10 Clever & Elegant Ways to Maximize a Small Kitchen

Any kitchen can be functional and beautiful -- even if it's small, narrow, or tiny! We've seen many fantastic homes where the kitchen space wasn't exactly ample, but was designed so well that it became the jewel of the house. The trick is to employ space-saving tips that are practical and stylish. Take a look at these storage and decor tricks to maximize your small-space kitchen!

 

1. Go vertical.

When floor space is limited, take advantage of overhead space! Add higher shelves for items you use less frequently, and see if you can hang some items on strategically placed hooks. Also consider whether your kitchen needs open or closed shelving. Open shelving can sometimes look cluttered, but with some tidying up, they can be stylish and convenient.

 

2. Color-coordinate your containers.

A cohesive color scheme is important for small spaces, because it creates less visual clutter and makes the room feel more spacious. So, instead of just organizing a colorful variety of spice jars, condiments, and coffee bags, transfer them in a set of color-coordinated containers with labels. This is particularly helpful if the kitchen is short on storage and you have these items out on display.

In the example above, a calm palette of white and wood lends more breathability to the kitchen.

Wall art pictured above: "But First, Coffee" Premium Canvas

 

Below is another example, where a set of glass jars serve as coordinated utensil-holders. Bonus tip: reuse your old glass jars and bottles as effortlessly chic organizers. Just remove the old labels!

Wall art pictured above: Personalized "Kitchen - Seasoned With Love" Premium Canvas

 

3. Turn common implements into 'art'.

What if closed storage is limited and you just have to have your pots and pans on display? Then go ahead and make them display-worthy! In the example above, the creative mavens at A Beautiful Mess crafted an easy DIY pegboard with a gorgeous color to serve as a practical yet pretty hanging corner for their kitchenware.

 

4. Install magnetic strips.

Wall-mounted magnetic strips are a godsend when your drawers are limited. These magnets can hold not just knives and scissors but also other metal tools like whisks, tongs, and ladles. Plus, if you have a set of magnetic spice jars, they'll look great lined up on the wall strip as well.

Wall art pictured above: Personalized "Grandma's Kitchen - Homemade With Love" Premium Canvas

 

5. Opt for furniture with more storage.

Don't waste floor space on furnishings that don't hold that many items. Consider replacing them with furniture that are taller or are more organized. Maybe you have a corner table you can replace with a tall cabinet (like above). Or maybe your two-tier kitchen console can be replaced with a sideboard or hutch with drawers and closed shelves (like below).

Wall art pictured above: "The Best Memories Made Around The Table" Premium Canvas

 

Wall art pictured above: Personalized "Food, Family, Love" Wood Tone Premium Canvas

 

6. Use a round table at your nook.

If your kitchen shares the space with your dining area, you'll want to consider a round table instead of a rectangular one. A circular table offers more seating flexibility even when it's pushed up against the wall.

Just take a look at the photo above from our customer Valerie. She created a serene dining nook that easily seats four, which would not have been as feasible if it was a square table pushed up to the corner.

Wall art pictured above: "Because Someone We Love Is In Heaven" Premium Rustic Canvas

 

7. Hang things over counter sides.

The end of your counter doesn't mean the end of your workspace. You can still hang plenty of items over the side! You can install a hanging rod there to hang pots and pans, or a set of racks for cooking ingredients. Or how about deep wire baskets to hold more odds and ends like kitchen towels, shopping bags, and recipe books? The example above is by DIYer mom Courtney of Golden Boys & Me.

 

8. How about some lazy Susans?

The lazy Susan, a.k.a. the turntable or rotating tray, fell out of trend as a dining table addition, but now, it's making a comeback as a brilliant kitchen organizer! Savvy kitchen designers are now placing small rotating trays in their cabinets so they can store items towards the back of the shelf but still have them at easy reach. Just turn that tray and your item of choice is magically in front of you!

The pantry above uses three clear rotating trays, organized by Tina of Just a Tina Bit blog.

 

9. Add risers.

Risers are such a simple yet space-saving kitchen hack. They are those small surfaces with legs -- like little tables -- which you can place on your countertop or in cabinets to double the storage capacity. Think of all the unused space underneath each shelf tier. With a riser, you can instantly add a mini-tier that holds more cups, jars, and the like.

 

10. Rethink every tiny nook.

Many kitchens have awkward corners, narrow recesses, or little niches that can go unnoticed. Look around your kitchen and use those nooks! One of the most common is the space underneath a console table, which you can maximize with charming storage baskets. For more tips, read our blog post on using small nooks around the house.

Wall art pictured above: Personalized "This Is Us" With Photos Premium Canvas

 

We hope these tips and tricks help you maximize your kitchen! What other storage tips can you share? Leave a comment!

You might also like these other blog posts on decorating a practical yet lovely home:

• 20 No-Nonsense Decor and Storage Hacks You Can Do Right Now
• 10 Brilliant Kitchen Decor Ideas You'll Want to Try At Home
• Your Own Coffee Bar at Home: How to Make + Inspiration

And if you liked the wall art pieces featured here, check out our Kitchen & Dining Wall Decor collection at GearDen.com!