Finding the best organizers for a small kitchen is no easy task. When you're working with limited space and your cabinets have reached their capacity — the clutter may just find its way to your countertop, and when that happens, it's not exactly a good look.
It's time to bring those small kitchen storage ideas to life and find a way to get more organized with your space. You'll want to invest in some clever organizers to do this. Kitchens are full of essentials and making space for your everyday items, with a system in place, should be at the top of your to-do list.
To assist you with your journey of getting organized, we've curated a list of finely selected space-saving solutions for all your kitchen needs. Here are six expert approved ideas to keep in mind when you're finding the best organizers for your small kitchen.
1. Drawer Dividers
In a small kitchen, drawers can quickly become overcrowded. Before you know it, they've become a miscellaneous catch-all for all the kitchen bits you don't know what to do with. That's why drawer dividers are a must. These clever little contraptions allow you to form compartments within your drawers, so everything has a home and you never lose anything ever again.
"Cooking utensils tend to be too large to fit into standard drawer organizers or flatware trays, and this ultimately causes utensil drawers to become cluttered, making it difficult to find the correct utensil when you need it," explains Jennifer Bell, professional organizer and owner of Bell Home Organizing. "Bamboo Drawer Dividers, like these ones from Amazon, are the perfect solution. If you have a large pancake spatula — don’t worry! These dividers allow you to set the correct size for each item. They are an affordable and easy-to-install addition to any kitchen, no matter the size!"
Price: $30.99
Was: $39.99
Sleek and quite chic, if you ask me. These bamboo drawer dividers are expandable and easy to use, oh and, best of all — they're sustainable!
Price: $43.99
This Marie Kondo Birch Expandable Flatware & Utensil Tray is sleek and perfect for keeping your utensils in place. All you need to do is slip this expanding organizer into your drawer to help transform your kitchen drawer.
Price: $35.74
This Honey-Can-Do Bamboo Expandable Cutlery Tray is ideal for organizing your much-loved silverware. This piece has been made out of natural bamboo and comes with 7 roomy compartments.
2. A Countertop Trash Can
Adding a trash can to your already cramped countertop might seem counterintuitive, but these small receptacles will help lessen the load on your primary one, while also keeping your kitchen countertop crumb-free. Using a small compost trash can is a great way to live more sustainably, too, and they're perfect for your spent coffee grounds.
Professional organizer Melissa Gugni also suggests collapsible bins, which clip to your lower cabinet for easy cleaning as you cook. "I could see it being a unicorn tool for some kitchens, particularly ones that are very small with a garbage can that doesn't fit close to the work area," she says.
Price: $24.99
Was: $34.99
This 1.3 gallon compost bucket has been manufactured from stainless steel, helping keep odors on lock — even if food waste has been sitting in it for a few days.
Price: $26
This Yamazaki Countertop Waste Bin in walnut is certainly a tasteful take on a wastebin. It has a stylish plywood walnut lid and is made out of ABS resin. Its minimalist design and compact size makes it the perfect fit for small spaces.
Price: $22.63
This black round waste bin from Home Depot comes with a swivel lid, making it easier to place waste into when you're busy tending to your kitchen. It's compact and perfect for small spaces.
3. Expandable Cookware Rack
Kitchen cabinets are difficult to organize at the best of times, not least when they're overloaded in a tiny space. A pan rack organizer will restore order to your toppling tower of kitchen utensils, and help you maximize every inch of space available.
"An extendable rack will keep your pots, pans, or bakeware, organized and easy to find," says Jennifer. "It allows you to neatly place your pots, pans, cookie sheets, and other items in a row. The adjustable dividers allow you to choose the correct size, making sure you have a nice fit. This is a must-have product for any kitchen — I recommend it to clients and even use them in my own home!"
Price: $14.97
This expandable rack is ideal for keeping your pots and pans, as well as lids in place. You can easily slip this into your kitchen cabinet to help you maximize space. This product is made out of high-quality iron material and can hold heavy weight cookware.
Price: $31.32
This pan and pot rack is perfect for a pull out under cabinet organizer. It has adjustable dividers and can be used as a space for your cutting board, lids, pots and other items. It's been crafted from carbon steel and is easily accessible when installed.
Price: $23.99
This easy to use pot and pan organizer rack is ideal for cabinet storage and, best of all, it's adjustable. This piece has 14 dividers and is known to keep pots, pans and lids in a neat formation.
4. A Lazy Susan
Lazy Susans are the champions of kitchen storage. This simple, almost rudimentary organizer is a stalwart of cabinet organization, and you can also get clever rotating contraptions — for your fridge, too, allowing you to access all those hard-to-reach condiments at the very back.
"With small kitchens, you must get creative when it comes to storing your belongings in a neat and organized way," says Jennifer. "I love to use Lazy Susans when dealing with tight or awkward spaces. They're a great way to utilize those tight corners in your pantry, on countertops, or even in kitchen cabinets."
Price: $202.99
This Shelf Natural Wood Lazy Susan from Home Depot is a great fit for lower or corner kitchen cabinets. It's easy to use and can house pots, pans and even food. It comes with one wooden shelf, an attached rotating bearing, and mounting tools.
Price: $255
This beautifully designed Barcelona Wood Nesting Lazy Susan from West Elm will certainly elevate your kitchen decor. Made out of reclaimed pine wood in a black finish, this handcrafted lazy Susan is ideal for storage and can also be used as a tray to store a grand charcuterie spread.
Price: $19.99
This Acacia Wood Small Turntable/Lazy Susan is perfect for kitchen countertops and cabinets. You can keep your everyday essentials, such as cooking herbs and spices on this, too. It's durable, easy to use and offers a smooth 360 rotation.
5. Refrigerator Containers
When it comes to knowing how to organize a refrigerator, something as simple as a clear storage bin can go a long way in revolutionizing your food storage. These universally loved kitchen organizers keep all your separate food stuffs contained within your fridge, and act as little drawers, so you can access your ingredients with ease.
"I love the roll-out acrylic drawers from YouCopia," says Di Ter Avest of Di is Organized. "We store all our sandwich fixings in it and get that bin out when we need to make a snack, instead of making multiple trips to the fridge to get individual items."
Price: $39.99
This Simply Store glass storage container is microwave, refrigerator, oven, freezer and dishwasher safe. We love a multi-functional piece and this meets that criteria. It's been crafted from pyrex glass and paired with acacia wood lids.
Price: $245
This 14 piece Caraway Home Glass Food Storage Set in the color mist is not only stylish, but its BPA-free glass container coated with non-toxic ceramic finish makes it easy to use and clean after use. The set features two small, two medium and one large container.
Price: $38.24
Was: $39.99
This High Borosilicate Glass Food Storage Containers, made with Ecofriendly Bamboo, is the perfect little refrigerator organizer. You can store away your fruits and veggies in these containers, and keep them fresh for longer.
6. A Space-saving Spice Rack
Last but not least, every small kitchen needs a space-saving spice rack. There's a whole host of ways to organize spices but the best options make use of vertical space, so that you can gain back your all-important surfaces. "Organized people pick the right solution based on the quantity of spices they have and where they use them most often," says Melissa. "Just remember not to store them above your stove, as the heat will damage them."
Something as simple as a wall-mounted spice rack can take the pressure off your cabinets or drawers. Not only does it make use of 'dead space' that would otherwise be wasted, but it's a super intuitive spot to store them, since you can grab the seasonings you need while you run to the fridge for your other ingredients.
Investing in the right organizers can completely revolutionize your small kitchen and help you make the most of every square inch available. If in doubt, these expert-approved options are sure to be a game changer!
Price: $19.99
Amazon's top choice for a magnetic spice rack. This piece is ideal for small spaces as you can place this on your refrigerator or microwave oven — keeping it in close proximity while you cook up a hearty meal.
Price: $140
Discrete and easy to use, this Yamazaki Concealable Seasoning Rack from West Elm is a gamechanger. It's the perfect fit for small kitchens and you can easily hide away your spices when they're not in use.
Price: $38
Was: $65.67
Now, I really love this piece. Not only does it look great, but this spice rack is perfect for small kitchens. It comes with 16 cubes for all your spices and you can easily slip it into your shallow cabinet, or hang it on your wall for easy access.
