Need help with organization in kitchen

Question

Clearing countertops is my goal. One small kitchen with many overall plans for an Industrial kitchen theme, painting cabinets and walls. So I decided to organize my kitchen cabinets firstly so it would be easier to paint when time arrives. Cabinet's have weird sizes and a spice wrack does not fit inside cabinet. It's important to note I have NO PANTRY. I need functional but organized. My plan is to display my spices while making a home for utensils (large spoons). By removing spices from cabinet, clears it for other unsightly items that need homes that are currently out for display and it's not pretty. All the wall space I have to use in the backsplash area. What the problem is; because I have many items to hang in this area, not sure how to fit it all in? I would like more organization for these readily accesible items: Spices, Large Utensils (stirring/serving spoons, and atleast three large pickle jars), Magnetic Knife Strip. As the photos I will display are inspirations but I need an all in one idea! (Note: The inspirational photos I do NOT own, they are in my collection folders because I believe these will work in my space. If you need the link to these they can be found on my pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/DebsHitchcock/ )

Marion Nesbitt · Answer

Like the shelf ideas. I unload a lot of weird, seldom used things to a cabinet and storage bins in the basement - weird spices, baking pans, roasters, extra pasta/sugar/flour, etc. Making a trip downstairs once in awhile is worth it.

Candeelyn · Answer

It would be helpful to see a pic of your cupboards. Do you have any cupboard space available? You mentioned a long narrow one that is impossible to get to~ You could put some of these jars in a long narrow bin that fits the space that way you can take the whole thing out to get what you need. If you like them out for easy access or don't have the cupboard space putting them in nice baskets/bins will make it organized. Or maybe a lazy susan or some turntable will group things together and it will look neater, or re-purpose a decorative cake plate,There are kitchen utensil holders you can put spoons,etc. in or find a nice decorative vase,pitcher at your local thrift store for them. Anything that will hold them and looks nice can be repurposed for what you need will make it organized. You could also purchase a spice holder, like one that looks like steps and that could sit out and hold your spices neatly. Look around what you have may work. I have a small kitchen also so I understand.

Judi · Answer

Lowes carries a magnetic tool strip that I use for knives.  Also, you could hang a rack of some kind from your ceiling for Pots, pans and hanging utensils,

Cheryl O'Neill · Answer

any room for an inexpensive pantry on another wall?  36' and I wouldn't put the doors on.  It would make it easy to access and you could make it attractive the bottles and jars you already have.    Also, have you looked at the ikea web site and see what inspiration you can find there?  They have some really easy hacks......brainstorm from there.  Good luck

Cheryl O'Neill · Answer

maybe some more pictures so that we can get a better visual of what you have ;)

Grangerite · Answer

Where do the bifold doors go. If that is a closet I would take all spices and put in there. If goes into another room I would just take off doors. Forget slider. The wall the bakers rack is on. Make that into a cast iron display wall. Put hooks on a board and anchor boards to wall. Handing a pot rack on the ceiling by that wall. Put non cast iron on that pot rack. On the wall where your tkitchen table is I would find a couple of cabinets or display shelves( thrift and restores are a great place to find these) take pictures down and put up shelves. Put spices in same containers and display there. Hang the shelves high as not to hit head on them. Under that shelf I would put a skinny table or a skinny cabinet to display canister set in that cabinet underneath store spices only used occasionally. Move table away from wall . Make it smaller. If you have leaves in it. Really to big for room. Drop leaf would work. Your coffee station should be moved to kitchen counter . Idea that works for me. I set up a table in another room. Take everything out of cabinets , off the table and kitchen furniture out. Stand back and you will be amazed how you can think better with a clean slate. Please post pictures when done . Pinterest has posts of pot and pan walls and spice storage. I think you need to not have so many ideas and work with the clean slate and better ideas will come.

More Than Organizing · Answer

You also have significant space above your cabinets. If you have some lesser used items that you could store up there - you could potentially build out (or even buy) some closed storage systems. It could be open storage if the items you move up there are not unsightly. I was also going to suggest adding a shelf below your cabinet, just as you have the plans of from Ace Hardware.
Be careful with the open pantry idea. That can look really nice, but if you aren't super organized, it can look very cluttered in a small space. The combination of some open/some closed storage might work well there. If you have dishware that can be in the open area that is often a bit nicer to have out than food items.

Grangerite · Answer

Put long shelves in laundry room.and on both sides. Put pots pans crock pots in the laundry room. Serious from what I'm seeing in kitchen ,you need to take everything out of cabinets and reorganize. Oils in one cabinet and spices by alphabet order in another. Throw old spices out they get old and buggy. It's happened to me. Put micro on bakers rack with the coffee pot put basket and store tea towels and napkins and coffee canister there .you have to much stuff scattered around confusing. Start with clean slate as I've said before.

Grangerite · Answer

I'm looking at that bakers rack. Put it somewhere else. Take that wall and put a lot of shelves on that wall. Put all you spices there. Paint the wall black board paint and write names of spices on it to funk it up. Have the boards go from floor to ceiling. Have a lip in the front so the spice jars don't get knocked off. Take doors off a couple of cabinets adjust shelves and put oils in there. Put shelves in laundry room and put small appi NCOs in there. Get the micro off counter . Post more pictures of your kitchen. Go to thrift stores and hunt for storage containers. To many baskets they take up to much space . Line oils up without putting in baskets.

Grangerite · Answer

Ok I'm looking at you kitchen with the table . I'm seeing you have open top cabinets. Take all those vases off. Get a thin board, put all the way across. Put all oils up there for now. They are in ornate oil jars and would look just fine up there . If you need on get. Step stool and use it. What's all the stuff on the table if those canisters are for using get them off the table, move that bakers rack on the wall where bifold doors are until you redo you kitchen. Make that the microwave and coffee station. Move table away from wall. If find a smaller table at a thrift I would get a drop leaf . Post pictures of your whole kitchen and some of the things you have done. Start with every thing out of cupboards. I can't stress that enough
You will find stuff you forgot and if you forgot about it chuck it.

Deborah · Answer

Thank you walnutstgranger! Note: Ive since taken everything out of cabinets, got rid of lots of stuff not being used. Its time to do it again! Placing the oils ontop of my cabinets would mean a foot stool. I do have a foot stool but I hate bringing it out in such a small kitchen, every inch of space is counted for (not like..I like it as of yet) however, its so tight when I do pull it out, I end up tripping over it while cooking if I dont put it away quickly. I have shelves inside my pantry/wash room. I just got front load washer/dryer which are taller so I will have to re work these someday. (Sigh). I think my kitchen has the wrong cabinetry-what was meant to be bathroom? cabinets which explains the long dark tunnels that is DEAD space, which means i have a bigger problem that what is truly shown. I have removed the black bakers rack since I took this photo. It was meant as a temporary make shift/storage thing until I could do better. Now I have this large industrial type rolling cart a friend of mine gifted me from an auction. It has a drawer, im using the drawer for mixer, ziplock bags, extra tea and coffee. Below on the two bottom shelves I house larger items I don't have room for in my cabinets. Crock pot, blender etc. These are pushed in the back...so you cant see them as much. The first shelf holds jars of misc. items such as dried beans, powdered sugar anything else that I can keep fresh in a jar instead of a box that they come in. The table has a long history. I want to get rid of it but neighbors and family frequent my home for dinners etc. Eventually I will get rid of it but as of now, I am working full time unlike before. As far as the pot wrack, I used to have one that hung on my wall where the bakers rack was but it was simply to far away from stove and I didnt like the idea of that being in my 'dinning room' if you can call it that. I have an idea with my pots/pans I would like to get rid of the scalloped board above my sink, where the light fixture is hidden (a simple flourescent light) to open the kitchen up a bit. There is where I would like to hang pots so they are out of the way, not like where they are now. This kitchen is a real challenge. Above the cabinets, I am hesitant to place anything up there because it gets so dirty. I wanted some industrial type boxes to house a few things in but IM not sure what that would be as what I have, is used and in reach basically. I am working towards going 'Industrial style' although that is not the most important step. The goal is/was decluttering first while keeping in mind style later yet functional and how to make this kitchen functional firstly. I will be painting the walls, I am undecided about cabinets all together. What color, if I should paint etc. Im thinking would it be tacky-see pictures below.

Grangerite · Answer

Post pictures of new rack, I would paint wall a light color , white or gray, that will brighten up kitchen, gray is industrial and any color would go. Paint cabinets one color on top and a little darker on bottom in a gray. Your white counter top will go with that. I'm anxious to see your progress. That blackboard paint would look great as back splash paint . I would utilize the top of cabinets. If you collect something group the collection up there. I have teapots and old bowls on top of mine. I clean twice a year . No biggy and I am very short.. There is hammered aluminum spray paint spray your knobs. Post pictures as you get moving on your project

EmeryLou · Answer

Start by emptying all your cupboards. Prioritize what needs to be in the kitchen based on how often it is used. I put my once/twice a year used items in my basement (like my large stock pot, fondue pot large serving platters) As you put things back group them. Drawers can be great for spices. Wooden spoons, spatulas etc could be in a vase on the counter if no drawer space and doesn't take up much room. Donate utensils you don't use. Keep one cupboard for pantry items. No need to stockpile food since grocery stores are much closer to home theses days. Only keep plastic storage containers that you actually use. Again if there are some you use infrequently, put those somewhere else. Keep you kitchen space for regularly used items. Good luck!

Darla · Answer

You might put lighting on the underside of your cabinets. That will make it at least look brighter and roomier. I agree that you should use the space above your cabinets, maybe for stuff that doesn't get used a lot. To keep it from getting dirty, put it in enclosed containers or crates with matching decorative labels, chalkboard labels or those brass card holders. You could also use a decorative (strong) crate as your step stool and store something that is not fragile in it, like cookbooks.

KatAych · Answer

Do you have room anywhere to add an armoire you could use as a pantry? You're taking all the right steps - purge, purge, purge!!! My husband is a professional chef, and honestly you can get buy with just a handful of pots and pans for most things. Mounting things under the cabinet and on the backsplash are great tips, too to give you more counterspace. We put our spice jars on the inside of the door (they're magnetic). And don't forget about the SIDES of your cabinets, too! You can store cutting boards, potholders, spices, etc. there, as well by mounting baskets, file holders, hooks and the like.

Deborah · Answer

Thanks to all fellow hometalkers!

Cztromley · Answer

we made extra shelf space by placing a board from the top of one cabinet to top of next one which was over our sink. You could nail the heads of jars to the underside, screw off when needed, run a few more shelves between or hang tiered wire baskets, square of course to fit some more jars in and organize them in groups

Chas' Crazy Creations · Answer

I have several organizing posts that might help you https://chascrazycreations.com/diys/how-tos/organizing/

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