Surprising solutions to maximise your small kitchen space

Let’s face it, no one ever really has enough space in their kitchen, and for many of us, the sizeable open-plan palaces seen on TV remain firmly out of reach. The average size of a newly built kitchen in the UK is under 14m, so that doesn’t give you much to play with.

However, with some smart organisational planning and the kitchen storage ideas we’ll give you in this blog, you’ll be able to fit a surprisingly large amount in your small kitchen!

Ways to free cupboard space

There’s a whole host of ways you can capitalise on your cupboards to make the most of your smaller space, and we’ve listed some of our favourite ideas below.

If you have cupboards above and below your kitchen counter, store cookware and baking trays in the lower cupboards and ingredients in the higher ones. Divide your cupboards up this way and your ingredients will be at head height, always within easy reach when you’re cooking. 

Rather than trying to cram your cooking oil into an already stuffed space, invest in some kitchen cupboard organisers. These racks, trays, and stands give you multiple ways to divide up your kitchen storage units. Not only will this help to keep your cupboards clutter-free it’ll also allow you to see what you’re running low on, which should make the weekly shop a little easier!

Similarly, keep your kitchen drawers tidy with a cutlery holder. A mass of knives and forks will take up a bunch of your already limited space, so organisation is key!

Clever countertop storage

Since it’s flat and open, your countertop is your most flexible storage space - yes, even in a small kitchen! One of the best kitchen storage ideas is to invest in affordable racks and holders that let you store items vertically.

Mug trees and kitchen roll holders are a perfect example of this, but you can also easily make more space with kitchen utensil holders and knife blocks, which are particularly beneficial if you lack drawer space.

Kitchen storage jars are absolutely key when it comes to keeping your counters clutter-free. They also help to keep food fresher for longer! Many foodstuffs are so jar-friendly that their holders have their own names, like bread bins, biscuit jars and sugar jars.

Floor-less storage options

There are a couple of ways you can use unoccupied floor space as clever kitchen storage. The trick here is to buy specialist racks that give good ground clearance.

Kitchen trolleys are a great example of this. Depending on the size you go for, you can use these for more or less anything! They’re fantastic because their wheeled bases make them easy to reposition, giving you easier access to what you store inside.

Pot and pan racks are another option. Look for tall racks that reach your waist or higher, as these will utilise the empty space. Looking to really maximise your floor space? Choose a triangular rack that can be tucked neatly away in tight corners that may otherwise be unusable.

Hanging kitchen storage racks

Your kitchen walls offer plenty of storage options beyond your bog-standard tea towel holder. All you need to do is install some sturdy wall hooks wherever you have space, and you can store large objects like frying pans and saucepans.

A kitchen to be proud of

That’s all of our space-saving small kitchen storage solutions for now! Follow these tips and you’ll be able to stash, stow, and tuck all of your kitchen essentials no matter how cramped it seems!

Want to discover more options to make your kitchen seem bigger? Check out our kitchen storage buying guide which breaks them all down so it's easier to decide which is right for you.