5 small kitchen must-haves, according to pro home organizers

Chiana Dickson
·6 min read
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Sleek Cube Pendant Light - 8 Inch - Brass hangingin in a small kitchen with a wooden island and sage green cabinets
Sleek Cube Pendant Light - 8 Inch - Brass hangingin in a small kitchen with a wooden island and sage green cabinets

No matter their size, a kitchen is the heart of the home. However, if you are struggling for space, then they can quickly descend into chaos.

While there are plenty of kitchen organizers professionals always buy, there are some specific essentials the pros say are key in small kitchens if you want to save space without compromising on functionality and style.

Here are the five small kitchen must-haves professionals think you should consider for a more practical space.

5 small kitchen must-haves

When organizing a kitchen with a limited footprint, these five small organizers make a huge difference, experts say, if you want to make midweek cooking a calming experience.

1. Pull-out trash cans to save floor space

Large window above sink with white shutter, dark brown kitchen cabinets, kitchen sink, countertops decorated with kitchenware and food
Large window above sink with white shutter, dark brown kitchen cabinets, kitchen sink, countertops decorated with kitchenware and food

Not only are they useful if you are tight on floor space, but they also maintain the clean aesthetic of your kitchen. Pull-out trash bins are a great kitchen storage option for a small cook space, Marilyn LaVergne, kitchen designer and principal at Marilyn LaVergne Interiors shares.

‘Trash management is vital to keeping your kitchen neat and clean. The trash pullout accomplishes this task conveniently without taking up valuable floor space so you are not shuffling around tight corners while trying to cook. Made of high-quality materials, these bins store trash cans under the counter behind cabinet doors. Trash is out of sight, and you avoid the risk of soiling your walls with food splatters and debris.

‘Some pullouts come with two receptacles: one for trash, the other for recycling,’ she continues. ‘Commonly the trash pullout is located under the sink, though almost any door cabinet is suitable.’

Pull-out Trash Cans | $175.99 at Amazon
This pull out trash bin can be fitted to almost any bottom cabinet in your kitchen to keep your waste concealed and out of the way. The two compartments make it simple to separate general waste from recycling, too.View Deal

2. Drawer dividers to make multipurpose drawers

neatly organized kitchen junk drawer
neatly organized kitchen junk drawer

Drawer dividers are a common small kitchen storage idea that every home organizer relies on, but how you use them is just as important as where, points out Theresa Russell, expert home organizer and founder of Home Girl Space.

‘These drawer dividers from Amazon are perfect for keeping items separated into categories,’ she says. ‘I use them for drawers storing multiple different items to help keep everything in order without having to have a designated drawer for every new category of item.’

3. A foldable dish rack

Traditional kitchen with dark wood flooring, white paneled ceiling, gray-beige painted kitchen cabinets, kitchen island with seating, patterned roman blind above sink
Traditional kitchen with dark wood flooring, white paneled ceiling, gray-beige painted kitchen cabinets, kitchen island with seating, patterned roman blind above sink

Small kitchens are less likely to have built-in dishwashers, so finding the space to easily wash up by hand is essential. This is where a folding dish drying rack comes in.

Christina Giaquinto, professional organizer and brand ambassador for Modular Closets says that the best dish rack for small space needs to check off two boxes – take up minimal space and be easy to tidy away. She suggests using a foldable dish rack such as this one on Amazon that checks off both of those boxes and rests over the sink.

‘It allows you to do your dishes, and then quickly fold up and store away. It is also great because it has a double function and can be used when cleaning/air drying fruits and vegetables.’

4. Shelf risers to increase cabinet space

Kitchen sink and counter with cabinets above and below and to one side in neutral painted finish
Kitchen sink and counter with cabinets above and below and to one side in neutral painted finish

Cabinet space is precious in a small kitchen, and you are likely familiar with the struggle of having to share the storage space with multiple categories of items just to fit everything in. The best way to increase this space, Christina Giaquinto, professional organizer says, is to invest in a few different shelf risers to make storing smaller items a little more streamlined. We like this shelf-riser from Amazon.

Alternatively, for taller shelving and cabinets, a lazy susan may be better suited, adds Diane Quintana, professional organizer and owner of DNQ Solutions. ‘This organizer lets a person see and access things in awkward spaces, such as condiments, vitamins, containers – the list is endless.’

5. An adhesive bin to cabinet doors for quick-grab essentials

kitchen cabinets and porcelain sink
kitchen cabinets and porcelain sink

When organizing cabinets in a small kitchen, it helps to think outside of the box – literally! Taking your storage up onto the cabinet door can be a great way to double your small kitchen storage without encroaching on your counters or floor, advises Raychel Klein, professional organizer and CEO at RayBay Bay Home Organizing.

‘I try to utilize the back of cabinet doors with adhesive bins, like these from Amazon. This is great, especially for under the sink when you need to grab things like sponges and plastic bags quickly, but realistically you can use the bins for anything you need, so long as it is strong enough to hold the weight of the items.’

Adhesive Cabinet Bins | $18.99 at Amazon
These adhesive cabinet bins are perfect for adding that little extra cabinet space to tight spots like small kitchens, or bathrooms. View Deal

FAQs

How do you stock a small kitchen?

When stocking a small kitchen, it helps to not have more than what you need. While there is a trend of buying in bulk and refilling glass containers as they empty, this is only practical if you have a large enough pantry to stow away half-open bags. Instead, use air-tight jars to limit yourself to stocking the exact amount of food that fits in your pantry, and only buy more when that container is either empty or has one portion left in it.

Where should I put everything in my small kitchen?

If you are struggling for space in a small kitchen, then it is worth eliminating empty space in the kitchen by working with every available surface. Once you have placed your major appliances in a triangle formation to make your kitchen easy to navigate, use wall-mounted organizers like hooks, boards, and hangers to take your storage vertical for items like aprons, towels, utensils, and pans. You can even store non-essentials on the tops of kitchen cabinets so they can be reached when needed and kept out of the way when not.

When organizing a small kitchen and adding new storage options, Raychel Klein, a professional organizer, always suggests measuring your kitchen first – no matter how big or small an organizer you are considering. Be sure to thoroughly measure your cabinet and shelves, and buy bins/containers that maximize the space.

'Specifically for deep areas, I like to make bins go as far back as possible,’ she says. Measuring first will make sure everything fits well and you are not wasting further space when it is so precious.