How to Organize a Small Kitchen

The kitchen is the hub of the home. It is the place you make your meals to nourish yourself and your family. If you are an apartment dweller or live in an older home, you may have a very small kitchen. Small kitchens can be challenging to live with, especially if you love to cook, but there are ways you can organize a small kitchen to make the most of the space in which you have to work. Here are some tips to help you organize your small kitchen.

If you cook frequently, you know that there are certain tools you need for certain jobs. However, you can free up a lot of space in your kitchen by making your kitchen tools earn their place in your small kitchen. For example, You don't need several pots and pans unless you regularly cook for 25 people. All you need is a deep pan to saute, fry, make one pan meals, and to stir fry. Similarly, all you need in the way of pots is a large pot, a medium pot, and a small pot. Reduce the number of utensils and small appliances as well. Do you really need that fondue maker? You can melt cheese in a small pot if you really have the need! Same with an electric tea kettle. Keep a small pot on the stove. Only keep things on the counters that you use every day, such as a coffee maker. These small, free, steps can go a long way to organize a small kitchen space. If you have a space for a magnetic knife rack, or to hang your pots, this is the way to go to organizing a tiny kitchen. It will free up a lot of cabinet space.

Pare down your dishes to only a service for four, or however many people are in your family. Donate every coffee mug that you wouldn't rescue in a fire. Use the top cabinets, you know, the ones none of us can reach, to store things you only use seasonally. Serving dishes, holiday linens, and those Christmas snowman plates you can't bear to part with. When you have a small kitchen, you can't afford to let any space go unused. This includes your range hood and refrigerator front. Ikea and The Container Store make really cute magnetized spice containers. You can store bulk spices, and keep spices organized in your small kitchen by sticking your spices to your fridge.

You can put shelving in your kitchen, too. A great place for shelving is the space above the sink in your small kitchen, provided you don't have a window. Here you can store a soap dish, sponge, and dish detergent, so as to keep your counters free. You can also put open shelving above the sink to display vintage dishes or brightly colored Fiestaware. The clearer your counters are in your small kitchen, the more organized it will appear.

Remember, pare down, keep those counters clean, and use the high cabinets for seasonal storage. Hang pots, stick spices, and put up some shelving. These are free, easy, and fast ways you can organize a small kitchen. Bon appetit!