As a New Yorker, I’ve navigated my fair share of shoebox apartments with tiny kitchens that are barely big enough to turn around in. Making dinner often turned into playing a game of culinary Tetris until I eventually gave up and opted for takeout. But I was stubborn about cooking, and doing takeout several times a week just wasn’t cutting it. Eventually, I realized that with the right tools, cooking in a tiny kitchen not only was possible but could actually be enjoyable.
I’ve found that the key to thriving in a small kitchen lies in getting creative and maximizing every single inch of your countertop, drawer, refrigerator, cabinet, and under-cabinet space. Whether it’s through gadgets that have several functions or clever storage solutions — like stovetop cutting boards and collapsible dish racks — dedicating time to optimizing and organizing your kitchen can make the space feel surprisingly roomy and efficient.
I’m obsessed with my CSA, which means that every other week, I bring home a ton of fresh produce and I need to find a place to put all of it. Fruits and vegetables can take up a lot of space, especially when you’re working with a small kitchen and proportionately small fridge, so having an under-cabinet fruit hammock (which sounds adorable, by the way) can be a game-changer. I will admit that I love how fruits and vegetables look in a colander — maybe in my future dream house upstate — but it just isn’t functional in a small kitchen, and this suspended storage solution keeps produce fresh and visible, which inspires me to use everything I have. With just two hooks and a net, it’s also super-easy to install and clean.
This sleek, adhesive alternative to countertop-hogging holders has made cleanup super-easy for me, and I love that it was incredibly easy to install. I’ve also found that it’s easier to rip off and grab paper towels when they’re on this holder. I don’t think I’ll ever go back to a traditional countertop paper towel holder.
I have more spices than I can count, which is something I’m particularly proud of, so finding a compact and organized way to store my spices was super important for me when I was planning out my kitchen. Being able to show them off just felt like an added bonus. Having all of my spices on display inspires me to use them more often when I’m cooking and also helps free up my counter space for cooking and my cabinet space for other pantry essentials.
While I have two kitchen knives that I’m pretty loyal to when I’m cooking, I do like to mix it up occasionally, depending on what I’m cutting. And with a small kitchen, there’s really only one sensible option when it comes to storing your knives: a knife strip. Knife blocks are way too clunky and most in-drawer knife organizers take up too much valuable space. But a wall-mounted knife strip or bar gives you the opportunity to easily access your knives, show off your collection, and save some storage space.
The StoveShelf adds a little extra space on top of your stove in a spot that often just goes untouched and gathers dust and oil. And it requires no installation. All you have to do is place the magnetic shelf on top of your stove, and you’re good to go. I use it to store my salt, pepper, and a small bottle of olive oil since those are the things I reach for the most when I’m cooking.
I can’t even begin to count the number of times I shamefully dragged my cutting board over to my coffee table to do dinner prep work there before I got this one. In a particularly tiny kitchen, using a cutting board feels like a pain, but when I started using my stovetop as a work surface, everything changed. It quickly became my trusty cooking companion, and with the handles as a nice added touch, it doubles as a charcuterie board that’s perfect for hosting.
I don’t know how I would have survived my first (or second or third) New York apartment without this kitchen organization rack. You know you’re dealing with tight quarters when you can reach your refrigerator from your couch. This nice-looking rack is magnetic, and it’s strong, which means you can stick it right on your fridge and load it up with some of your kitchen essentials. I store my favorite cookbook on the top shelf of the rack so it’s easy to grab when I want to cook something fun for dinner. And the hooks are ideal for oven mitts, which otherwise take up a lot of space.
I drove myself crazy trying to figure out how to organize the cabinets in the minimal kitchen cabinet space that I have. The truth is, shelf space is just as important as counter space, and while it’s easy to say “screw it” and opt for owning just a few place settings, it’s nice to have more on hand if you want to spontaneously host friends. Even though it’s simple, this organizer helps me maximize every inch of my cabinets and makes me feel like I’m a professional organizer. I opted to use the top shelf for my mug collection, but it’s easy to get creative with these shelves and use them in a way that works for you.
At least 15 percent of the time I spend in the kitchen involves battling a hard-to-open jar of pickles (my daily obsession) or Dijon mustard. I’ve tried all the tricks — running the jar under hot water, hitting the jar against the counter — but nothing works like this jar opener, and it doesn’t require any countertop space. The V-grip design makes it a fit for a ton of different jar sizes. At least three of my friends were so impressed by this that they bought it for themselves on the spot.
I think I go through more forks and spoons per day than the average person — a fact that I completely own but am not entirely proud of — and this utensil organizer helps support that habit and make the most of my drawers, which is a must when it comes to staying organized. The stacked layout feels compact and unique, and I love that I’m able to store a full set of silverware in such a small container. I can’t stop recommending it to all of my fellow small-kitchen friends.
A professional organizer I worked with recommended these knife inserts. The two-pack helps me keep my knives organized, protected, and easy to access in a way that feels safe and intuitive. I’m sure I’ll keep these around even when I move to a place with a bigger kitchen one day.
This divider is lightweight, doesn’t require any installation, and helps keep everything organized, which makes pots and cutting boards both easier to store and easier to grab when it’s time to cook.
This handy lid holder allows me to take advantage of every inch of cabinet space. I was hesitant about it at first, after reading reviews on the Container Store site that said the adhesive had failed, but it’s proven to be an ideal storage solution for my kitchen. The lids I’m using are definitely on the lighter side, so I recommend using it for tops that don’t feel too heavy-duty.
I keep all of my snacks and baking supplies in these low-profile bins, and they were super-easy to add to cabinets that needed a little extra internal organization. I love that they’re clear with an accessible dip design in the front, making it easy for me to spot and grab items when I want a snack.
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