The kitchen is always a bustling space. It's the room we use the most. When it comes to kitchen storage space, one thing is sure - there's never enough of it. No matter how big your kitchen seemed initially, you'll soon find yourself standing in front of your cabinets with the new pan in your hands, not knowing where to put it. That's why you need to be creative regarding storage and organization. Lucky for you, we're here to help you out! In today's article, we will talk about the most important question of them all: how to add more storage space in your kitchen. So, buckle up and get ready to become an organizational master!

First and foremost, DECLUTTER! Go through all your kitchen tools and food items and pare down what you have.  Donating seldom used utensils is always a good idea.

Organize your pantry

If you want to add more storage space to your kitchen, you'll first have to reorganize the pantry. Yes, the main goal of the pantry is storage. However, we seldom maximize its space and functionality. We fill it with anything and everything in no particular order. That's why we end up having a jungle where we can't find anything. So, if you think you don't have space in your kitchen for anything anymore, it's time to organize your pantry.

The size of your pantry will dictate what options you have. Long open shelves on each wall of the pantry are a great way to create more space and have instant visual access to everything that's in there. If you have a large pantry, 16”-20” depth shelves are recommended. Go with the deepest shelves you can fit, up to 20”. Too deep is not ideal either.  Our kitchen designers design pantries with slide-out drawers and/or racks allowing your items to be easily accessible. Baskets, risers (giving you multi-level shelf space), clear bins are helpful. Why not use the back of the door to have a rack items like extra spices, bottles, small packages, snacks? If you have room for a countertop, this will help family members keep the shelves organized.

It is best to decide where you want to group items beforehand so you may include the appropriate shelf spacing and storage features. Customize your shelf heights and depths based on your storage needs.  Common items to store in a pantry include cereals, oils, spices, cans of food, jars, staples such as pasta and rice, snacks, cleaning items, paper towels, etc.  How and where you want to store each category will determine the pantry organization. If you have bulk items, they may only fit on the floor beneath the lower level. Seldom used items go on the top shelf.

Therefore, by making more space in your pantry, you'll instantly free up a bunch of space in the kitchen. With good organizational skills and creativity, you can have both more storage space and a beautiful Pinterest-like pantry. Isn't that a dream come true?

In the end, you'll get a cleaner-looking kitchen that is free of clutter and mess. You'll have an organized and, what's more important, functional storage space. It will also make it easier to pack up your kitchen when the time comes to move to a new home.

Use walls and ceilings as additional storage space

We all have a ton of unused space in our kitchens that we're not even aware of. You know what we're talking about - walls and ceilings! Everything that looks pretty but takes up a lot of space on your shelves can be hung on your wall or the ceiling. For example, pots and pans look great on the rack above the kitchen island or the stove. Furthermore, you can always put wine glasses, mugs, and cutlery on hooks and racks and hang them on the wall or under the cabinets.

Displaying these items in this fashion will free up a lot of space on your shelves and in the cabinets. You can then use this space for more bulky items that are not so pleasing to the eye. In addition, hanging pretty kitchen stuff on racks and hooks is very popular nowadays. Therefore, you will add more storage space in your kitchen and keep up with current trends!

Remodel cabinet interiors (New kitchen or old kitchen)

If you want to go all the way, you can remodel your kitchen cabinets to add more storage space in your kitchen. Consider installing pull-out drawers, pull out shelves, extra shelves, track and lid racks. Firstly, slide-out drawers will help you organize storage and make the most of your cabinet space while also providing convenience, comfort, and functionality. And secondly, extra shelves added to existing cabinets can double the storage capacity in the existing space. Instead of deep cabinets packed high with plates, glassware, or cups, extra shelving adds vertical storage space and eliminates the need to stack fragile items.

Moreover, using the space on the inside of cabinet doors is another option to add more storage space in your kitchen. Wooden or wire racks can store canned goods, spices, or cooking oils. This will provide more space and make the kitchen look tidier by removing clutter off the counters.

If you decide to remodel the kitchen cabinets altogether, make sure to include all the modern organization tools including the LeMans (https://www.kesseboehmer-cleverstorage.de/en/product-typology/corner-cabinets/lemans/) which is an excellent alternative to the Lazy Susan corner cabinet. Don't forget to adequately protect all your kitchen items and place them somewhere secure during the remodeling process. A short-term storage unit can give you peace of mind when it comes to safety and favorable conditions for all your belongings. 

Build a kitchen island

Kitchen islands come out on top when it comes to adding additional storage and utilizing underused space. A kitchen island can make the most of wasted floor space by expanding cabinet storage, seating and food prep surface. You can include pull-out shelving or drawers on the kitchen island to store pantry items. Add a few horizontal shelves, and you'll have enough space for cookbooks as well. You can even add fridge drawers, an undercounter wine unit, or trash and recycling bins.

In addition, wire baskets are great for storing store items such as measuring spoons and food storage containers. And don't forget about installing bars on the side of an island. These would make excellent storage solutions for towels or utensils.

As you can see, installing an island in your kitchen can provide new storage space. This island can be like a small pantry if you use every possibility it provides. Plus, you'll have additional prepping space. On top of all these benefits, it looks incredible as well!

Make the most of your under-the-sink area

More often than not, the cabinet under the sink is a hot mess. It quickly becomes a cluttered spot of the kitchen. Well, it doesn't have to be like that. Rolling shelves, drawers and organizers can help you make the most of your sink storage space. We suggest installing rolling pull-out drawers where you can store cleaning products and plastic bags. In addition, a pull-out trash can will make your life so much easier, either here or in an island, if you have one.

Furthermore, a tilt-down drawer built right beneath the sink can replace the fake drawers. It can be a convenient spot to keep sponges, dish brushes, drain stoppers, and other small things that we usually keep near the sink.

Wrapping it up

Since the kitchen is the most used place in every house, we need to ensure it's functional and well organized. Yes, lack of storage space is truly one of the biggest problems in kitchens. However, with these tips on how to add more storage space in your kitchen, you'll find a place for everything you need. The secret is in good organization and using every inch of free space, even if it's on the ceiling! So, follow these tips, and you'll have enough storage sooner than you think.