When everything is at hand
It is advisable to arrange the main storage place in the kitchen work area. In this case, the ideal arrangement of furniture is lined up on the same line, starting from right to left, stove - countertop - sink.
In a small room, it is advisable to install drawers up to the ceiling. Another advantage is that you can not only organize optimal storage in the kitchen, but also prevent dust from accumulating on surfaces.
On open shelves
If you like open storage or your dishes don't fit in cabinets, wall shelves are a great option. They will add variety to the atmosphere and give it lightness.
Dishes can become a great decoration if they are matched to the interior, have an interesting design, are made of glass or are diluted with decor.
The disadvantage of this solution is dust, which accumulates on the surface of the dishes and complicates cleaning.
You can place an open storage system not only above the work area, but also above the dining table, as well as in any available partition.
Sort by category
Storage locations in the kitchen correspond to the order in which utensils and products are used. It is advisable to sort everything into categories. This is a basic principle that professional chefs adhere to.
All items of the same type must be kept in one place, which helps you quickly find what you need for cooking or serving. For example, all cutting boards should be placed vertically in a specially prepared box.
The same can be done with plastic containers, frying pans, and pot lids. The same rule applies to storing pots in the kitchen. There is one very valuable life hack: you can fold them one into another like a nesting doll, and place the lids separately, in a niche or box nearby.
How to organize space in the kitchen - storage ideas
Organizing the kitchen space is important not only from the point of view of saving space in the room, but also for quickly finding the necessary thing. Interesting ideas will help you use your kitchen in the best possible way.
Reconsider storage methods in lockers
When storing cutlery and utensils in cabinets in a vertical position, it quickly becomes cluttered because you often have to remove items from the back rows. It is better to put things in piles in the dining room.
Install drawers in the basement of the room
It is recommended to make as many cabinets and drawers as possible in the lower tier of the room. They will help you place everything you need, and there will be no need for additional wall cabinets.
Buy a column cabinet
You can organize your kitchen cupboards by installing a pull-out bottle holder. It may look like a tall column cabinet. Often bottles of wine, glasses for wine or other drinks, butter, jars of jam or sauces are stored in a bottle holder.
Pull-out bottle holder
Buy small household appliances
When space is limited, something has to be sacrificed. One method to save space is to buy smaller appliances. Nowadays there are a lot of compact household appliances in online stores, so there shouldn’t be a problem with choosing.
Use a perforated panel
To store items that are hung on the walls, you can install a special panel with holes and attach hooks to the holes. Using this trick, you can hang towels, aprons, ladles or spatulas on the walls. You can also install small shelves for spices, vases with flowers, and plastic containers with products (for example, nuts or loose leaf tea) in the holes.
A panel with perforations will look especially good under corner cabinets.
Install an organizer with slats
The organizer with slats is installed in the closet. This system allows you to store cutlery by category and not confuse them. This is an excellent solution to always keep your cupboard tidy and not have to spend a long time looking for a teaspoon among large spoons and forks. You can also store knives and other small kitchen utensils in the organizer. You can buy such an organizer in stores like Fix Price for a budget price.
Make a mezzanine above the refrigerator
If the footage allows, you can build a mezzanine above the refrigerator and put things there that are rarely used, but cannot be thrown away.
Use magnetic strips
Magnetic strips are ideal for storing knives. They can be hung on the wall so that they do not take up space on the table or in the closet.
Magnetic strips with knives
Use walls and apron
Food cutting boards, knives, towels, ladles and other cutlery sets can be hung on a hook that is attached to the apron. You can also nail a shelf to the wall where glasses, mugs and cans of cereal can be stored.
Devices for storing sugar, salt and spices are often attached to the apron. This is an effective way to quickly find what you need to have on hand while cooking.
Buy a special container for sponges and brushes
Sponges, dish brushes, and detergents are often scattered chaotically in the kitchen. To avoid such clutter, you can purchase an organizer, place it next to the sink and put small items there for cleaning.
Buy a kitchen set with insert drawers
Another useful idea for creating order in the kitchen is to buy furniture with built-in drawers. Such shelves in the closet are suitable for storing bulk products in the kitchen in jars, organizing pots and pans.
Buy whatnots and shelves that can be inserted
Shelf for storing dishes
This type of shelves and shelves (or racks) are suitable if there is no pantry in the house. Even if there is no free space in the room, bookcases can be placed near the window. It is easy to put things in order in such furniture, because the shelves are open, and there is no need to go deep into it.
Shelving is usually made of wood, but you can find a budget option by purchasing plastic furniture.
Leave the freezer and refrigerator 30% empty
You should always leave some space in your refrigerator and freezer. If after going to the store you end up with too many products, you won’t have to hide them on the shelves.
Use multi-tiered structures
Multi-tiered structures in the kitchen
To store pots and pans in the kitchen, you can install multi-tiered structures. It would be nice if they had hooks for hanging pans and ladles. Such designs are also suitable for storing plates and mugs.
Is it worth keeping food in the kitchen?
Of course, all kinds of jars with cereals, pasta and spices should always be on hand. They should be ranked and kept in special sections or containers. Be sure to pee or label each jar.
But is it advisable to store vegetables in the kitchen? If there are few of them, since supplies are replenished regularly, it is worth organizing places for them. Each type of food, whether root vegetable or fruit, should be placed in a separate container. This is true when the room is large and there are spacious drawers for placing baskets of vegetables and fruits.
What kind of furniture exists for storing various items in the kitchen?
For the convenience of housekeeping, most brands that produce furniture and other kitchen accessories try to create models in which it will be convenient to store kitchen utensils. It is also important that it can be taken out of cabinets without difficulty. In addition, there are devices that help organize dishes and cutlery in the kitchen.
Railings
A rail is a metal pipe with hooks that is attached to the top of the wall. Shelves or holders can be attached to the railing. Typically this fixture is mounted on a backsplash, under wall cabinets, or on the edge of a countertop. You can place spices, kitchen accessories, cutlery or towels on it. You can also hang cups here.
Railing in the kitchen
It is not recommended to get too carried away with such devices. Otherwise, the room will look too cluttered and cluttered.
Wall pockets
Fabric wall pockets are usually placed on an unoccupied portion of the wall. Pockets allow you to unload cabinets from small items and cutlery, while they will always be at hand, and there will be no clutter in the kitchen. You can sew a fabric organizer yourself from thick fabric.
Hidden storage systems
Often this type of storage system is organized under the windowsill. It is ideal for owners of small kitchens. Under the window sill you can place a cabinet or a small cabinet with drawers. However, this idea will have to be abandoned if there is a battery under the window.
Kitchen set
The choice of kitchen furniture plays an important role. What to pay attention to when purchasing it:
- capacity;
- design;
- internal filling of cabinets;
- sizes.
The cabinets should have a large number of shelves. It would be nice if there were hooks attached to the doors of the lower cabinets. It is better to store flat plates in hanging cabinets in drying racks. There must be a tray under the dryer for water to drain onto.
Kitchen storage helpers
Designers recommend equipping the kitchen with specialized sections, trays, niches, drawers, which are planned and built in at the stage of ordering the set. It’s a good idea to buy a sofa for the kitchen with a storage box or built-in swing-and-pull systems for utensils.
It is advisable to give preference to drawer dividers. These are excellent helpers that allow you to properly store cooking items, lids for jars and bottles, and all kinds of small things.
Storage conditions
Before organizing the order, it is necessary to conduct an audit. Damaged, old, or rarely used cutlery should be removed. They only take up space and clutter the room. Next we need sorting. We sort them by name. The material of manufacture is of great importance.
Main types:
- stainless steel Practical material. Just wash the cutlery, wipe it dry, or leave it on a towel to dry naturally;
- aluminum _ Does not require special conditions. Can be stored with cutlery made from other materials. The only drawback is that it cannot be left in drinks or food for a long time. Aluminum imparts an unpleasant taste to food;
- cupronickel _ It looks beautiful, but quickly loses its attractive appearance. It is important to always wipe down. It is recommended to organize separate storage. It is important to avoid direct contact with cutlery made of aluminum and stainless steel;
- silver . It may darken, you need to wipe and clean thoroughly. We recommend organizing separate storage. It is advisable to wrap festive cutlery in a soft cloth.
How do you store cutlery?
In a boxOn a stand
Most cutlery is not afraid of moisture, high temperatures, or sunlight. They are used daily and can even be stored on the table. But it doesn’t always look beautiful, it creates visual chaos. We recommend looking for a more convenient place.
To store various cutlery, use stands, organizers, and dividers. They are placed in drawers, on the apron, and on the kitchen countertop.
How to store knives
They should not be kept in cutlery drawers to avoid rapid dulling and deformation. It is worth purchasing a specialized wooden stand with slots designed to accommodate knives of any size.
You can attach a special magnetic strip to the apron area. The blades will “stick” to it. Moreover, this way they will be protected from rust and deformation. By the way, you can make a wall-mounted knife holder with your own hands. To do this, you need to make several holes in a wooden plank and glue magnets into them.
On the rack
Open shelving often serves as a temporary option for storing utensils, but in Scandinavian, industrial and eco-style kitchens, the designs look harmonious and add character to the interior. Open shelving has another significant advantage - you can make it yourself and rationally fill an unused niche.
How to use corner areas under and above the sink
It is advisable to use this place to place a trash can, niches for separate collection of solid waste, detergents, and cleaning equipment - brushes, rags. Many manufacturers produce special pull-out sections for corner spaces under the sink and hanging structures above it.
It is worth purchasing a metalized carousel box with pull-out shelves. By the way, it is advisable to keep the trash can in a retractable niche, which is very convenient.
Form is more important than content
Experts advise using square, rather than round, jars for cereals, pasta, and spices. It’s easier to line them up in a row, saving a lot of usable space. Containers can be glass, tin or plastic, but the main thing is the shape of a square or rectangle.
By the way, this advice is relevant for all storage systems without exception. Square baskets and drawers fit better together, which allows for more efficient placement of utensils and small items.
For washing
It is worth purchasing a special rubberized plastic or silicone organizer for the sink, a very flexible organizer that allows you to hold sponges, graters for cleaning pots and pans, and brushes. With such a system, you can free up space around the sink and protect surfaces from moisture penetration.
How else can you use space in closets?
It is not necessary to line up baskets and drawers on the shelves, or to stack numerous cutting boards, lids or plastic containers vertically. Designers advise attaching small hooks to the top of the cabinet. You can hang cups on them.
If you install hooks in the back wall, you can easily hang ladle, ladles, or colander on them. It is worth installing a special system for storing glasses and glasses in the closet.
Niches
A niche is a recess in the wall with cabinets or shelves located there. For easy storage of kitchen utensils. There can be small household appliances, as well as pots, plates, cereal supplies with seasonings. If you install hooks there, you can place cutting boards or frying pans with ladles. Arched niches look especially beautiful; they are installed as decorative and imitate stucco molding in a classic kitchen style. If it is open, decorative sets of dishes, spices, bottles and jars, designer jewelry, figurines and anything that will harmoniously fit into the interior of the kitchen can be located inside.
Storage systems in kitchen niches for wine and spices.
See also Corner buffet for the kitchen
Open cabinets or shelving
Open cabinets are mainly used in country or Provence style kitchens. This type of shelves is perfect for a small kitchen. The presence of shelving increases the space.
The downside of open cabinets and shelving is dust. But there are some tips on how to reduce its amount:
- Place the shelf away from the stove
- Install the hood
- Place a minimum of items on the shelves, this will make them easier to wipe.
Kitchen floor shelving.
Open shelves keep everything you need at your fingertips, whether it's a cookbook, seasoning, or a jar of jam. If you install a rack from floor to ceiling, then you can place a colossal amount of necessary things in it. This design will allow you to use space sparingly, leave the most necessary things at eye level and remove unnecessary items upstairs. If shelving or open shelves do not fit well into the kitchen interior, they can be placed away from prying eyes, for example, above a window or doorway.
Open shelves can be made of chipboard, MDF and natural wood.
See alsoCorner cabinet for the kitchen
Rails, hooks and magnetic tape
Another multifunctional system is the railing.
In the process of preparing food, in order not to be distracted by searching for spoons and ladle, many housewives give preference to railing systems and magnetic tapes. The railing is a crossbar with hooks hung on it. These hooks can accommodate all kinds of accessories and small items. It is usually attached around the perimeter of the countertop and under the wall-mounted kitchen unit. This system is convenient because you can change the arrangement of objects at your discretion. It can be used as a hanger for potholders and towels. If the kitchen has island parts, then the railing can be attached to the ceiling. Pots and pans are hung there for storage, thereby saving space in the kitchen cabinets.
Railing storage systems in kitchen design.
A magnetic strip or strip is a structure similar to a railing. It is attached to the kitchen apron and, for convenience, kitchen knives, cutlery, and metal jars with spices are placed on it.
There are two ways to attach this structure:
- Screw onto dowels
- Glue onto liquid nails.
Magnetic tape for spice jars.
See also: Photo wallpaper for the kitchen: a new look at design
Perforated Wall Panel
Durable and reliable perforated panels are used in modern kitchen decor to add delicacy and lightness to the interior. It is a hardboard (fibre board) with patterned holes drilled into it. During the hardening process, these panels become impact-resistant and moisture-resistant. There are several design options: Hellas, Lotus, Caesar, City, Techno, Ephesus, Gloria. To decorate the kitchen, panels with a thickness of 5 and 6 mm are used. This is the best option to withstand the average weight of accessories. Typically, a perforated panel marks out an area for attaching kitchen utensils, all kinds of boards, pots, lids, tongs and much more.
Perforated wall panel for storing kitchen items.
See also Living room design 15 sq.m. and design features for various functions
Baskets and boxes
You can use baskets and boxes to organize space in the kitchen. Baskets are most common in the kitchen for storing vegetables and fruits, and all sorts of small items. Organizer boxes are convenient for storing cutlery and food products. The stores offer a large selection of different storage baskets. Wicker, stainless steel, plastic with various compartments, all shapes and sizes. This is a great solution to bring order to open shelving. Organize and decorate the kitchen interior. For example, metal baskets are very convenient for storing all kinds of cereals and seasonings, while designer wicker baskets will perfectly highlight the style of the kitchen. You can store household chemicals, unused dishes, and bulk products in boxes.
Baskets can be used to store vegetables, kitchen towels and various small items.
See alsoFashion trends in kitchen design
Mobile table - cabinet
The ideal solution for a small kitchen is a mobile table - cabinet. It is very compact and functional. It can be used as a work surface, and if opened, you get a full-fledged dining table. The design involves a large number of spacious lower drawers that accommodate tableware, frying pans, ladles, dishes and other kitchen utensils. Many models are equipped with wheels to optimize movement. The corner version of the table - cabinets is usually equipped with a sink and special shelves for storing detergents.
A mobile cabinet table is an excellent solution for a small kitchen.
See alsoKitchen countertop made of acrylic stone. Stylish examples.