What to do when kitchen space is limited
Pantry shelves organized for visibility, accessibility, and frequency of use.
My client, a busy HR manager, loves her cosy one bedroom apartment in a historic Chicago neighborhood. The only problem? Space is at a premium, making storage a challenge—especially in the kitchen. We worked together to pare down and organize her kitchen cabinets, using these tips for small spaces:
Keep it visible
Narrow, deep cabinets make it easy to "lose" things when you can't see them. Make sure to store items in a way that lets you see what you have. A well-placed shelf riser can help. Another tip is to stack canned and boxed food items like stadium seats (taller items sticking up behind so you can see them).
Keep it accessible
Reserve the "prime real estate" spots in your kitchen (at eye level and in arm's reach) for the items you use all the time—everyday dishes, cookware, and food items. Holiday serving ware, occasional-use appliances, and other infrequently used items should be stored out of the way (such as in an upper cabinet).
When storing things, consider the item's size, weight, and whether you can reach it, lift it, and get it out easily. Large heavy items such as mixers are best stored on a lower shelf for safety and accessibility.
A prime location cabinet reorganized to store only the everyday dishes. Infrequently used items were relocated.
Keep it simple
Small spaces don't have room for lots of "pantry porn" style baskets and bins. Use a very limited number of well-placed containers to corral smaller items.
One well-placed bin can be just what you need to organize a small cabinet.
Also, limit the use of turntables. They do look nice and can provide greater accessibility, but there’s a trade-off in that their round shapes take up more room.
A great strategy is simply to have less. Be picky about the items you choose to have in your small space. For example, do you need 30 coffee mugs, or can you be just as happy keeping only your favorites? Think carefully about how many items you want to own that are only used once a year, or very infrequently. Examples include formal and holiday dishware, as well as “unitaskers” such as a breadmaker, panini press, or avocado pitter. (Of course, personal preferences vary widely. If you love your avocado pitter, by all means keep it!)
Keep it efficient
To get the most out of your limited storage areas, think vertically. Don't be limited by the default level of the shelves in your cabinets—in many cases, you can raise or lower the shelves to fit your needs. If your shelves aren’t movable, a shelf riser or under-shelf basket can create more vertical storage options. And store items upright whenever possible—the most space-efficient way.
Are you longing for an organized, peaceful living environment, but don't have time to figure out a system from scratch? Hiring a professional can be a game-changer! I'm Kammy, and I help Chicagoland's busy working professionals organize their homes to find peace and relief. DM me or text (773) 756-5414 for your free 30-minute consultation. 🌱