Downsizing Mayhem! help!
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Leaving 3 bedroom, dining room, spacious home to a one bedroom, galley kitchen. I've learned some great organizing ideas but it appears not enough! Kitchen is my concern, help needed storing those slow cookers, over sized casserole dishes, juicer, etc. Just started moving (as u can c), a blank canvas. Over the cupboards is too high and if there's any way possible, keep it clear to make it appear larger.
https://lifehacker.com/eight-things-you-can-discard-to-downsize-your-life-1522266092
Will you have storage space in your garage? I'd take any small appliance and serving trays you don't use every day or so and put them in large totes that will be stashed in the garage. I know that if I did that in my kitchen, it'd make a huge difference (hmmm...may have to get that going! LOL).
You could add a few cabinets against the wall opposite the sink with shelves above them. There looks like there will still be enough space to move and work. Can't tell by the picture, but a baker's rack may also fit at the end of the counter by the dishwasher. Remember, downsizing is like clearing your closet. If you haven't used something in over a year - you probably can live without it. Cheers!
Do you own the home? I think you need ceiling height uppers. It is very usable space and space is what you need. Great to store things not used every day. Or add thick moulding above cabinets to at least store additional things? can a cart/table/slim book shelf be placed next to dishwasher or is there a door or window there?
Depending on how wide the walkway is at the end of the counter where the dishwasher is, a small bookshelf or even Closetmaid-type shoe stackers could go there to store a LOT of things. If you don't want appliances out in the open, you could use the bookshelf to store jars with things like flour, beans, rice, etc. it would give a consistent look and free up cupboard space for appliances.
Utilize the over the cabinet space, but not for every day items. Place attractive rarely used items up there - the kind of thing you use for the once a year party. They will be out of the way in terms of prime real estate, but will be attractive. Large items and would be especially good choices as they take up lots of space in cupboards. Clear items would be good, as well, since they will read as visually open. Even baskets with things like holiday napkins (tucked into plastic to stay clean) would be attractive.
If that long wall to the left of the fridge in the picture is available, hang a pot rack on it. That will free up more cupboard space and will make your pots and pans super accessible. You could even put a small bookcase under the pot rack and make it into a coffee bar or something. If the look of open shelves bothers you, you could use a tension rod inside the bookcase and hang a flat curtain.
Hope that helps. Would LOVE to see after photos.
Hi Karen, congrats on your new place!
Good luck.
Special thanks for all your responses! Time to start trying one by one. I'm sure one or all these ideas will work! Hope your day goes as easy as you made mine!
if you have shelves in your laundry room you could put items not used as often in there ~ you can buy inexpensive shelving to put in garage to store items on and I even used an old bookcase and store items on that in my garage. Good luck