items”: For example, if you have five woks, keep two you use frequently (one for stir-frying and one for frying eggs) and get rid of the rest. If you have ten bowls, keep six (enough for the whole family) and throw away or give away the rest.
After de-sshrinking, you’ll find that your kitchen instantly frees up a lot of space, and the remaining items are “frequently used and useful.” You’ll feel more relaxed when cooking without having to deal with a pile of “useless” items. 2. Multifunctionality over Single-Functionality: Buy Multi-Purpose Kitchenware
When buying kitchenware, prioritize multifunctionality over single-function appliances to reduce the number of items you own. For example:
A multifunctional rice cooker instead of a rice cooker + steamer + oven: A multifunctional rice cooker can cook rice, steam vegetables, and bake cakes, saving both space and money.
A 3-in-1 paring knife instead of a paring knife + corer + fruit slicer: A single paring knife can peel, core, and cut fruit, eliminating the need for three separate tools.
A folding cutting board instead of a regular cutting board: A folding cutting board folds up when not in use, saving half the space compared to a regular cutting board and can double as a sink, achieving two purposes.
When choosing multifunctional kitchenware, focus on practicality and ensure that each function is fully utilized. Don’t buy impractical tools simply for the sake of multifunctionality, as they will remain unused.
Conclusion: A Small Kitchen Can Also Be Spacious; the Key is Smart Utilization
Kitchen space size isn’t fixed. By learning how to utilize it wisely, even a small kitchen of just a few square meters can be transformed into a tidy and spacious space. The above eight tips comprehensively cover every area of the kitchen, from walls to cabinets, from corners to storage. They’re simple to implement and won’t cost a fortune, yet you’ll see noticeable results. Start today by giving your kitchen a “space makeover”—hang up pegboards, install pull-out baskets, and practice decluttering. You’ll discover that a small kitchen can actually be spacious, and cooking can become an easy and enjoyable experience!
