Genius ways to save space in your kitchen
There are plenty of ways to make the most of limited space – our guide pulls together our top tips and genius space-saving remedies you might not have thought of.
There are plenty of ways to make the most of limited space – our guide pulls together our top tips and genius space-saving remedies you might not have thought of.
Showroom kitchens and the sprawling, bespoke kitchens you see on design blogs are beautiful, but they have a benefit that most don’t – nearly unlimited floorspace! For the majority of people, making efficient use of space is one of the most important things we can do in order to enjoy using our kitchen. Most people know the frustration of cupboards full of haphazard piles of pans, pulling out stacks of plates to get at the fancy china hidden behind or digging around for just the right utensil.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to make the most of limited space – our guide pulls together our top tips and genius space-saving remedies you might not have thought of.
It’s not glamorous. It’s not fun. But the number one way to save kitchen space is to grit your teeth, roll up your sleeves and set aside a Sunday afternoon to have a good old-fashioned spring clean.
Begin with a basic clean. Bin any rubbish, throw out any empty bottles or containers and chuck out food that’s past its best. Give the counters, hob and sink a wipe down, but don’t worry about deep-cleaning yet – one thing at a time!
Once the room is clean and presentable, the real work begins. If you’re anything like us, you’ve acquired a collection of redundant cookware, old utensils and crockery that doesn’t see any use. Pull everything out of the cupboards and take stock of what you own. If you can’t remember the last time you used it, get rid! Good-quality items that have been replaced by newer ones make great donations to charity shops… or children who have recently flown the nest! Anything that’s in bad condition can be thrown out.
Apply the same principle to the contents of your cupboards. Packets of odd spices bought for one meal and never used again? Old cans of food nobody likes, lurking at the back of the shelf? It’s taking up valuable space, so chuck it out or find somebody who wants it.
Now you’ve got a clear idea of what you own, you can begin to think about storing it efficiently. One of the easiest ways to save space is to store upwards – luckily, there are a range of products on the market to help you do that. Some of our favourites are:
- Stacking shelves, such as these, double or even triple the available shelf space in your cabinets and cupboards.
- Under-shelf baskets, like these, are a clever way to add additional capacity to shelves – either inside cupboards, or on the walls.
- Under-sink organisers like these do the same job as a shelf organiser, but designed to be fully adjustable to make room for pipework and odd dimensions; no more hard-to-reach cleaning products or pots and pans.
- A microwave top-shelf unit makes clever use of a traditionally ‘dead’ space without blocking vents.
There’s plenty more space in your kitchen that could be put to better use, too. Any empty wall is a potential location for a shelf – or if space is too tight, consider a simple rail and S-hooks for a super-cheap way to free up drawer space and hang your utensils.
Any door is another prime location for storage. Over-door storage units, or narrow shelves that can be screwed in, are common – look for something made of durable materials with raised shelf edges to keep everything in place.
A magnetic knife rack is another easy way to free up countertop space – by eliminating the need for a knife block – or drawer space. They can be put anywhere, although safety is a primary concern, particularly if you have children. If you’re struggling for ideas, check out this guide for inspiration. If you don’t like the look of exposed knives, you can even hang them under the cooker hood!
If you’ve run out of storage space, despite putting all of our handy storage-expanding hacks into practice, maybe it’s time to reconsider what you’re storing.
Be honest – do you have a cupboard devoted to unruly piles of tupperware and plastic containers? Or a drawer overflowing with measuring spoons and assorted utensils? Nested products minimise the space you need by making good use of every last cubic inch of space. Joseph Joseph have an exceptional range of nesting and stacking kitchen products, from bowls to chopping boards. If you’re really hard-up for space, you can even combine a colander, sieve, mixing bowls and measuring cups into the size of a single large bowl with the fabulous Nest 9 Plus!
If you’re a keen cook, there’s only so much you can de-clutter and get rid of – it’s all well and good nesting your tupperware and hanging utensils on the walls, but some things are kitchen necessities. How do you make hot drinks without your fancy coffee machine, how do you speed up cooking processes without your trusty kettle?
You do, however, have the option of condensing several appliances and pieces of cookware into one. A steaming hot water tap dispenses instant steaming hot water in a matter of a seconds and does away with the need for a kettle and certain other appliances. – saving you time and valuable kitchen space
If, after all this, you’re still struggling for kitchen space, you’ll need to think more radically. Take a good look at everything you’re storing in your kitchen. Does it really need to be there? Or is there somewhere else in your house that could accommodate it?
Could the coffee machine live in the study? Could cleaning supplies find a new home in the bathroom cupboards? Are there bottles of alcohol which would be happier in a cabinet in the living room? Is there any reason kitchen roll and spare tea towels couldn’t be stored in the airing cupboard? These questions are well worth asking if you’re really struggling to create enough kitchen space.
Hopefully we’ve helped you free up much-needed space in your kitchen and make it a more pleasant environment to cook and entertain in. If you’re still lacking space, we’re not sure what else to suggest – perhaps call in a professional!
