12 easy ways to extend your kitchen storage
Not all kitchens are created equal. Some are so small that they are barely usable. We tapped Kate Fisher of The Neatist in Durham, North Carolina, and Tonia Tomlin of Sorted Out in Dallas, Texas, for easy kitchen storage ideas that can make things feel less cluttered and cramped — without having to tear down any walls.
1. Make use of magnets.
The side of the fridge, which is usually magnetic, is a great surface to load up. Fisher particularly loves magnetic paper towel holders, and Tomlin suggests you consider a magnetic rack or magnetic hooks to hold anything from kitchen utensils to oven mitts and aprons to the lids for pots and pants. Magnetic knife racks mounted to the wall are also a great solution.
2. Put a shelf above the stove.
Many ovens and stoves have a little ledge at the back, but they’re often sloped and under-utilized. Fisher finds that a simple magnetic over-the-stove shelf can turn these unused inches into a storage area for frequently used spices and oils.
3. Make your cabinet shelves work double.
Both organizing experts are big fans of adjusting shelves to accommodate dishware, and in any cabinet, a shelf riser will help you use the full height of the cabinet. ”These are my go-tos when I’m doing a kitchen,” Fisher says.
4. Take advantage of cabinet doors.
Items like measuring spoons or pot holders can easily hang from adhesive hooks, either along the outside of the cabinet or inside a cabinet door. Fisher says this can be very helpful, because it means you can free up space from a drawer, or another cluttered spot, and utilize unused space.
5. Store spices horizontally.
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