Kitchen countertop storage ideas

28 Kitchen Countertop Organization Ideas (With Inspiring Photos)

Organize & Clean

Cleaning

Kitchen

Organizing

updated Jul 29, 2022

Shifrah Combiths

Lauren Wicks

We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

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We all dream of ending our weeknight meals with a clean kitchen, but is that even possible? Our countertops are often the worst offenders, already full of books and baubles before we even begin the cooking process. Minimal clutter equals less cleaning time because counters can be sanitized more easily, and a bit of editing can make a world of difference in keeping your kitchen in ship-shape.

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Don’t worry maximalists, an organized countertop doesn’t have to be a bare one. We also love a lived-in look that reflects one’s design (and cooking) personality or that is made more functional by placing everyday use items in convenient places. Read on to discover brilliant kitchen counter organization ideas that will suit your design preferences and cookspace habits.

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1. Install open-shelving on an open wall.

If you can’t imagine parting with anything in your kitchen, make room! We love how an under-utilized kitchen corner in this Savannah home is a beautiful place to house favorite entertaining pieces and serveware, thanks to the simple addition of a few wooden shelves.

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2. Use trays to keep your daily essentials looking pretty.

There’s no need to get rid of everything on your kitchen counters, especially if some of those items are things you use daily—or more. Here, this kitchen counter of this Hollywood home features a vintage-inspired tray that functions as a coffee bar to ensure that stumbling to the french press each morning is a bit easier.

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3. Upgrade (or buy new) the kitchen island to become a storage workhorse.

This U.K. farmhouse is full of brilliant touches, but the kitchen island may be the best yet. The gorgeous piece is not only a great place to pull up to and finish homework or catch up on emails, but it has ample storage space below, plus it stores the family’s wine collection for easy sipping.

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4. Make the most of your kitchen’s architectural quirks.

Pack rats and maximalists, this one’s for you. Instead of tossing out some pieces you love, create room where few other items would fit. Here, in this San Diego loft, adding a hanging shelf from the bottom of the “second floor” makes room for more color and more of the renter’s entertaining essentials.

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5. Outsource a nearby wall.

Again, those who love having lots of things but want to keep the kitchen clean may want to utilize an adjacent wall in a hallway or nearby room. This way, your kitchen can remain sparking and serene without having to compromise on which pieces stay and go. This New England farmhouse executes this idea brilliantly and makes it quite the photo-worthy moment.

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6. Store as little as possible on the counter.

It seems obvious, but this is the foundation of your whole clean-counter mission. Store as much as you can in organized cabinets and drawers, saving countertop space for the absolute essentials. Much like the always-clean-sink principle in which you do your best to not even leave one dirty dish in there to avoid attracting more, a cleared-off counter is much more likely to stay that way.

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7. Declutter your kitchen.

The best way to create more space anywhere in your kitchen is to get rid of anything you don’t really need. Some common categories of things you can probably get rid of include: duplicate kitchen tools, cookbooks you don’t ever (or rarely) use, and almost all those coupons and other paper scraps.

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8. Hang knives from a magnetic knife rack

Rather than taking up counter space with a bulky knife block, hang knives from a magnetic strip instead. They will still be just as accessible but won’t take up any valuable horizontal surfaces.

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9. Streamline your decoration.

If you like a lived-in look, try giving your countertops a more cohesive design so it appears more organized. This Scandinavian-meets-boho home has a number of things on the countertops, but they are all in the same colors and match the aesthetic of the room itself.

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10. Group items together.

Placing items that live on your counters together in eye-pleasing vignettes gives a far more orderly appearance than items spread out across the whole space. Groupings look meaningful and artistic instead of like stuff that has no other home.

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11. Get cookbooks off the counter.

Unless you’re truly referring to each of them each day, your cookbooks are likely better off on a shelf up high, or even somewhere outside of the kitchen, rather than taking up counter space.

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12. Keep attractive, large cookware on the stove top.

A beautiful (albeit large) Dutch oven can live on your stove top. This frees up valuable real estate inside your cabinets, so you can use that space to store smaller things that you may otherwise be tempted to keep on top of your counter.

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13. Or, use the top of the fridge.

Same concept here: freeing up cabinet space and therefore kitchen counter space. While we may not store something utilitarian on top of the fridge for fear of it looking out of place, the Dutch oven must be left out for viewing pleasure, and its placement near a plant suggests the deliberateness of the move.

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14. Distract the eye.

These counters are delightfully bare already, but the use of eye-catching stools ensures that any viewer’s gaze is pulled to the blue color rather than anything sitting on the counters.

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15. Don’t allow certain items to stay out on display.

It’s unrealistic (and maybe undesirable) to have a kitchen counter that’s completely empty. It’s a good idea to create your own rules for keeping countertops clear of items like appliances, pantry staples, mail, or olive oil—it’s better in a cool, dark place.

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16. Add hooks to your backsplash.

Instead of keeping sink-side essentials (like a dish scrubber and tea towel) taking up space on the counter, add a few removable adhesive hooks to your backsplash above or right next to the sink.

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17. Use the sides of your cabinets for storage.

A hook-and-rail system is perfect for storing small kitchen tools. By freeing up the space they take in your drawers, you could clear your whole utensil urn off the countertop.

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18. Install a pegboard for ample wall storage.

A pegboard opens up so many storage possibilities. This pegboard stores several types of items that are often stored on top of the counters, including oil and vinegar bottles, a pepper mill, wooden spoons, canisters, and a cutting board.

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19. Add a shelving unit for a more efficient cooking zone.

Adding a shelving unit to your kitchen can make your counters the workspaces they’re intended to be. The wire shelving unit above stores several typical “counter items,” including a stand mixer, fruit bowl, and knife block.

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20. Hang your fruit.

We get that leaving your produce out helps ensure that it gets eaten before it’s past its prime. But traditional fruit baskets take up valuable counter space. A hanging fruit basket makes excellent use of vertical space and frees up usable square footage on your countertop.

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21. Use a ceiling rack for more than just pots and pans.

S-hooks allow you to hang just about anything from a ceiling rack that’s traditionally used for pots and pans. Hanging cooking utensils like spatulas and tongs that are often stored in containers frees up your countertop yet keeps them perpetually within reach.

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22. Bring in a moveable island.

Even a tiny rolling island can free up counter space. Use it to house something that’s been kept on your actual counter, like a butcher block. One with a shelf or two underneath opens up even more storage possibilities.

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23. Store things (like cutting boards and tools) on the inside of a cabinet door

Rather than leaning them against your backsplash or putting them in a jar, hang adhesive hooks on the inside of a cabinet door to store your cutting boards and kitchen tools.

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24. Use cake stands as “trays.”

Even if the items you set on your cake stands aren’t completely off your counter, simply elevating them above the counter with a cake stand gives the same contained look that a tray accomplishes and makes it particularly easy to clean around. Set oil and vinegar, salt and pepper, or even your dish soap and sponge on them. Plus, it creates a nice layered look with the different levels.

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25.

Lazy Susans also make good trays.

Countertop items can also be contained on lazy Susans. What’s nice about these is that you can store a bit more on them and still have access to the items. This can lend an overall cleaner look because the items you have out are less spread apart.

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26. Store your extra scrubbers and sponges on the inside of cabinet doors.

Shelves that stick to the inside of your cabinet doors are the perfect out-of-sight place to store items that you may otherwise leave on the counters adjacent to the sink.

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27. Store cutting boards upright.

If you must keep your cutting boards out, consider storing them upright rather than setting them horizontally on the counter. You’ll take up far less counter space and still have your boards at arms-length.

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28.

Hang a storage rod on the wall.

Adding a rod with hooks to a kitchen wall frees up drawer and cabinet space in order to ultimately free up counter space.

Our Stylists' Favorite Kitchen Counter Organization Essentials

When it comes to kitchen counter organization, who better to gain inspiration from than the pros? The following ideas come straight from our

Taste of Home stylists, so you can be sure they're the cleverest—and most stylish—picks to be found.

Every editorial product is independently selected, though we may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you buy something through our links. Ratings and prices are accurate and items are in stock as of time of publication.

1 / 20

Via Food52.com

Two-Tiered Lazy Susan

“I love the bare wood look on this space-saving lazy susan,” says Stacey Genaw, one of Taste of Home‘s set stylists. Its clean design will blend in with most kitchen aesthetics, and its two-tiered design effectively doubles its usefulness.

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2 / 20

Via Crateandbarrel.com

16-Cube Bamboo Spice Rack

There’s nothing less appealing than an assortment of mismatched, disorganized spices. This streamlined kitchen counter organization spice rack allows you to clearly organize and display your favorite herbs. The timeless bamboo frame and collapsible iron stand set this rack apart from the crowd.

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3 / 20

Via Crateandbarrel.com

Bamboozle Composter

By now, we should all start composting at home—but many tabletop composters are ugly, smelly or some combination of the two. This sleek compost bin gets our stylists’ stamp of approval for its modern design and its carbon filter, which keeps odors locked in. It also gets bonus points for being made of renewable, biodegradable bamboo fiber and cornstarch.

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4 / 20

Via Food52.com

The Baker Dock & Utensil Crock

Modern chefs will instantly fall in love with this genius dock and utensil crock. It’s a multi-tasking kitchen counter organization tool that keeps your phone clearly displayed when scrolling through a recipe, while also providing a place to dock your most-used utensils. It makes a clever gift for cooks of all kinds.

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5 / 20

Via Westelm.com

Yamazaki Tower Bread Box

Among our favorite small kitchen decor and design ideas is to use multifunctional products. This bread box allows for storage inside and on top, making it a smart choice for small spaces. We like the idea of assembling a cute coffee station or tea setup on top for both style and function.

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6 / 20

Via KnappsKnots/Etsy. com

Macrame Produce Hammock

“I personally have one of these and love it,” says senior set stylist Missy Franco. “Countertop space is a minimum at our house and this does a great job freeing up much-needed space! And it’s so cute with its neutral design!” After all, why use a produce bowl when a macrame produce hammock is so much cooler?

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7 / 20

Via Crateandbarrel.com

Bendt Tiered Iron Fruit Baskets

When kitchen counter organization space is limited, think vertically. These fruit baskets—available in either two or three tiers—increase storage space with the same footprint. And since they’re made with a mesh material, they’ll provide good airflow and keep food fresh for longer.

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8 / 20

Via Containerstore.com

Bamboo Magnetic Knife Strip

Save crucial drawer or countertop storage by sticking your knives to the wall. This knife strip uses magnets to hold your tools in place, but its bamboo exterior is a more stylish choice than your typical metal strip.

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9 / 20

Via Urbanoutfitters.com

Mason Stacking Bin

Whether you hang this stacking bin on the wall or prop it up against your countertop, it’s a kitchen organizing idea that will save your sanity. No longer will spices be stored out of reach or often-used recipes be left in a drawer to stain and crumple—now, all your important items are right where you need them.

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10 / 20

Via Shopterrain.com

Iron Rail

Not only is this iron rail a sly way to display your pretty kitchen accessories, but it also keeps the utensils within easy reach when cooking. It does require some assembly, but it won’t be going out of style anytime soon.

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11 / 20

Via Potterybarn. com

Soap & Lotion Caddy

Upgrade your kitchen soap situation with this blacksmith-inspired soap and lotion caddy. We like that you can fill the two bottles with the liquids of your choice and easily refill as needed.

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12 / 20

Via Potterybarn.com

Chateau Wood Mug Tree

Continuing with the theme of utilizing vertical space, a mug tree is an excellent option when you’re low on cabinet storage. This one is made of chateau wood and comes in either a black or brown finish, so you can choose the one that matches your kitchen best.

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13 / 20

Via Food52.com

Magnetic Kitchen Cloth Holder

“I like this for a different way to hang your dishrag instead of over the neck of your faucet,” says set stylist Stacey Genaw. The magnetic kitchen cloth holder comes in either stainless steel or black bio-steel composite, and both are attractive kitchen counter organization options.

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14 / 20

Via Food52.com

Expandable Countertop Shelf Rack

We dare you to find a more clever—or customizable—kitchen counter organization idea than this one. This countertop shelf rack expands to your desired length, includes five storage hooks, and provides an additional level of real estate for all your essentials.

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15 / 20

Via infiniteabyss/Etsy.com

Rustic Memo Board

No more keeping your grocery pad on the countertop to get stained with spills. This memo board provides a space to organize your thoughts, and it’s an easy way to add farmhouse style to your kitchen.

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16 / 20

Via EcohouseFinds/Etsy.com

Jute Hanging Basket

These jute baskets are “great hanging storage with a rustic feel,” says stylist Missy Franco. “I love the texture and shape of these baskets. They can be used for produce or even things like pens or message center-type items.”

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17 / 20

Via Potterybarn.com

Desktop Organizer

Why does it seem like the kitchen is always the place where all your bills, outgoing mail, coupons and notepads converge? This desktop organizer provides a home for it all, with a slim footprint that lays neatly against the wall.

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18 / 20

Via Potterybarn.com

Wall Mug Rack

If you can never resist buying a cute mug when you see one, you’re not alone—and now you can finally feel justified in your purchase. This wall mug rack turns all your favorite mugs into displayable works of art. The best part? It holds up to 27 (yes, 27!) mugs at once.

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19 / 20

Via Food52. com

Wood-Handled Dish Rack

This isn’t your average dish rack. Sure, it’s just as functional as traditional versions, but it’s a whole lot more upscale. The wood-handled dish rack contains organization for plates, and its silverware caddy can be moved wherever it’s most useful at the moment.

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20 / 20

Via AlansCreationsUS/Etsy.com

Spice Organization Tray

If it seems like there’s never enough drawer space to contain your spices, consider installing this mounted organization tray beneath your cabinets. Simply lower it down when you need to access its contents, then lift and latch to hide it away again.

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Originally Published: February 04, 2022

Megan Mowery

As Senior Shopping Editor, Megan is an expert at helping Taste of Home readers find products that will improve their lives. She covers anything from must-buy Amazon products to tried-and-tested product reviews. You can usually find her online shopping, learning a new craft, or caring for her jungle of plants.

30 Brilliant Kitchen Storage Ideas - INMYROOM

DIY

Perforated wall panel, mesh baskets, magnetic bar - we've rounded up the best, as well as budget-friendly and practical storage ideas for kitchen utensils and accessories. They definitely won't give clutter a chance.

With the bathroom storage sorted out, we went on the offensive, declaring war on kitchen clutter. Maintaining order here is not so easy - as a rule, a kitchen set cannot cope with crockery, appliances and other utensils. But we have a solution: with the help of small tricks you will not only put things in order in the kitchen, but also save space interior. Read on and get started!

Idea #1: Strictly Vertical

Vertical Storage – the best solution for a small kitchen. Compact shelves do not take up much space, but easily fit all your dishes.

Idea #2: out of sight

A pull-out mesh baskets inside kitchen cabinets are a great place for a secret hiding place for detergents.

Idea #3: in limbo

Also, don't forget about hanging mesh baskets, in which it is convenient to store not only cups, but also vegetables and fruits.

Idea #4: horizontally side by side

Kitchen functionality can be easy to increase with rails. Today, they produce many different modules, hooks, special jars for spices.

Idea #5: side by side

There are never too many shelves - buy several additional mesh baskets in chrome color, you will solve the storage problem forever utensils.

Idea #6: In plain sight

It's not easy to put everything together pots and pans in one kitchen drawer! Better hang them next to the hood or on the wall by the door. A special perforated wall panel will help you with this.

Idea #7: an original approach

Space in the very corner of the kitchen quite difficult to use. To solve this problem will help special retractable racks and corner boxes of a special design.

Idea #8: Clean and tidy

Use drawer dividers to make them more functional. Now it will be much easier to maintain order!

Idea #9: Gravity Force

Attach the knives to the wall - and in the literal sense of the word. A special magnetic bar will show them who is there main!

Idea #10: house of spices

spice jars. Attach them, for example, to the wall of the refrigerator or inner cabinet door.

Idea #11: Take the height

Use special racks for pans and pots - so you can use the entire space of the drawer and you do not have to go through them before each cooking.

Idea No. 12: successfully hooked

A bulky covers from frying pans and pots are conveniently stored using simple crossbars: attach them to a free surface of the wall in a place convenient for you.

Idea #13: along the wall

Metal shelves-pockets will help to place covers on the wall of the kitchen cabinet. If the cabinet is fully occupied, such a shelf can also be placed outside the cabinet.

Idea #14: Everything is in its place!

Inside the cupboard, you can conveniently store not only crockery, but also narrow boxes of pasta and dough. Just attach a vertical drive to the door - and it will fully justify its new place.

Idea #15: in shabby chic style

corners of the kitchen behind rolls of foil or film, hang them directly on the wall - using an old hanger.

Idea #16: within reach

Remember how convenient look through postcards or small souvenirs on turntables in the store. Add several mobile racks in one of the cabinets - and all the jars and containers with spices will always be at hand.

Idea #17: under control

Tired of clearing crumbs from your candy box? Solve this problem once and forever, pinching the packages with cookies with a regular clothespin.

Idea #18: Helper Labels

Stop wasting time looking for salt or sugar by labeling the lids jars in which you store cereals and grains.

Idea #19: Organize

Organizing your recipes will speed up the cooking process. No more throwing around the kitchen: put all the recipes in one place, or better - in alphabetical okay.

Idea #20: practical example

In wall cabinets too little space! Attach hooks to shelves and hang coffee cups on them. BUT store glasses under the shelves - upside down.

Idea #21: Stand in a row

Long, narrow shelves are easy to attach to the wall and are ideal for storage of spices and various bottles of oils.

Idea #22: a place in the sun

To the very top of the kitchen headset you need to put what you rarely use. For example, let it be baskets of alcohol or dishes for preparing festive dishes.

Idea #23: Surprise shelving

uncomfortable places. For example, sliding kitchen cabinets.

Idea No. 24: for the little ones

Numerous spices a place in packages from under "Tik-tak". Just don't forget to sign them!

Idea #25: effective decor

Dishes can be stored not only in closed cabinets, but also on narrow open shelves. Let your favorite service become original kitchen decor!

Idea #26: Board Basket

Cutting Board Company will no longer fall down the sink when introduced to the compact basket. Choose models from artificial rattan - a material resistant to moisture.

Idea #27: Budget Idea

Don’t Throw Canned Food jars and rusted rakes, because with proper processing they can be useful for storing kitchen accessories - spoons, forks and spatulas.

Idea #28: smart approach

A compact magnetic shelves for little things you can do with your own hands. You will need small baskets of hardware store, magnets and superglue.

Idea #29: go home!

By purchasing a few plastic food sorting containers, you will not only free up space in the refrigerator, but also facilitate cleaning in it.

Idea No. 30: little tricks

Don't forget to use the lower parts of the cabinets - in drawers or baskets right under the headset it is convenient to store cereals and grains, as well as materials for creativity and needlework.

12 ideas how to organize storage in the kitchen

Categories: All about furniture ² , Kitchens ⁸⁷ , Living rooms ² , Bedrooms ³ , Hallways ²

If you have limited space to organize your kitchen utensils, it is very difficult to use every centimeter. Endless utensils, jars and pots may soon fill the space of kitchen cabinets, so it is necessary to think about the organization of storage in the kitchen.

Clever storage solutions with a bespoke kitchen set will make life in the kitchen much easier, whether you use the space for cooking, work or play.

For most families, the kitchen is the center of the home. To avoid cluttering your countertops, check out these practical storage ideas. They will keep the room functional and beautiful.

Make the most of your corner cabinets

Rotating corner storage helps keep your kitchen organized and provides easy access to kitchen utensils.

The corner table can accommodate bulky items - pots, pans, etc. Thanks to the different door styles and colors, you can match the corner cabinet to any kitchen.
Watch the video review of the magic corner in the corner table straight

If you have limited space for a corner cabinet, corner drawers will be the way out.

Cutlery storage boxes

Storage boxes make life in the kitchen much easier. You can store serving and silver cutlery in them.
This is perfect for a busy modern kitchen filled with gadgets and gizmos. Scissors, a pizza cutter will find a place in the drawer, it also has a compartment for cutlery.

Drawers with which draw-out mechanism are the most convenient? Which to choose? Watch in our video review:

Pencil cabinet

Pencil case is a popular storage option for modern kitchens. Being inside the kitchen, it is a practical storage solution while maintaining the style of the room. The advantages of the pencil case are obvious: compact, roomy, functional.

Use wall storage

Store essential kitchen utensils in close proximity. If you have few cabinets and drawers, but enough dishes and accessories, wall storage is a good solution. Use the space to store everyday items such as decorative mugs, coffee, tea and sugar.

With the help of the railing, you can not only decorate the kitchen, but also increase its functionality, since the railing can accommodate a considerable number of items and at the same time save space, which is so valuable for a small kitchen. On the railing, you can (if desired) place hooks, mesh shelves, holders for bottles, glasses, towels, knives, lids, hanging drying and even a holder for cookbooks. The choice of accessories is very wide, which will make the kitchen not only comfortable, but also cozy.

How to make the kitchen more functional with the help of the railing system, see our detailed video review.

Add a pull-out organizer: Bottle Desk

If you don't have room for a pantry, a pull-out organizer paired with a door can offer you a neat and alternative storage solution.

Maximizing closet space, the pull-out organizer keeps everything within easy reach, which is practical for everyday use.

Make use of the space under the sink

Install the draw-out U-shaped basket in the sink table. What does a roll-out basket under the sink give?
- full extension with closer;
- is installed in a sink table with a width of 900 mm;
- is easy to use - everything is at hand;
- is an excellent place to store household chemicals and cleaning supplies.
The waste basket is most often placed in the table under the sink, it is convenient to do this:

Use the space under the bar counter

Acting as a dining area, very often the bar counter is also part of the desktop and storage space.
If space is available, a breakfast bar kitchen set can offer additional storage space. Chests of drawers and cabinets can easily be hidden under a long tabletop.

Use the plate drawer

Sturdy and deep plate drawers keep bowls, plates and cutlery within reach.
Where is the best place to store dishes? Types of dishwashers Watch in our video review!

If space is available, use the extra space to store pans and oven trays.

Open Shelves

A popular trend for both modern and traditional kitchens, shelving allows decorative kitchen utensils to be beautifully arranged.

Various colors and designs are available, but be careful not to make the kitchen look cluttered and untidy.

Pull-out shelves are a practical alternative. They provide easy access to kitchen utensils. You won't have to reach out to reach the pots deep in the corner.

Use the combination of fronts - open shelves with the SlideLine system:

Use the space behind the plinth

To effectively use every centimeter of the kitchen behind the plinth under the oven, place tables under the built-in oven with the Orga Box plinth system, manufactured by Hettich company.
Add narrow shelves

Narrow shelves are ideal for storing spices and oil bottles. To prevent items on the shelves from creating visual noise and clutter, use the same vessels, one of the best options is glass jars and bottles of the same size. Also, with the help of these shelves, you can add zest to the kitchen by placing decor items.
Open shelves for plates

You can store dishes not only in the tables and cupboards of the kitchen set, but also in open shelves.

Add containers

The functionality of kitchen furniture is determined not only by the equipment of various types of mechanisms, but also by the organization of the internal space of drawers and modules with hinged facades.

The container systems presented above have a rather high cost, the most budgetary way is to use ordinary baskets that can be purchased at a hardware store.