In many magazines that cater to the homeowner, there are these dramatically huge kitchens. Kitchens in which you can host a whole party of family and friends comfortably. However, not all of us are fortunate enough to have a kitchen as large as some New York apartments. So what do you do differently in a small kitchen so that it can still take on a glamorous twist? It’s all about organization.
Here are 8 organizational tips for a small kitchen that will leave you feeling satisfied with the size, the decor, and the neatness.
1. Hang High
It is simple enough to find baskets that screw into the ceiling. They are usually metal and mesh and are great for holding your fruits and vegetables that don’t require refrigeration. Not only is it practical but it also adds some decoration to your kitchen.
2, Utilize Your Wall Space
Walls are a great place to hang large knives and other large utensils. They now have these magnets you stick on your walls just for this purpose. It holds anything metal and keeps it all out of the way until you need to use it.
3. Only Buy What You Need
If you have a tiny kitchen, it doesn’t make sense, unless it comes with a large pantry, to stock up, as they say, at one of those big box stores. Buy only what you need and what you’re going to cook within the next few days.
4. Utilize Other Closets in the House
If you have other closets in the home that have a lot of empty space, you can use them for your dried goods, like rices and flour and your canned goods, like beans and jarred sauces.
5. Fill Your Kitchen with Smaller Appliances
Don’t try to fit regular or large ovens and refrigerators into a small kitchen. It will only make it look crowded and cluttered. If you have the opportunity to choose, choose apartment sized refrigerators and ovens, or instead of a full oven, get a convection oven that does everything and some small burners for when you need them.
6. Use Drawer Organizers
Instead of having your silverware sitting on the counters or in the dish drains, put them away into drawer organizers and only pull them out when you need them. There are many kinds of drawer organizers these days and some are quite colorful and stylish.
7. Label leftovers Immediately
Don’t leave your counters and refrigerators full of leftovers. It only causes you to waste food and you end up throwing it out. If dinnertime leaves you with leftovers, cover with plastic wrap or foil, label them with the contents and the date, and freeze them in your refrigerator freezer or a stand alone freezer kept in the mudroom or garage.
8. Put Smaller Appliances Away Until You Need Them
Items like blenders, juicers, toasters, should be put away in a nearby cabinet until it’s time to use them. Don’t take up your counter and prep space with these small appliances. Normally, they are not used everyday, so you don’t need them cluttering up your space.
