Asked on Jun 18, 2017

Storage idea's for the kitchen that doesn't have much space?

Barb Davis
by Barb Davis
My kitchen is small and has no storage space and I hate it. We are in the process of painting our whole home. We just have 2 rooms left and they are bedroom's.
We have a medium size table and I have thought about doing away with it but we have Grandbabies. I got two shelf set's and 3 packs of the cloth basket's thinking that this would help. The shelves are a little bulky and the cloth basket's worked great.
Any advice/help would be greatly appreciated. I'm fed up with this kitchen and I'm getting to where I have no patience for it anymore.
  11 answers
  • Marcy Inman Phillips Marcy Inman Phillips on Jun 18, 2017

    You may have already done this, but go through all of your kitchen items and sell anything you don't use. Don't keep more than one of anything, unless it's essential for you to have. Throw out any expired food, spices, oils.

    You might be able to utilize space better if you bought stackable storage for your dry food items. And if you have to keep things on extraneous shelves, more cloth boxes and/baskets would look cuter, and make it more homey.

    Your kitchen doesn't look horribly small, but it sounds like you have a busy houeshold And need a lot of food on hand.

    Good lick.

  • Holly Kinchlea-Brown Holly Kinchlea-Brown on Jun 18, 2017

    Can you replace the table with an island/breakfast bar? You would still have eating area for the grandchildren, but new storage underneath for pots/pans etc and give yourself additional counter space. The back wall with the freezer and shelf unit, can you build floor to ceiling pantry around all of that? Also, have you made the most of the space you already have? Can you organize your foodstuffs into square, stackable containers to maximize space?

  • Diana Deiley Diana Deiley on Jun 18, 2017

    God love ya. that kitchen would put me in the hospital. I'm with Marcy, start the downsizing process by eliminating unwanted/outdated/unused items that need to go. Empty the entire room, then CLEAN from top to bottom, prime and PAINT the room a pleasing light color; cream or white or both. LOVE the floors! Only keep one or two grocery items in the existing cabinets. Your shelving units can be relocated to the garage for non perishable products. Ban coats and shoes from this room. Keep this room strictly a kitchen/family dining area for memorable quality family time. Morning coffee with hubby! You CAN do this! I believe in you. Best of luck.

  • Penny Lowe Penny Lowe on Jun 18, 2017

    Wall hung storage can be both useful and decorative if you minimize the visual impact of the actual storage containers by having them blend in with the surroundings. This white-on-white wall organizer in Julia's Cabin in the Hills is a perfect example of the power of going monochromatic for open storage.

  • Michelle Michelle on Jun 18, 2017

    I agree with folks, purge, purge, purge everything in that kitchen , get boxes label one thrift store, next one throw away, next box keep, once you have completely purge, look at the space, you simply can't add anything more to this kitchen. Questions to ask when purging...when was the last time you used the item if it was 2 years or more, it goes, what is the emotional attachment to my motto let it go, once you done all this then you will be able to see the space better. If you can't purge call in a Professional Organizer to help you

  • Barb Davis Barb Davis on Jun 18, 2017

    Hey Ladies, Thank's so much for all of your advice. Yes I have gone through it many time's and keep getting rid of stuff. I will consider everything that you all have told me and I will talk to my husband, Michael and go through your idea's and see what he think's. Thank's so much much for all the advice that you all have given me, I really appreciate it all. I really hate my kitchen. We did paint it a lite beige color, I don't do well with dark colors , actually I hate dark colors. Thank's again Ladies! 😊

  • Kathy Bitzan Kathy Bitzan on Jun 18, 2017

    I would find and empty a closet close by and put shelving inside for storage so it is not all out in the open, it would give you more space and down size. Maybe learn to shop more often. Unless you live miles from a store its not really an option, but might help.

  • Barb Davis Barb Davis on Jun 18, 2017

    Hey Michelle and Kathy,

    I have purged many time's over and what is left are the item's that we need. There are no closets or a pantry. I had already thought about that Kathy and if I had one I never would of put this post on here. We live in the country so the closest grocery store is 30 minutes away from our house. Thank's so much for all of the input Ladies, I really appreciate it.

  • Norris720 Norris720 on Jun 18, 2017

    Barb Davis- Your pictures are very helpful in giving you some suggestions. #1. Where you table is situated you can add a small island(42" high) that has storage underneath and you can use high-back stools to sit at the island (seating for Four) Also you can add shelves on the Clock wall too. #2 If you can move your chest freezer, you can build floor to ceiling storage. My idea is buy two cabinet broom units and build shelves in between they can be stained to match existing cabinets. They can be built on both sides of the windows adding a wall of storage without taking up any more space that is being currently being used. (Home Depot has these per-built unstain cabinets.)

    • Barb Davis Barb Davis on Jun 18, 2017

      Thank's so much for your suggestions, I have thought about doing the island for some time now and it appears to be a great idea. Thank's so much for your suggestions.

  • Linda Santo Linda Santo on Jun 18, 2017

    As a borderline hoarder who fights daily to control the clutter, I just have to ask "What is in the cabinets?" Your countertops are hoarded, the table, etc. Closed shelving would help keep the stuff less visible but IMHO your biggest enemy is YOU! Even if the house is busy how many pots and pans do you need? Something must be hiding in those many cabinets. Time to pull on the big boy pants and PURGE! Your kitchen is not that small.

  • Joy Joy on Jun 19, 2017

    When we lived with very limited storage instead of open storage we bought white closed in storage about 72" x36" with doors. Added a couple more shelves into what came with then I had three of these on one wall but it looked nicer and the clutter or groceries felt put away. And if you feel that thing are driving you crazy this might be why.