Kitchen Storage Hacks to Make Life Easier
Not everyone has the luxury of a large, spacious kitchen in their home. In a small kitchen, every inch of counter space is important to help keep clutter at bay.
Take your tiny space to the max with these smart and straightforward kitchen storage and organising tips.
Smart Kitchen Storage Hacks to Maximise Every Inch
Kitchens are one of the busiest rooms in any home, and they’re often the quickest to feel cluttered. Between cookware, utensils, appliances and food storage, it doesn’t take much for cupboards and countertops to become overcrowded.
The good news is that creating more space doesn’t always require a full renovation. With a few clever adjustments and smarter storage solutions, even small kitchens can feel organised, functional and easy to maintain.
Below are practical, space-saving ideas that help you use every inch more efficiently while keeping your kitchen neat, accessible and stress-free.
Store pans sideways
Use drying racks to stack pans, cutting boards, lids, and baking trays horizontally to save space in your cupboards and presses.
Storing them this way also makes them easier to access as you will be able to see every item more clearly when you open the cupboard door.
Invest in a magnetic knife bar
Although they look professional, knife blocks take up far too much counter space. Instead, store knives and kitchen utensils on a magnetic strip on your wall.
A magnetic strip placed up high also keeps sharp knives out of the sight (and hands) of children.
Choose a hollow island with built-in storage space
If your kitchen is large enough to have an island as a countertop space, maximise its storage potential by choosing a design that has shelving or built-in storage underneath.
This is a great way to gain back extra storage space, and as it’s below the eye line you won’t notice the extra items and objects stored there.
Keep sink space neat and tidy
Get wet sponges and scrubbers off your countertop by placing them in desk organisers, and store often-used cooking utensils in mason jars.
Another way to save space around the sink is to mount a drying rack to the wall, instead of having it by the sink.
Get creative with forgotten spaces
Think about all of the surface areas and spaces in your kitchen and get creative about using them for storage. For example, the sides of lower cabinets and cupboards can be used to hang heavy items like pans and chopping boards with hooks.
Metal coat hooks are inexpensive, easily available and work well for hanging heavier items- plus they have the added benefit of looking stylish and cool in a kitchen setting!
Add “drawers” to deep cupboards and presses
Store your table linens, placemats, cloth napkins and other softer items in removable drawers or boxes, such as these ones from Ikea.
This makes it easier to see them and to access the items, but it also frees up space in deep presses so that you can store more in them.
Repurpose magazine holders into freezer shelves
Again, get creative with any extra office supplies you have laying around and use them in different storage contexts.
Adding a couple of magazine holders stacked horizontally to the back of your freezer is great for organising and storing bags of frozen fruits and veggies. Metal or plastic magazine holders work best for the freezer.
Invest in a thin storage rack on wheels
A favourite of home interiors bloggers and city dwellers with tiny kitchen spaces, a tall and skinny storage rack on wheels are perfect for storing items in the awkwardly designed spaces in your kitchen, while also looking stylish and aesthetically pleasing.
Proudly display your French press and coffee set up here, and then wheel it away to a space that gets minimal traffic where it can be hidden away out of sight.
Top Tips for Keeping Your Kitchen Clean
Much like dancing or painting, cooking is a skill that does not come naturally to everyone. Truth be told, the ability to dice veggies with ninja-like precision or make mouth-watering dishes without a recipe is an art form.
However, if you’re tired of struggling with the most basic kitchen tasks and are ready to explore your culinary side, we’ve got the top kitchen hacks to make you feel like a cooking know-it-all.
Removing eggshell fragments
Instead of chasing around a tiny bit of shell with a fork, spoon or your fingers, simply use a larger shell fragment to scoop them up.
Peeling a kiwi
Slice the ends off of a ripe kiwi, gently slide a spoon under the skin, and go all the way around, keeping close to the skin without breaking through. Your freshly peeled kiwi will pop right out.
Organise measuring spoons and cups
Did you know you can hang up your measuring cups and spoons on the inside of a kitchen cupboard? Simply stick on a low-weight command hook, hang up your cups, and you’re good to go.
Measuring sticky ingredients
If you dread measuring sticky ingredients like honey, you’re not alone. Next time, press the back of your measuring spoon into your bowl of dry ingredients to make a mould and pour your sticky liquid straight in.
Control bubbling pots
Who knew that you could easily prevent pots from boiling over simply by placing a wooden spoon across the rim? This sounds too good to be true, but it absolutely works. Try it next time you’re boiling a pot of delicious pasta.
Peeling ginger
Fresh ginger is amazing, and because the skin is fairly thin, you don’t need a special tool to peel it. Gently scrape a metal spoon down the sides and over the rounded parts, and you’ll have freshly peeled ginger in no time.
De-stemming strawberries
Insert a straw through the bottom of the strawberry and push it straight up until it comes out the other end, pushing the leaves out. Chocolate covered strawberries, here we come!
Slicing peppers
Turn your peppers so the bottom faces up, slice down the ridges on the sides and peel them apart to avoid a mess of seeds.
Peeling garlic
Remove the cloves from the bulb and give it a good knock with the flat side of a wide knife – a chef’s knife is perfect for this.
Juicing lemons and limes
If you love fresh lemon and lime juice, pop one into the microwave for 7-10 seconds, then roll it along the counter before cutting and squeezing. Pro tip – use a pair of tongs to squeeze instead of your hands.
Trust Nesta to Help You Keep Your Home Organised
With these easy to use tips, you’ll be dancing around your kitchen sooner than you think. However, if your kitchen is a bit cluttered with bulky appliances you only use on special occasions, make more room with Nesta Storage.
If you liked this article, please check out our Ultimate Declutter Calendar to stay organised year-round.
If you’re still struggling with clutter and wondering what to do with all your kitchen items (especially the one you don’t use frequently such as cake mixers, Christmas crockery and delph, etc.) Nesta can offer an easy and straightforward solution- store your items with us!
With flexible rental terms and a wide variety of storage unit sizes (from lockers to large rooms), Nesta is a great solution for those looking for convenient home storage.
We also have trolleys available for customers to use to bring their items from their car, van or moving truck to their unit. We can provide shelving for your room if needed and there are lifts available to help make moving into your room as easy as possible.
Want to find out more? Contact us for a free quote today!
