How To Make a Small Kitchen Feel Bigger + 17 Ideas That Work

Last Updated on June 4, 2025 by PorchLightReading

How to make a small kitchen feel bigger with these easy ideas along with 17 storage and organization tips that work!

Sometimes the house chooses you. Whether it be budget, location, school district, or purchasing a diamond in the rough, buying a new home comes with compromises.

Or maybe you’ve been in your home for a while and need better solutions for your small kitchen that won’t break the bank. Either way these tips and 17 storage and organization ideas will make your small kitchen feel bigger, without breaking the bank! Now that I like.

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Table of Contents: How to make a small kitchen feel bigger
17 Storage and organization ideas
5 Creative kitchen wall decor ideas
8 Sink and cabinet organization hacks
4 Refrigerator and stove space saving ideas
Tips to declutter and simplify like a pro

This is our own personal experience. Remember to seek professional guidance and practice tool safety.

How To Make A Small Kitchen Feel Bigger

We moved into our new home a little over a year ago and although our kitchen is nice, it’s smaller than what we were use to. Our pantry is almost nonexistent, we have a lot less cabinets, and our counter space is very limited. Since I love cooking, moving around in this new kitchen of ours was a bit challenging. Nowhere did I truly have a workspace and everywhere I turned I was tripping over pets, kids, and my husband. I missed my little baking nook and cabinets where I could reach the top shelf.

It was time to think outside of the box. To really be honest with the things I need and to get creative with every inch of space I could find. I needed small kitchen storage solutions that were inexpensive and practical and I’m happy so say we’ve done just that! With just a few small changes we were able to make this kitchen more usable without the added clutter.

Organizing small kitchen to feel bigger. Under cabinet lights and lamps.

Use light colors- Light colored walls, cabinets, and countertops reflect light and create an open feel.
Glass front cabinets- Using glass or frosted glass on the front of cabinetry can make the space feel less closed and more expansive.
Go vertical- You want to find space anywhere you can, and that means going up. Add shelves, hooks, or storage that go all the way to the ceiling to really maximize storage.
The use of mirrors- Well placed mirrors can brighten the room and help it feel bigger.
Under cabinet lighting- Brighten up darker areas by adding simple under cabinet lighting or small lamps. You can pick up plug in under cabinet lighting right at the home improvement store. All you’ll need to do is attach it to the bottom of the cabinets and plug in to a nearby outlet.
Think about your color scheme- A simple, neutral palette will help this small space look less busy.
Declutter counters- Keep the countertops as clear as possible to give the illusion of more space and make it easier to cook.

17 STORAGE AND ORGANIZATION IDEAS FOR A SMALL KITCHEN

Cutting board and baskets along the wall.

CREATIVE KITCHEN WALL DECOR

Cutting boards and pizza peels- Stuffing cutting boards and pizza peels in a drawer or bottom cabinet is a thing of the past. Now that we have to be more mindful with how we use this space, we’ve decided to start utilizing our walls as extra storage. We now hang our pizza peel right on the kitchen wall and call it “rustic decor.” It’s easy to grab when needed and saves space in other areas.

Mounted wall baskets- When space is limited, fruit baskets on the counter can feel messy and take away from much needed counter space. Instead, grab yourself a few mounted wall baskets for items that don’t need to be refrigerated. They can be mounted to the side of cabinets, under cabinets, or possibly even the backsplash.

Under Cabinet Mug Hanger- Oh, the mug part of the cabinets. Aunt Sally gave you this one, a gift exchange at work for the other, but let’s be honest, you already have your favorites. Clean out the mug cabinet and possibly think about adding an under cabinet mug holder attachment. It’ll make your favorites easily accessible and gives you extra space in the cabinet above.

Window sill as shelf- Boy do I love that we have a window above our sink! Watching the birds, storing fresh herbs, or wooden utensils in a decorative vase. What I’m saying is this is a great area to add more than just decorative items. Just be sure not to overdo it as it can take away from the charm of the window if you can’t see through it.

Side cabinet shelving- Utilizing the sides of your cabinets is a great way to add extra space. You can add open shelves, hang utensils, or add a mail organizer with key hooks. Get creative with this unused space, just remember to keep it tidy.

Helpful Amazon Finds
Mounted Wall Baskets
Under Cabinet Mug Holder
Decorative Mail Organizer with Key Hooks

Cutting board over kitchen sink to save space.

SINK AND CABINET ORGANIZATION

In-Sink or over sink drying racks- A drying rack takes up a lot of real estate on the kitchen counter so there are a couple of ways we can combat this issue. Try using an in-sink drying rack. This way you get the countertop back and don’t see the dishes while they are drying. Once dry, try to get into the habit of putting them away immediately and store your drying rack under the sink. An over the sink drying rack is also a great option and come in all different sizes with multiple levels. Or take it slow and see if the drying rack you have now might fit to one side of your sink, allowing you to try this a new method without having to commit to purchasing another product.

Over sink cutting boards- An over the sink cutting board was a bit of a change for me, but with my small space I needed a work corner! Wouldn’t you know that my cutting board fits nicely right over my extra large sink. This allows me to extend my prep area and clean and discard clippings with very little effort. As with any new change, it took a minute to adjust, but it’s worked out great and has allowed our family to move around the kitchen more freely without fumbling over one another.

Hook-On shelving- Adding open shelving to under your cabinets is a great way to get more out of your kitchen space. With hook-on shelving you can add a bit more space for kids plates, cutting boards, linens and the like. Just be sure your under cabinets don’t have a lip on them, otherwise the shelving may not hook on properly.

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Under cabinet baskets- These baskets can hold linens, fruits, vegetables, measuring cups and more.

Cabinet door shelving and hooks- Getting a bit creative with cabinet doors is a great way utilize unused space. You can use command hooks to hang measuring cups, pot holders, oven mitts, pot lids, or spatulas. Or maybe add a few lightweight adhesive shelving units for organizing spices without taking up an entire cupboard shelf.

Pantry door shelving- Don’t forget about over the door shelving for your pantry. Allowing you to use this space for ziplock bags, cleaning supplies, vitamins, tin foil, and other things along those lines.

Rotating shelving- Lazy Susans and turntables are wonderful. Although they may not save a ton of space, they do make it a lot easier to see the things you already have on hand and use on a regular basis. Peanut butter, honey, tea, and other pantry items! Let these rotating shelves do the hard work for you and keep you organized. Hide them inside your cabinets and keep the mess at bay.

Risers- By using stackable risers you can organize and hold more things inside of your cabinets without having to shuffle dinnerware around. Try putting the larger dishes on the bottom and use the risers for kids plates and bowls. That way you get the most out of your shelf without sacrificing function.

Drawer organizers- You probably already have an organizer for your silverware, but why don’t we take this a step further and add a bamboo drawer organizer for your cooking utensils. It’ll help you find your most used items quickly and force you to donate things you really no longer use or want.

REFRIGERATOR AND STOVE SPACE SAVING IDEAS

Side of fridge magnet organization- The side of your refrigerator is not just for kids art projects and alphabet letters. Adding durable refrigerator magnetic shelving can give you more counter space with little effort! Lots of magnet organizers come with multiple units including a paper towel holder, spice rack, small baskets for herbs, hooks for essential utensils, and so much more. Remember to keep these items lightweight and non breakable.

Slim rolling cart- If you have a bit of space next to your refrigerator, you might think about a thin rolling cart. This 5 tier rolling cart allows for all kinds of things to be stored out of the way in an otherwise unused space.

Cutting board over stove and rotating spice rack.

Over stovetop cutting board- Although we do a lot of cooking and chopping at the same time, there are plenty of times where we’ve used our stove as an extra counter space. This stovetop cutting board allows for just that- to use your stove an an extra workspace.

Magnetic stovetop shelf- If your stove has a tall back you might have a small area to place a magnetic stovetop shelf. Easily store spices and other things you use on a regular basis. Just make sure they are heat safe and far enough from the cooktop.

Helpful Amazon Finds
Refrigerator Magnet Organizer- Set of 6 with spice rack and paper towel holder.
Rustic- Slim 5 Tier Rolling Cart with Deep Shelving
Stovetop Cutting Board
Magnetic Stovetop Shelf

TIPS TO DECLUTTER AND SIMPLIFY

Over the years things start to add up. Small kitchen appliances such as waffle makers, small grills, multiple crockpots, cups you never use. These things just take up the precious space you need. So let’s be honest, when is the last time you used this small appliance? If the answer is more than a year ago, then it might be time to let it go. You’ll feel better and honestly might not even miss it. It’s time to donate and declutter.

Organized small kitchen with clean countertops.

Clean your counters: Keep only the essential items on the counters to create an open, clean look.
Hide unused appliances: Store appliances like blenders and toasters in cabinets or on shelves when not in use.
Group like items together: Keep similar items in designated areas. For example- keep your coffee essentials close together or make sure all your baking things are together for easy access.
Purge and donate: If you haven’t used that gadget or dinnerware in months, consider donating it to free up space.

Making a small kitchen feel bigger is all about tapping into unused space, keeping things organized, and adding a personal touch. These tips and ideas will not only enhance your kitchen’s functionality but also make it a more enjoyable place to cook and gather.

I hope you enjoyed these ideas on how to make a small kitchen feel bigger with simple storage solutions, and we’ll see you on our next project!

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