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Living in an apartment or small home can provide a challenge when it comes to storage space. And you can only take minimalism so far!
No matter where I’ve lived (and I’ve moved around a lot!), the most difficult room to set up was always the kitchen. There was just never enough space. Counter space, storage space – it always seemed too little.
Which makes keeping the kitchen organized all the more important!
It is easier to prepare food if you know exactly where the ingredients are. And it is easier to keep tidy if everything has its place. This is easier said than done.
I’ve put together a few tips – and then a few fun DIY’s – to keep your kitchen tidy and organized.
Below is a quick step-by-step guide to help you maintain the order of your small kitchen.
How To Keep Your Small Kitchen Organized
Clear Out Your Cabinets
Unless you are extremely careful about what you buy, and do a clear-out of your kitchen regularly, you almost certain have items that you do not need. This could be extra utensils, unused pieces of kitchen equipment, or old and expired food.
The first step in kitchen organization is to purge your kitchen of all the unnecessary items.
Empty your cabinets. Lay all the contents on a flat surface and determine the tools and kitchen equipment you use and cannot do without, then donate or sell those that you do not need.
Do the same with food. If there are food items that are still safe to eat, you can give these away or donate them. For foods that are expired, throw them out.
Sort or Group Similar Items
A functional kitchen is a useful kitchen. However, it has to be functional for how you cook and prepare food. For most, grouping similar items together makes the process of cooking and food prep simpler. All you need to do is open a cupboard and you have all that you need to make a certain dish. Talk about easy meal prep!
A great example of this is making a small coffee station, and keeping your coffee-related items together. No more going back and forth between different cupboards and drawers just to make your morning coffee.
Invest in Clear Containers
An organized kitchen is an investment. So you’ll need to invest a little in order to get a clean and tidy kitchen that requires little time to maintain. To avoid having to rummage through all the bottles and cans in your cupboards or fridge, purchase clear containers to store food such as leftovers or herbs in the cupboard.
Make Use of Vertical Space
A tight kitchen can be difficult to work in. A small apartment cannot afford to have all the storage and furnishings of a big house. If you have limited floor space, don’t forget to use your walls and ceilings to store food and other kitchen gadgets.
Get a few pretty baskets – often used to store items like mail, and place them in a vertical row on your kitchen wall.
Develop a Habit
Cleaning and clearing your kitchen once doesn’t make a completely workable area. You have to keep it organized and to be honest, this is where you start getting into trouble. Create a habit that works for you. Try to put back the things that you use right after you use it. You could also clean in sprints. It is your choice – what matters is that you find the tricks and techniques that work for you.
Organizational DIYs For Your Tiny Kitchen
The DIYs below will help you organize your meal prep area without breaking the bank.
Magnetic Spice Rack
A wide array of spices is necessary in order to make a delicious and flavorful dish. It is always a good idea to stock up on different types of spices since they truly can make a meal better. However, the pain comes when you’re having to deal with all the bottles and packets they come in.
To solve this problem, why not make your very own magnetic spice rack! I’ve two ways it can be done – underneath a top cabinet, or along the side of a cabinet. Whichever one you choose – they are really easy to put together!
Repurposed File Organizers
Sometimes a DIY project is as easy of using a tool for a different purpose. The file organizers that you see in various office supply stores can be used in your kitchen as a tray rack.
You can keep your cookie sheets, cutting boards and baking pans neatly organized – and taking up far less space!
Baskets Are Your Best Friend
Cupboards can easily get very messy when you’re regularly taking items in and out. Baskets are an excellent way to keep everything neat and orderly. Get a few to fit neatly inside your cupboards, and groups similar items in each of the baskets.
Use a Peg Board and Hang it Up
A small kitchen requires smart use of the space available. If you’ve run out of cupboard space – look to the walls.
Install a peg board in one of your walls, and hang those pots and pans up! It also creates a pretty décor feature in your kitchen.
Tension Rods
Tension rods are surprisingly useful! They can be sued for all sorts of DIY projects around the house. The are particularly useful in a small kitchen. My favorite way to use them is to organize cleaning bottles under the sink. You can also use them to hang up dish towels, or inside cupboards to store trays and baking sheets.
As you can see organizing your kitchen doesn’t take much time or effort – just a little bit of creativity. You’ll have an amazing and functional kitchen if you follow just one of these DIY projects or ideas.