The kitchen is the heart of the entire home. However wonderful the entire house might be, a beautiful kitchen would not only add to the beauty of the house but also touch your heart.
In ancient times, houses were designed to place the kitchen in such a manner that any person walking by the house would be able to get a peek into the kitchen from the window; not only would he be immediately attracted by the cooking aroma from the kitchen but also by the visual look of it. In this manner, the houses were designed to poke visitors’ interest through the subtle design of the kitchen.
It is also very important that the kitchen is planned by keeping in mind its small size and ways to be optimal in the limited space it is allotted. This is necessary because space is a very important aspect when considering the design of a house. A kitchen does not need much space unless you dream of becoming a Michelin-star chef.
But that does not mean it is given very limited space, and the elements of a kitchen are cramped up in that space. Thus it is very important to design shelves for small kitchens carefully and accordingly to make the optimal use of space. Some of such design ideas include creating simple and utility-driven shelves and racks that can accommodate utensils and other items.
Even from a psychological point of view, and from extensive research, it is found that clutter is often a culprit of anxiety, which keeps us from being productive, active, or having peace. A cluttered and shabby space also does not give a good impression of your home.
Thus, without further ado, let us dive into 10 small kitchen shelving ideas for your kitchen and the shelves to transform the kitchen into its most optimal form –
1. Hooks for Hanging Kitchenware
This is a very innovative way among small kitchen shelving ideas for using the space in the kitchen to neatly arrange and apportion the kitchenware. With the use of hooks, they can be used to hang spoons, cups, and different kinds of kitchenware, which otherwise would occupy a significant amount of space in the kitchen. This idea does not require much effort, and we don’t necessarily need to pin these hooks to the wall, but the latest kind of these hooks can be stuck to the walls.
These hooks also add immensely to the look of the kitchen. They work as a great substitute for the use of decor items in the kitchen. Not only for the visual appeal, but it also makes this kitchenware easily accessible as we do not need to search for them because they are readily available, hanging in the air for us.
2. Usage of Multifunctional Kitchen Appliances
As a decluttering tip, we should focus on the elements that occupy the most space. The real space occupiers in the kitchen are our appliances without discussion. Other than the sheer number of them, the size of these appliances is so large that they inadvertently occupy a lot of space. To maximize your counter space, it is better to opt for multifunctional yet simple kitchen appliances. This is a modern idea for small kitchen shelving ideas.
Some of these multifunctional appliances include a wall oven with a built-in rotisserie, or instead of having an electric kettle and coffee machine, what about a 2-in-1 espresso maker that can make tea?
Those clumsy times of taking out, uncoiling, plugging, unplugging, getting confused, and putting away your coffee maker are gone. With the advent of multifunctional kitchen appliances, the space and complications are reduced, thus making our life easier.
3. Keeping Supplies Out in the Open
One of the small kitchen shelving ideas to free up space on the shelves is by placing fresh supplies such as fruits and vegetables in the counter space. Not just the supplies but also certain items such as cutting boards and kettles can be used as decor items and arranged along the counter space.
These small kitchen shelving ideas free up an ample amount of space on the shelves and also creates an exquisite decorative look in the kitchen.
4. Open Glass Shelves
This is a very new and modern idea among small kitchen shelving ideas for designing your cabinets set on top. This kind of cabinet has a glass casing, but a wooden or steel finish in the corners. It adds to the look of the entire kitchen and also solves a major problem for most users.
Most users would like to have visibility of the cutlery and kitchenware but keeping them open leaves them prone to dust and risk. Having these kinds of cabinets solves the problem as the cutlery and kitchenware are quite visible and also stored safely. It is multipurpose by nature and also simplifies a major problem faced in a kitchen, thus it is highly advisable among various small kitchen shelving ideas.
This design of cabinets also ensures that the space is optimally utilized as a major load of supplies that are kept in the open are moved into this. Thus freeing up a large amount of space on the counter and the open space. This can also be used as a pantry and thus would work as a small pantry shelving idea.
5. Open-Rack for Dishes and Plates
This is another great idea to optimally utilize the space in your kitchen. The use of racks to place plates, knives, and cutlery is a great way to free up an ample amount of space on the kitchen shelves. This also adds a great deal to the look of the kitchen and simplifies and eases the use of cutlery and plates by making them easily approachable. This is a very innovative idea among all the small kitchen shelving ideas.
The racks also are very easy and optimal elements to use as they do not cost very high and also are very durable and useful. Thus, symmetrically placing all these racks all along the kitchen would greatly free up space in the kitchen.
6. Open Shelves
These are a great alternative for racks as they are shelves that are open and hung to the walls. This idea not only creates extra space for keeping kitchenware but also clears up an ample amount of space inside the shelves. This idea of a small kitchen with open shelving is an old and highly used one.
These shelves also act as a wonderful idea for creating decor. Not only can these shelves be used for placing kitchenware but also for decor items and other elements to create a nuanced look in a simplified manner. Open shelves are a widely used idea in the category of small kitchen shelving ideas.
7. Modular Modern Kitchen Design
Simplifying the kitchen with the use of shelves and other elements can be a daunting task. The use of modern practices and technology can simplify the process to a great extent and fit into the class of small kitchen shelving ideas. A modular kitchen design is a modern design that evolved from the need for a simple and utility-driven kitchen design. This design uses innovative shelf ideas like a rolling cabinet, dish drawer, pet bowl rack, and other modern ideas.
A modular kitchen design will ensure that the spaces are optimally utilized as these shelves are designed to occupy minimal space and give more storage. They make it simpler also as these shelves and cabinets are very easy to use and are very durable by nature.
8. Trash Can Drawer
This idea is a very smart way to hide the trash can in one of the cabinets, opening up space in the kitchen to walk around. This space can be used for setting up a rack or an additional drawer for other purposes. This is one of the small kitchen shelving ideas that has multiple benefits.
A pull-out trash can drawer also is one of the great small kitchen shelving ideas to make things simpler as it removes the burden of constantly ensuring the trash can is in the proper place. A pull-out trash can drawer fixes the trash can, and it moves according to the drawer and thereby is simpler and easier to operate.
9. Under-sink Storage
This is a unique idea among all small kitchen shelving ideas for opening up space in the kitchen. In usual practice, the space under the sink is not utilized properly and is left empty due to traditional reasons. Previously, in earlier times, that space was filled with pipes and other elements, thereby filling it up. But in modern times, the plumbing facilities have become simpler, and thus if carefully planned, this space can also be used as a cabinet or shelf.
The perfect idea for using this space would be to use it as a trash can holding cabinet, as if any repair to the plumbing is required, it will be easier to empty the cabinet. This idea is the most utility-driven idea among all small kitchen shelving ideas.
10. Movable Racks
This is the most useful and simple idea and the best one among small kitchen shelving ideas to clear up shelf space. With these movable racks, any kitchenware and other kitchen items can be placed on them and moved according to convenience. Sometimes, when such items are not needed, they can be moved easily into storage. They can also be shifted according to your needs, making the movement around the kitchen very comfortable and simple.
These small kitchen shelving ideas which lead to moving most of the less-used items onto the rack clear up a large amount of space in the shelves leading to optimal usage of them. These shelves can now only be used for the regularly used important elements and thus making the kitchen a very simple and easy place to navigate within.
Thereby we have listed quite a few popular and most-simple small kitchen shelving ideas. There are a lot more choices available among small kitchen shelving ideas to decide from regarding shelves and racks. This choice entirely depends on personal preference and needs, and all the small kitchen shelving ideas listed above are very useful and optimal.
Building a home is not an opportunity we regularly get in life. When the opportunity arises, it is very important to plan it effectively and efficiently. HomeLane is here to make it possible. HomeLane offers a variety of services to suit your needs and budget, including apartment interior design.
FAQs
How do I add storage to my small kitchen?
Storage space in your small kitchen can be added by various methods and ideas. Some of the popular ways to increase storage space are by creating racks and open shelves along the walls and around the kitchen to open up space to hold kitchenware items. This immensely creates space in the storage.
Another popular idea for increasing the storage is by adding a moving rack which is easy to navigate such that some elements are placed in the rack and are kept on the move. This clears up space in the shelves and other racks.
Hanging pins can also be used to keep spoons and other cutlery in the open, thus clearing up more space as small things like cutlery can take up a lot of space in the drawers, which otherwise can be used for keeping spices and other elements.
Is open shelving a good idea in a kitchen?
Yes, open shelving is a wonderful idea in a kitchen for various reasons. One of the major reasons is it opens up space in the shelves and drawers which can be utilized for the bigger and more sensitive kitchenware.
Another major reason for open shelving in a kitchen is to simplify the use of the kitchen. With the introduction of open shelving, dishes and cutlery are visible and readily available for use. It does not lead to confusion about where you would have placed the dishes or a specific spoon. As everything is visible in front of us, it becomes very easy to operate in the kitchen.
How do I organize my kitchen with little cabinet space?
One of the major ways to keep things easy and simple in a kitchen is by having an organized pattern and design for the kitchen. When there exists an organized design, then the cabinet space does not matter. Even a little would be enough.
The kitchen can be organized by placing the kitchenware and cutlery in an organized manner and arranging it accordingly. Having multifunctional kitchen appliances is a great way to have an organized kitchen as it clears up the space on the counter and, thus, eventually clears up cabinet space. By carefully and smartly planning the design of your kitchen with ideas like the above, cabinet space can be created.
