When I lived in both of my college apartments, one of the challenges was finding ways to store both mine and my roommate’s things without running out of cabinet space. If you’re facing a similar dilemma, here are 23 possible solutions.
Btw, it’s worth it to invest in organization products because they could double your storage space!
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1. Make The Most Of Your Vertical Space
This is one of the rules that you should stick to when it comes to your cabinet storage. Don’t let the vertical space go to waste. It’s common to store your things on the bottom of the shelves and call it a done deal, but that usually leaves a little (or a lot) of unused storage room. There are plenty of products that help you utilize this often empty area. In fact, I listed a few of them throughout this post! They are all generally affordable and can be ordered online or found in local retail stores (Target, Walmart, etc.)
2. Buy Things That Will Fit Without Taking Up Too Much Room
When youâre out shopping, try to keep the size of your cabinets in mind. I know, this is a weird topic to keep in your head while browsing the aisles; however, this is especially important if you have a small apartment kitchen. Buying stuff that you canât make space for will lead to an overcrowded area, or cookware being randomly stored in other rooms. Even if you buy stuff that fits in the cabinet, make sure that it leaves space for other foods, utensils, etc. to be stored too. If youâd like to know 27 other ways to maximize the space in a small apartment kitchen, check out my blog post!
3. If You Shop In Bulk, Transfer Things To Square/Rectangle Containers
I realize that, as much as you’d like to buy things that will actually fit in your cupboards, that may not be a realistic request. Mainly because buying bulk fits your budget right now. If you’re up for the challenge of getting the best of both worlds, then you can try rationing out the bulk item to containers. I’m talking specifically about square and rectangular shaped ones because, with these, it’s easier to use every inch of a cabinet.
4. Organize By Categories
This tip is more about saving time rather than space. Where possible, you should reserve each spot in your cabinet for a different cluster of items. One can be for spices, another for dinnerware, the next for baking ingredients, etc. Doing this will make it easier to grab what you need when you need it without any hassle; which is also a main reason for organization. Of course, however, you can break the rule where necessary if itâll allow you to fit more supplies in the kitchen with ease.
5. Make Your Most Used Items Easily Accessible
Once you’ve arranged your beautifully organized, art piece of a kitchen cabinet, I’m sure the last thing you want to do is yank everything out again just to find salt. When you’re setting up your cabinets, make sure to place the most used items in easily accessible places. This goes for the rest of your kitchen too; it’s a helpful time saving hack. So when it comes to your salt and pepper, maybe you should put them on the counter instead of in a cabinet.
6. Use Stackable, Clear Containers/ Portable Drawers
A way to take advantage of vertical space in your cabinets is by keeping your stuff in stackable containers. Thatâs why youâll want to buy a matching set or be careful to select similar shaped ones. On top of that, youâll also want to opt for clear ones. Thisâll make it easier to spot what you need faster. You could also buy containers that have pull-out drawers, which come in handy if something you need is stacked at the bottom.
7. Label Your Containers
This is a very simple, yet, very helpful trick to organizing your kitchen cabinets. Even if you choose to use clear containers, it doesnât make everything in it immediately visible from the shelf. You might still have to take it down and get a closer look. If you label what you put inside of it, however, then it might only take a glance to know if what youâre looking for is there. Just remember to keep updating the labels as you switch stuff out.
8. Use Pull-Out Organizers
This is especially helpful for the cabinets under your sink. That’s because the cabinets tend to be more spacious and lack shelves in order to accommodate the sink pipe. When left alone, this spot has a lot of unused vertical space. That’s why it’s worth it to buy some drawers that don’t only take advantage of that space, but are also shaped to avoid the sink pipes.
There are also other, slightly different shapes to choose from, so pick the ones that allow you to store the most!
9. Hang Cooking Utensils Under The Cabinets
If most of your cabinet and drawer space is already taken up by other stuff, then this is a way to use the area underneath your cabinet as extra storage. This is also a good way to create quick access to frequently used cooking tools without taking up counter space. Order some adhesive hooks off of Amazon or find some at your local retailer and stick them to the bottom of the cabinet. Make sure to check the weight capacity of each hook too.
10. Hang Things Off Of The Cabinet Doors
You don’t have to fit everything inside of the cabinet in order to maximize its storage potential. Helpful hooks make it possible to hang your kitchen supplies off of them too! This can pose as a solution when your cabinets are full but there are still things waiting to be put away. These can save you from having to take up workspace on the counter or store kitchen things in another room of the apartment. They come in different sizes and with multiple tiers too!
11. Store Spices On A Shelf, Rack Or Lazy Susan
Spice bottles are some of those things that can take up a lot of unnecessary space if you donât store them in a clever way. Theyâre not the easiest to stack on top of one another either, especially if you use them often. Thatâs why you should use a shelf, rack or lazy susan to keep them organized and space-saving. There are plenty of different kinds to choose from on Amazon or at retail stores, so youâre bound to find the best kind for your cabinets!
12. Use Under-Shelf Baskets
If you have pretty tall cabinets with a lot of unused vertical space, then this is a great way to make use of them. Youâll be adding extra shelf spaces without going through a lengthy, non-rental friendly installation process! There are different sizes to choose from based on what your cabinets can fit, so pay attention to the measurements. Fyi, they also make these for your fridge.
13. Store Dishes Vertically
This wonât necessarily create more space in your cabinets, but it will save you from having to stack a lot of plates on top of one another. This comes in handy when the dishes you want are sandwiched in between eight others. Instead of being careful not to disturb the rest of the stack as you pull out a plate, you can just grab the one you want with a bit more ease. Products like these work best if you have wide cabinets:
14. Use Over-The-Cabinet Hooks
I know I already suggested hanging stuff off of your cabinets doors, but I linked specifically to a basket that time. This time, Iâm suggesting hooks as an alternative. Some of you donât want, need, or have room to hang bigger storage solutions from your cabinets. Well, with smaller tools like these:
You can still make use of those tiny doors in your kitchen. Buying them individually instead of getting the kind that are connected in a row also gives you more of a say over how many hooks you need and where to put them.
15. Add A Pegboard Inside The Cabinets
By putting this on the inside, or outside, of your kitchen cabinet, youâll be giving yourself more customizable storage. As long as you have the means to hang stuff off of it, there are plenty of lightweight kitchen items that could make a home here. You could also use this as a hub for your most used, smaller supplies and ingredients for quick, easy access. There are also a few different colors to choose from, so it could match your kitchen decor if you already have an aesthetic going.
16. Use Corner Shelves
This gives you a way to stack multiple things in the corner of your cabinets. For example, instead of lining your mugs side by side when putting them away, you could stack them. After all, theyâre not like bowls where you can just nest them together. Especially if you didnât buy a matching set. You could also use them to store spices, since theyâre not easy to stack either. Shoving all this stuff into the corner makes a bit more room for other items in the front.
17. Use Adhesive Wall Baskets
Hanging baskets arenât the only type that you can stick on your cabinet doors. If youâd prefer to not use hooks, then you can attach these instead. There are different kinds to choose from and they come in matching packs too. Like pegboards, they also have different colors to match the rest of your kitchenâs aesthetic. I recommend using these baskets for lightweight items to avoid tearing off the adhesive. That might damage the cabinetâs finish or paint.
18. Store Your Spices On Your Cabinet Door
If you choose to attach some storage items here, then a few ingredients I suggest keeping in them are spices. If youâre a real gourmet chef who likes to make your food explode with flavor, you probably have quite the collection already. They’re lightweight enough to avoid overwhelming whatever theyâre resting on. They are also frequently used items that youâd probably prefer easy access to. Putting them directly on a door is the perfect solution, unless itâs going to ruin your aesthetic. In that case, put them on the inside of the door so that theyâre not constantly on display.
19. Use A Tumbler, Water Bottle And Coffee Mug Organizer
These things can take up a lot of room in a cabinet while wasting a lot of vertical space. They can also be easy to knock over, causing the rest to tumble down. Then, you have the annoying task of standing them all back up again. Without an organization system, these can be some of the most tedious things to put away. By getting an organizer, you can make the process 90% less irritating. They come in different sizes, so make sure to get one thatâll fit inside your cabinet.
20. Get Lazy Susan Organizer Bins
Using a lazy susan is a great organization hack in itself. To get the absolute most out of yours, you could add these organizer bins to it:
Instead of only storing items that can sit on their own, you now have the option to pour ingredients inside the bins that need a container. These could basically double the storage capacity of these helpful kitchen turntables. Make sure to check their size before buying some to make sure theyâll fit snugly onto your device.
21. Use A Can Rack
Stacking your cans isnât the most stable way to store them; especially if you plan on stacking more than two on top of each other. This often leads them to take up a lot of surface area in your cabinets. It also results in unused vertical storage space. Using this rack can help reduce that:
Itâs also a more stable way to store cans, which makes finding and grabbing the one that you need much easier. Also, since theyâre lying horizontally, you can likely fit more inside your cabinet than you wouldâve beforehand.
22. Store Your Cutting Boards In A Cabinet Door Basket
I already talked about these storage solutions in general, but now I’m talking about a specific type of basket. These are the kind that are deep enough to hold your cutting boards. Using one of these can help free up drawer, counter and cabinet shelf space. You’ll also be able to grab them faster if you store them on the outside of the door.
23. Hang Mugs Underneath The Cabinets
- Lastly, using some adhesive hooks to hang your mugs from the bottom of the cabinet is a good storage technique too. Just make sure that the hooks you choose can hold the weight of each one. This also makes for nice decor!
