Nobody likes a cluttered kitchen. Apart from being a place where you cook meals, for many homeowners, the kitchen is a place where people get to unwind—to get away from the daily hustle and bustle of life for a few minutes. If it is disorganized and messed up, it will put you off. No matter how small your house is, you can always come up with various ideas to organize a messy kitchen. The most important part of any kitchen is its counter space. Even if you have a pint-sized kitchen, you can add extra room with simple—yet widely overlooked—storage ideas. So, in case you’re unable to make room for ingredients and utensils while cooking, check out these useful tips to reclaim some kitchen counter space.
Kitchen counter space ideas
- Vertical storage space
- Moveable countertop
- Utilize space over the sink
- Organize tools
- Hidden storage spaces
- Double duty stove top
- Ceiling mounted rack
- Microwave can be moved
- Top shelves
Let’s discuss each of these in detail.
Vertical storage space
Large kitchen appliances, utensils and knives are the main space-hogging suspects for your countertop. If you want to make more room, then go for vertical storage solutions for your kitchen. Most spoons and utensils come with a notch in their handle. Place hooks on the kitchen wall, where you can hang pots, pans, mugs and knives. You can also have racks on the wall, where you can easily stack up kitchen essentials.
Movable counter space
One of the most popular counter space ideas is to have a kitchen cart that can roll on wheels. The way you can easily move it when required to prepare a meal and, once done, move it back to its original place is why movable countertops are so popular. Not only will you have access to the countertop, but you will also make most of the side cabinets and keep away kitchen utensils when not in use. If there is not much space in your small kitchen to create the storage you want, consider using a vacant closet in a room close by. It can be utilized to stash kitchen tools that you seldom use or other daily grocery items.
Let it sink in
The area over your sink is quite a waste of counter space. You can utilize the space by placing a butcher’s block or a cutting board on top of your sink. When there are no dishes to wash, but you need to prepare a meal, then fix a cutting board over your sink and start chopping veggies. It is convenient and is a good alternative to kitchen counter space.
Cabinet organizers
An ideal way to organize your cabinets is to stack kitchen utensils and pots and pans in your drawer. These pull-out cabinet organizers can keep all kinds of kitchenware nicely tucked away. Whenever needed, it is easier to draw them out, use whatever you want and slide them back in. You can also stow cereal boxes and spices in a rack inside cabinets and drawers.
Hidden storage spaces
You can be a bit ingenious when creating extra counter space in your kitchen. Try to discover hidden storage spots inside your cabinetry. For instance, you can keep cutting boards in place by strapping them to a cabinet door. Even if you have a small footprint in the kitchen, try to make every square inch count. You can place a magnetic rack where you can hang knives out of children’s reach. This frees up a lot of your counter space and gives you ample space opportunities to work your way around.
Double-duty stove top
A dead space that you can easily reclaim is the stove top. When you are not cooking, lower the lid, place the cutting board on top and start prepping meals on it. This is an ingenious fix to make your kitchen more functional. Also, make a corner pocket, where you can place the not-so-frequently used pantry items. Some of the awkward spots in the kitchen can also be utilized like the space beneath the cabinets. This is where you can install the toe-kick drawers under base cabinets.
Ceiling-mounted rack
These can be store-bought or even customized. Ceiling-mounted racks look stylish and are one of the best ways to create extra counter space in your kitchen. All kinds of pots and pans are perched high on the rack. It not only creates more counter space and holds all kitchen essentials in one place but also makes it easier for you to navigate through the kitchen.
Microwave can be moved
If your microwave is currently holding up most of your kitchen counter space, then you are losing out on a lot of room that can otherwise be put in good use. Move the microwave away to leave some elbow-room. Place the microwave in a custom-built alcove or in a cart where you can easily use it without compromising on storage space.
Top shelves
Open shelves—whether set against the kitchen backsplash, mounted on a wall, or even hanging free from the ceiling—can significantly extend counter space in your kitchen to a whole new level. Just like it is quite common not to use the space under base cabinets, similarly most homeowners do not use top shelves as it can become hard to reach there. So the heavy utensils, the big pots and the not-so-frequently-used kitchenware can be easily weighted on the top shelf.
These were some of the easiest kitchen storage hacks to increase countertop space. You should also check out how to build a low maintenance home and a kitchen that requires low upkeep. Keep in mind some of the budget-friendly kitchen decor ideas when renovating it. Also, check out these timeless kitchen design ideas which will keep your kitchen look new. For more updates, keep an eye on one of the best lifestyle blog in Pakistan.
