by Zoe Mack

Created on: August 26, 2009   Last Updated: August 30, 2009

While the kitchen is often the heart and soul of a home, working in a small kitchen can be a frustrating process. A lack of storage can mean endless rummaging through overcrowded drawers and cabinets, looking for a specific utensil, bowl, or ingredient. An overcrowded pantry can make it difficult to notice foods that need to be consumed before their expiration date, resulting in a waste of food and money. The following are some ways to maximize the storage space of a small kitchen and make meal preparation an enjoyable experience:

1. Drawers:

First, evaluate what is in your drawers. Empty the contents of each drawer out, and separate the contents into three piles: items you use often can be put back in the drawer. Items you rarely use should be put in a plastic box and stored outside of the kitchen; hall closets and basements are good places to find a bit of extra storage for these items. Duplicate items or ones that are never used should be donated, given to friends, or sold at a garage sale. If you really can't bear to part with that backup potato masher or the sushi roller you swear you will use some year, at least put them with the rarely used items.

Now that your drawers contain only the items you actually use, get some drawer dividers to organize things. From plastic silverware trays to sets of small rectangular boxes and two-tier trays, there are endless choices of drawer organizers. Deep drawers can benefit from trays that rest on top and provide two levels of storage.

2. Cabinets:

Most of your pots, pans, dishes, glassware, and appliances are probably stored in cabinets. Like your drawer contents, the items in your cabinets should be examined and grouped into three groups: items that are used often, rarely used items, and items you don't use/need. If you only use your coffeepot when company comes over, it doesn't need to be kept in the kitchen.

Once you have sorted your cabinet contents down to the essentials, consider installing pull out baskets or lazy susans in your cabinets to make items easier to access. Wire or wooden racks can double storage space for glasses and plates, and vertical dividers make it easy to store and access baking pans and pot lids.

3. Pantry:

A large family or an undersized pantry can make food storage a challenge. Tupperware-type containers that stack can be used for dry goods like pasta, rice, flour, and sugar. Pull out wire bins, bins that hang underneath shelving, and wire shelves that attach to the inside of the pantry

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>