After a good 6 months of house hunting and perpetual disappointment, I’ve gotten a lot more into the idea of making the most of what you’ve got. Not only because I figure I might be in it for awhile, but also because I’m now fairly confident my first-home kitchen is going to be very far from the kitchen of my dreams…

Now, if you are the sort of person who spends a bit of time in the kitchen then you’ll appreciate how important it is that this place, no matter how small, is a clean and organised place. You’ll also agree that there’s nothing worse than feeling like you’re drowning in miscellaneous cutlery or dishes while you’re trying to make a salad.

The good news is the kitchen is one place where there’s a lot you can do to get more out of it and turn it into a space that’s not only clean and organised, but one you’ll enjoy being in too. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Use the Space Above Cabinets

This is often an overlooked & under utilised storage space. For a very long time we used to use this for storing the boxes for old appliances, when all along we could have been using it to store pretty serving dishes & bowls!

 

2. Hang Up Pots & Pans

Hanging pots & pans on a rod can create more room on both counter tops and in cabinets.

 

3. Add Your Own Shelves

Shelves can in fact be installed relatively easily on any open wall. Take advantage of unused areas to put up shelves that you can then use for storage.

Alternatively, you can get these neat portable wire rack things called ‘shelf helpers’ which instantly add new shelving levels into your existing space. Boom.

 

4. Contain Clutter with Trays

Trays are very good at ‘containing’ and improving the appearance of virtually anything, which makes them perfect for ‘containing’ various elements of clutter on your kitchen counters.

 

5. Organise Your Draws

You can get more storage out of deep draws (you know the ones typically designed to hold pots and pans) by using plastic cartons and/or baskets to contain smaller items. Think herbs and spices or small baking accessories like food colouring & cookie cutters.

 

6. Buy Appliances Made for Small Kitchens

This is especially important for smaller kitchens. Many manufacturers know that many of us struggle with limited space in the kitchen, and there are many appliances available designed especially to fit in smaller spaces – like a food processor which can blend, mix & whizz all in one, or the Fisher & Paykel DishDrawer which is designed to slot in almost anywhere.

 

 

7. Get Your Own Kitchen Island or Cart

While counter space isn’t an issue for me, if it was a kitchen cart would be a no-brainer. These genius creations give you the benefits of a kitchen island, with the flexibility of moving it to best suit your needs. You’ve also go the option of creating a bit of storage space underneath. Genius.

 

 

Keeping a clean & organised question really isn’t a question of how much space you’ve got, but using it well to contain clutter and maximise storage space. What are some clever ways you’ve found for getting the most out of your kitchen space?

Image credit: The Kitchn, Home Talk, Honey We’re Home