Keeping a small kitchen tidy can feel impossible. One minute, everything is in its place, and the next, your counters are covered in dishes, the junk drawer is overflowing, and you’re wondering how you ever thought this space was big enough.
If there’s one thing I’ve learnt from living in a small house with only 4 kitchen cabinets, it’s that a small kitchen isn’t usually the problem. It’s how you use it. And With a few clever tricks and a little daily effort, you can actually turn your kitchen into a cozy, organized space where everything has a home (and stays there).
So, if you’re tired of battling clutter every time you cook, these simple ideas will make your kitchen work for you, not against you.
1. Start by Clearing Out What You Don’t Need
First things first – let’s get rid of the stuff you don’t use. Because the truth is, clutter builds up when we hold on to things we think we need but never actually use.
Toss out expired spices, old food, and that half-used bag of flour from last year.
Donate extra mugs, plates, and utensils (if you always reach for the same ones, you don’t need 15 extras).
Let go of single-use gadgets – if you haven’t used that avocado slicer in a year, it’s just taking up space.
Think of it this way: the less you have, the easier it is to keep everything neat.
2. Make the Most of Your Walls
When counter and cabinet space is tight, the walls can save you!
Put up floating shelves for extra storage.
Hang a pegboard to store pots, pans, and utensils within easy reach.
Stick hooks on the inside of cabinet doors for measuring spoons, oven mitts, or lids.
Use a magnetic strip for knives instead of a bulky knife block.
By using your walls, you keep things off the counters and make your kitchen feel more open.
3. Get Creative with Cabinets and Drawers
Cabinets and drawers always seem to run out of space too fast, but a few smart tweaks can make a huge difference.
Stackable shelf risers instantly double the space inside cabinets.
Lazy Susans are perfect for deep cabinets – no more digging around to find that one sauce bottle.
Drawer dividers keep utensils and kitchen tools from turning into a jumbled mess.
Tension rods can be used to store cutting boards and baking sheets upright.
Small changes like these make everything easier to find (and put back).
4. Keep Your Counters as Clear as Possible
A cluttered counter makes a small kitchen feel even smaller. The goal? Only keep out what you use every day.
Mount your fruit basket on the wall to free up space.
Use a small tray to collect frequently used oils, salt, and pepper instead of leaving bottles everywhere.
Choose multi-use appliances (a toaster oven that’s also an air fryer = fewer things on the counter).
A clean counter makes your kitchen feel instantly bigger and calmer.
5. Store Things Where You Actually Use Them
If you find yourself walking back and forth across the kitchen just to grab a single item, it’s time to rethink your setup.
Keep mugs near the coffee maker for easy morning routines.
Store pots and pans close to the cooker so you’re not running around mid-recipe.
Put cutting boards near your prep area to save yourself extra steps.
When things are right where you need them, cooking feels so much smoother.
6. Use Clear Bins to Organize the Fridge and Pantry
A messy fridge or pantry makes meal prep frustrating. The easiest fix? Clear storage bins.
Group similar items together – a bin for snacks, one for sauces, another for baking supplies.
Label everything so there’s no more guessing where things go.
Use a “first in, first out” rule to make sure older food gets used before newer stuff.
This tiny change makes your fridge and pantry look neater and helps you stop wasting food.
7. Switch to Digital for Recipes and Grocery Lists
If your kitchen drawers are filled with loose recipe pages and random grocery lists, going digital will save you so much space (and stress).
Use an app like Google Keep or Notion to store recipes.
Keep a shared grocery list on your phone so your family can add to it.
No more digging through papers or forgetting what you need at the store!
8. Choose Smart, Space-Saving Kitchen Tools
In a small kitchen, every item needs to earn its space.
A Dutch oven can replace several different pots.
A blender that doubles as a food processor saves cabinet space.
A foldable dish rack can be tucked away when not in use.
The more multi-purpose items you have, the less clutter you’ll deal with.
9. Do a 5-Minute Reset Every Night
Even the most organized kitchen gets messy if you don’t stay on top of it. The easiest way to maintain order? A quick 5-minute cleanup before bed.
Wipe down the counters.
Put away any dishes left out.
Toss anything that doesn’t belong in the kitchen.
Waking up to a tidy kitchen makes your whole morning feel calmer.
10. Accept That a Small Kitchen Has Limits (And That’s Okay!)
At the end of the day, a small kitchen is still a small kitchen. Instead of fighting it, embrace it.
Only keep what you actually use.
Let go of the idea that you need a huge kitchen to enjoy cooking.
Focus on making the space work for you – not how Pinterest says it should look.
A small kitchen can still be a beautiful, functional, and cozy place to cook and gather – when it’s well-organized, it becomes a space you truly love.
Happy organising!
Which one of these tips are you excited to try first? Let me know – I’d love to hear how your kitchen transformation goes!
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