25 DIY Small Kitchen Ideas (Storage & Space Saving Tips)
Here we take a look at some of the best DIY small kitchen ideas for getting the most out of a smaller space. Dealing with kitchen clutter is an everyday task for a lot of us. It’s a tough place to keep clean and tidy, especially if it’s small and lacks enough space to accommodate all your kitchen wares. However, for every kitchen problem, there is a DIY solution. From an overflowing cabinet to an untidy kitchen countertop, tackling compact kitchen issues is no more long-lasting trouble.
Quick and easy kitchen fixes are all you need to make your small kitchen look extremely neat and tidy. So take a look around in your kitchen and let your creative juices flow, because you are about to change the way your kitchen looks quickly and without a lot of cost. Read through our curated lists of fun and interesting kitchen DIY projects to make your small kitchen much more efficient and organized. From bringing in some extra space to enhancing the look of your small kitchen, here are smart kitchen DIY ideas to bring in some big changes to your home.
Over-The-Sink Cutting Board
This is one of the quickest and the most easiest DIYs that you can begin with, in your kitchen. A broad cutting board can be placed over the sink area to save space and make cutting much more convenient and hassle free. Placing cutting boards over the sink is not just space saving but also helps in keeping your kitchen top fuss-free while you are cutting your veggies. All you need to make sure is that the cutting board’s length and breadth match that of the sink, so that it holds it properly.
The kitchen shown here has a single basin farmhouse sink with a wood cutting board to create an effective food prep station. Having two different cutting boards is useful to avoid cross-contamination of different foods that may not require further cooking.
A wood cutting board can provide a stable surface for food preparation. Some models such as the one shown here can be used on both sides for situations when you want to use one side for meat or poultry and the other side for fruit or vegetables. When using meat products a wood cutting board should be made of hard woods such as maple which are fine grained and less likely to store harmful bacteria.
An under mount kitchen sink with cutting board and accessories built in can be a space saver. The sink shown here has three built-in ledges inside the basin. The graduated ledge design allows one to place multipurpose grated racks, a colander, or a cutting board exactly where one wants for maximum efficiency.
Pocket Organizers & Extra Shelving
Pocket organizers can be really helpful in a small kitchen, and this DIY idea is quick and simple, yet gives you maximum results. Attach a pocket organizer inside your cabinet door to make maximum use of the door space. Make sure its size fits the size of the door so that it gets neatly attached in the available area. From keeping kitchen dishes, tin cans or to organizing cutlery, pocket organizers can be quite useful in making optimum use of your small kitchen area.
This clear over-the-door pocket organizer is such a smart grab — hang it on the inside of your pantry door and you instantly have a whole extra wall of storage for spices, sauces, snacks, and all those little things that normally pile up on your shelves.
This hanging pocket organizer hangs from the back of a pantry door and provides extra storage space for food items and condiments. See this clean over the door hanging pantry organizer at (sponsored) Amazon
Hanging Baskets
When kitchen cabinets and shelves are already loaded with essentials, it’s time to look at other storage options. And what else is better than using the vertical space on a kitchen wall? Hanging baskets on the wall is a kitchen DIY that you can undertake to store everything from cans and food packets to fruit and vegetables. They are easy to fix and can hold quite a lot of your often-used veggies like onions and potatoes while also accommodating food cans and packages.
A hanging fruit and vegetable basket can be a great way to save shelf space in your kitchen and keep your countertops clutter-free. When installing this unit, make sure to use an anchor so it stays put.
Hanging & Wall Mounted Pot Racks
Wall-mounted pot racks come in tons of styles, from sleek black metal to rustic wrought iron, so it’s easy to find one that suits your kitchen’s look and keeps your cookware right where you need it.
A hanging or wall mounted pot rack can help clear out needed cabinet space and allow you easy access to your pots and pans while preparing food. Many models offer additional shelving space for storing teapots, coffee presses, or other kitchen items. Wall-mounted pot racks can also be used to store utensils and free up cabinet and drawer space. A pot rack can be great for hanging your entire cook set and some frequently used utensils.
Wall Mounted Wine Rack
For those who enjoy a nice bottle of wine but would like to avoid all the room bottles, a wall-mounted wine rack may be an ideal solution. Wine racks come in a wide range of styles and materials. Choose one that matches your kitchen’s design and your own personal taste. Some wall mounted wood wine racks have up to a forty bottle capacity. Normally a wine rack would be installed in the dining room or other entertaining area. However, freeing up the space wine storage takes up in your kitchen is definitely a way to get more room for other things.
File Rack For Bake Wares
Just when you are thinking there is no way to stack your bake wares, here is a smart DIY idea to save some kitchen space. If you thought file racks were only meant to organize files in your workspace, then you are mistaken. Place them on your kitchen top or in your cabinet to hold your bake wares and cutting boards neatly. Keeping them in a filing rack helps you use them and place them back easily without seeing them lying around in your kitchen.
Peg Board For Hanging Pans And Cups
Pegboard is a fun resource for organizing things creatively. We often see them in study rooms and office spaces, but let’s go a bit further and get them introduced into our kitchens. If you have an empty wall, fix a pegboard and attach hooks to hold your coffee mugs and cups.
This will save space in your cabinets and drawers. Also, if the pegboard is large enough, it could hold your pans and woks along with other kitchen wares like spoons, peelers, graters, and more to keep all your essentials organized and handy. To make it look pretty, pick a colored pegboard that suits your kitchen décor.
Wired Shelving In The Kitchen
Having enough shelves in your kitchen is always a good idea to store your things. Not everyone has the luxury of having a large kitchen space with walls holding elaborate shelves. But that doesn’t mean you cannot do some smart DIY tasks to get shelf space even in a tiny kitchen layout.
Place a wired shelf against a kitchen wall to get some extra storage space in your kitchen. This works especially great for kitchens that cannot accommodate drawers and cabinets. A wired shelving range can be divided to hold all your kitchen essentials from food packages, spices, and herbs to even kitchen wares. Being the perfect alternative for cabinets, this DIY idea is surely going to get your tiny kitchen a lot more organized. Placing wire shelving inside a kitchen cabinet can be another way to better utilize your available space.
A great idea for narrow, inaccessible cabinets or inefficient pantry space is the use of a sliding shelf with wire baskets. It can be a real space saver that helps you keep things better organized. For those hard-to-reach corner kitchen cabinets many people choose to install a lazy Susan or other type of corner organizer to maximize space. A swing-out design allows you to better reach and store items in hard-to-reach cabinets. Get more details about this small bling corner cabinet organizer at – Wayfair
Under Sink Storage Racks
A spot that usually has a lot of disarray is under the sink. Adding a storage organizer to sort all of the containers, canned goods, soaps, chemicals, and disinfectants can help get things under control and look more appealing.
Magnetic Knife Strip
If you are dealing with a small kitchen, then chances are that you do not have enough counter space or cabinet space. This DIY idea for small space is loved for its quick and easy setup that keeps all your knives organized at an arm’s distance.
Fix a magnetic knife strip on your kitchen wall, above your kitchen counter to keep your entire knife collection organized at a place. A magnetic knife holder uses vertical space on the wall, ensuring you have much less clutter in your kitchen while assembling all the knives together. A stainless steel knife bar that attaches to the backsplash is a great space-saving feature for a stylish kitchenette.
Portable Kitchen Island Cart
An effective way to add a little extra space for storage or meal preparation is through the use of a portable kitchen cart. These come in a wide variety of styles and finishes to match practically any type of kitchen design. A movable kitchen cart can be positioned where you want and used as additional counter space when needed. You can see more portable kitchen island ideas on our gallery page.
Shelves On Sides Of The Wall Cabinet
Since no amount of storage is ever enough, here is another fascinating DIY idea for small kitchens that you can implement. If you do not have space for drawers and under the counter cabinets then using the wall cabinets to their maximum capability is the right thing to do. While there have been ideas related to attaching pocket organizers inside the cabinet door shared with you already, here is another DIY idea you can undertake to get some extra space around your wall cabinets.
A cabinet door mount spice rack can be a handy way to store spices that may normally take up needed space on your shelf. Attach shelves on the sides of the cabinet where you can easily place your cans of spices, sauces, or other essentials that you use on a regular basis. Make sure that the side shelves are attached according to the required height and width to accommodate tins and cans.
U-Shaped Layout
A U-shaped design makes for an effective kitchen work triangle that keeps everything within easy reach and a few steps away. Placing the sink under the window makes for a more attractive cleaning environment and allows for plenty of natural light. Using large windows around the sink sacrifices some storage space but helps the kitchen feel much bigger and brighter.
Sink in the Island
An open kitchen layout with a butcher block island with a sink is one of the most practical setups for a smaller home; the island adds prep space, extra storage, and a spot to pull up a stool. You can use the island as your primary prep space while looking out onto the rest of the room, making it easy to talk and interact with friends and family.
Shelf Above the Sink
A galley kitchen with white beadboard cabinets and butcher block counters looks attractive and can be made more effective with a shelf over the sink. It works for keeping your cookbooks organized and within easy reach.
LED Light Strips
Installing LED strip lights under your upper cabinets is one of the easiest and most affordable DIY upgrades you can make in a small kitchen — it brightens up your prep area instantly and makes the whole space feel more open.
Tension Rods For Hanging Kitchen Items
Tension rods installed vertically inside a cabinet are a surprisingly effective trick for keeping pot lids, baking sheets, and cutting boards neatly upright — no more avalanche every time you reach for the sheet pan.
Magnetic Spice Jars
Sticking magnetic spice jars to the side of your refrigerator turns a completely unused surface into a slim, functional spice rack — it frees up shelf space and keeps your favorite seasonings right where you need them.
Lazy Susan
A lazy Susan in a corner cabinet is one of those upgrades that instantly makes you wonder how you ever managed without it — a quick spin brings everything to the front so you stop losing cans and jars in the back forever.
Pan Organizer
A countertop pan organizer that holds your skillets and lids vertically is a real game-changer for small kitchens — instead of stacking and unstacking pans, you just pull out exactly what you need and get cooking.
Drawer Divider
A bamboo drawer divider is a small investment that makes a surprisingly big difference — once everything has its own compartment, you’ll stop rummaging through a pile of utensils every time you need a spatula.
Floating Shelves
Floating shelves above the counter give you an easy place to keep cookbooks, grow a little herb garden, or display the canisters you reach for every day — all without using up a single inch of your precious counter space.
Pull-Out Trash Bin
A built-in pull-out trash and recycling bin keeps waste tucked neatly out of sight — it’s a clean, practical upgrade that makes a small kitchen feel much more put together without taking up any extra floor space.
DIY small kitchen ideas don’t have to be complicated. A shelf over the sink or attached to an open wall can provide extra space for kitchen cookbooks or other items you frequently use.
We hope you enjoyed our DIY small kitchen ideas. Those looking for tips on how to organize a small kitchen can read more about them here.
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