If you live in a small kitchen, you know very well how difficult it is to keep everything organized. Just finding a place to store all your kitchen essentials is a feat in itself. With limited counter space and insufficient cupboards, it’s crucial to make every inch of your kitchenette work.
So, take a fresh look at your kitchenette. You may have some unused walls or flat, vertical surfaces, such as the sides of a cabinet. This kitchen space is a goldmine for storing, hanging, and shelving everything from your favorite coffee mug to a long foil box. Here are some clever wall-mounted space savers to fit your small kitchen wall.
Shelving is the best friend in any kitchen, especially one with limited counter and cabinet space. Every kitchen is different, but no matter how small, there is usually at least a part of the wall that can accommodate the smallest shelves. Since shelves come in different lengths and depths, get creative and hang a shelf on an unused surface, such as the space above the stove, the side of a cabinet wall, or even the space above a window.
Tip: Increase shelf storage by hanging hooks underneath the shelves. Or choose a shelf with a built-in hook. For heavier items, such as large jars or glasses, be sure to look for shelves that can hold heavy loads. Shelves with brackets underneath tend to be sturdier than floating shelves. To maximize space, place smaller items in jars or functional containers to reduce the space they take up.
A pot rail, also known as a cutlery rack, is a versatile kitchen gadget that can hold more than just pots and pans. This thin metal rod or strip with an S-shaped hook allows you to hang almost anything that can be partially flat with holes in the handle (for hooks). Think cutting boards, measuring cups, insulated mats, and most cooking utensils.
Most homes or hardware stores have pot racks in their kitchen areas, ranging in length from 18 to 36 inches, and can often accommodate the sides of cabinets, small corners, or space above the stovetop.
Tip: Also look at the towel hardware in the bathroom section. These can be a practical alternative to cutlery racks, with a little extra depth to accommodate bulkier items, such as pots with large handles.
If you’re feeling crafty, you can create your own non-traditional utility shelf. A cool-looking industrial pipe is just fine to be fixed to the wall with a matching bracket. Or, as this photo shows, sturdy branches can add a more organic kitchen detail. Metal S-hooks or J-hooks for DIY pot holders can be found in most kitchens or hardware areas.
By mounting a mesh wire basket on a wall, you’re giving yourself a resourceful and flexible storage option. Metal baskets are durable, lightweight, and available in a variety of sizes. Look for a wire basket with a flat back and wall-mounted hardware. You can also consider using a metal magazine rack. Their relatively flat shape and pockets that are at least 3 inches deep can function perfectly in certain spaces.
As with all wall-mounted space-saving solutions, it’s important to pay attention to the recommended weight load for wire baskets or magazine racks. Check with your handyman to see if larger anchors and hardware will allow you to store heavier loads.
Tip: Add a basket to the sturdy utility rails for more storage space. You can use them to store a variety of items, such as fruit, or even long items, such as foil boxes or pasta boxes, that you may not have the space to store elsewhere.
Storing knives in a toolholder is not always ideal. When counter space is limited, try hanging knives on a magnetic wall-mounted knife holder. This frees up the kitchen counter to prepare food or store small appliances.
Tip: Similar to pot rails, knife strips can hold more than just knives. Try placing other small metal objects on the crossbar, such as small spice jars, metal cookware, and pot lids – they will stick like knives. If you hang the pot on the pot rail, the lid can be placed on the magnetic stripe. Maximize storage possibilities by securing a metal binder, a hook that doubles as a lighter kitchen knick-knack or a cut-out coupon.
Pegboards are one of the more ingenious solutions for organizing and creating space in a small kitchen. Julia Child knows this and is known for using pegboards to store pots and pans and cooking utensils.
The pegboard design is slim and comes in a variety of sizes, providing flexible, smart storage in even the most awkward spaces. Pre-drilled holes are generally suitable for most S-type and J-type hooks. But just in case, measure the holes before buying a hook.
You can cut the pegboard to the desired size or shape. I recommend that your hardware store use a special saw for cutting to eliminate frayed edges. If you try it yourself and end up with some pieces, put the pegboard in the frame and voila! You’ve created a blank canvas ready to decorate with your kitchen essentials.
Tip: To add a more creative element to your kitchen, paint your pegboard and coordinate the colors of the items you are hanging.
Hooks are a typical solution for saving and creating space around the house. Practical, affordable, and small, they are especially useful in small kitchens. We discuss how to use an S-hook throughout the story – on a pot rail or on a peg board. You can also place individual wall hooks on empty walls around your kitchen to hang almost anything with handles, from coffee cups to cutlery and pots.
Add more style to your kitchen with a unique coat hook, as shown in this photo.
Tip: Choose an extended hook with a wall bracket to hang the plant. The extra length of the arm will be far enough away from the wall to hang objects vertically, such as the fruit basket in the picture.
Spices can take up a lot of surface area on cabinets or countertops. If a pull-out built-in spice cabinet isn’t within your budget or space constraints, opt for a wall-mounted. The spice display can be considered an eye-catching decoration. Choose finishes that both stand out and complement the rest of the kitchen. You can try stainless steel, as shown in this photo, or maybe a shabby-chic design.
Tip: Swap out store-bought spice jars for a matching set of small glass jars and coordinated labels to make your spice rack more appealing.
