Every inch of space is important when it comes to storage, especially in the kitchen where there’s always so much to store and to organize and rarely enough space to do it in a way that’s both practical and aesthetically-pleasing. Nevertheless, clever kitchen storage ideas are actually not that hard to come by. The tricky part is selecting those that actually work for you and for your space and adapting those with potential. Maybe these tips can put you on the right track.

Keep a clean counter

A clean and empty counter is always practical so, if possible, avoid using it as a storage surface. Keep dishes, utensils and other things inside the cabinets or hang them on the walls so you can maximize your counter space.

Use your backsplash for more

The backsplash is there to prevent splashes on the wall and to make the kitchen easier to clean and often more beautiful as well. Quite often, however, the backsplash is actually bigger than it needs to be. For example, you don’t really need it for the prep area but it would look bad to just leave the wall bare in that particular section. A clever design approach in this sense would be to use the backsplash for more than originally intended and to add a few storage shelves or cubbies, much like you see here.

Keep the decor bright and open

There’s usually a lot of furniture in a kitchen and that can become a bit overwhelming, making even a large kitchen feel small and cramped. To avoid that without sacrificing storage, you can use glass-front cabinetry or open shelves and cubbies.

Work with stacks

You can save lots of space in the kitchen by simply stacking things like plates, boxes, even cans or cups. Stacks are neat and practical and they give the kitchen a clean and organized look.

Hang in there

What about utensils and other things which you can’t stack and which you need to keep close-by at all times? Well, you could hang those using hooks. You can install a rod on the backsplash or mount it to the underside of a wall-mounted cabinet.

Mix and match

No single type of storage is great for every situation so it’s important to mix and match your storage strategies. It would be nice to have a few drawers, some closed cabinet modules and a few open shelves and cubbies as well.

Look up

Make the most of every little bit of space you have in the kitchen. When there’s no more storage room on the walls and inside the cabinets, look up and be creative. The space just above the island, for instance, can be turned into a very practical storage area for pots and pans or for bottles and other things.

Play with heights

Perhaps you’ve noticed this yourself: the standard counter height is pretty practical when cutting and prepping food or when cooking but not so much when you’re kneading or performing other actions so a suitable array of counter heights can be as practical as a large storage pantry.

Use drawer dividers

Drawers are pretty great for storing lots and things but not for organizing them. If you want to keep an organized kitchen drawer you better use dividers. There are various different types of drawer dividers to consider so be sure to do some research beforehand.

Some things should stay hidden

While open shelves and drawers are definitely great when it comes to the storage and organization of small items, a kitchen also needs a big cabinet, one in which to keep all the big things like those pots and pans, small appliances, dishes and cleaning supplies.

Keep a tidy pantry

Having a pantry in the kitchen is awesome. There’s so much you can keep in there and it’s so easy to keep a clean kitchen when you have a pantry that keeps all the clutter at bay. Of course, it’s crucial to come up with an organizing system that works well for you.

Some things deserve to be put on display

Surely not everything you keep in the kitchen has a utilitarian purpose. Some things are just beautiful and they deserve to be put on display. A few open shelves with built-in spotlights can really transform a space.

Organize yourself with boxes

It’s much easier to keep a kitchen tidy and organized when you’re using boxes and trays. You can store all sorts of things this way, including spice jars, vegetables and cleaning supplies.

Think vertical but also horizontal

To make your kitchen as storage-efficient as possible, it’s important to use the space in the most practical way possible and that means taking advantage of the height of the room with vertical storage modules but also installing horizontal shelves and units along the walls.

Work with clusters

Having various types of storage randomly combined and spread all over the kitchen can give the space a disorganized look which is usually the exact opposite of what we’re looking for. To avoid that, cluster the cubbies in one place, keep the open shelves nicely lined up and think of using different colors to delineate various modules.

Shed some light on your drawers

Have you ever used kitchen drawers with built-in LED strips? It’s a pretty unique experience. The light strips change everything. You can actually add these even after you’ve put together your kitchen furniture and decor. Also, consider other uses for LED strips as well and don’t limit yourself to the common design strategies.

Build a hall of fame

Open shelves are wonderful in the kitchen because they let you keep items handy and easy to grab but also because they let you display things on them. You can combine these two options and put together a whole shelving unit divided into various compartments.

Jars are super useful

We can’t possibly talk about clever kitchen storage methods without mentioning jars. They’re probably the most versatile thing in one’s home. You can use jars to store and to organize your spices, coffee beans, flour and basically anything that fits inside. Jars are also great for keeping kitchen utensils and flatware in.

Move some things to the side

Why ignore a perfectly usable storage surface when you can make the most of it with shelves? We’re talking about storage modules which you can install on the sides of the kitchen island or cabinet.

Build a storage module right into the counter

Building stuff right into the kitchen counter is actually a pretty popular option among designers. This can include features like knife racks, sockets and even storage compartments for spices, dishes, planters and other items.

Related: Top 10 Best Dish-Drying Racks Perfect For Most Kitchens

Your kitchen can keep secrets

What could be more clever than a secret storage compartment? You could have one built into the counter and, even better, the counter could slide over the sink hiding it completely. This particularly strategy basically lets you double your usable counter space.

A drawer inside a drawer

This ingenious design idea lets you maintain a clean and minimalist look in your kitchen without sacrificing functionality and storage. The idea is simple: inside a deep and large drawer you have a smaller drawer.

Have a private island

If there’s enough space for an island in your kitchen, go for it. Kitchen islands are very practical and functional and they can also look very chic and stylish. They add more counter space to the room and you can also integrate plenty of storage in it too.

A rack to rule them all

If you have a whole collection of measuring spoons or just a lot of kitchen utensils, go ahead and hang them all on a wall-mounted rack. It’s easy, inexpensive and storage-efficient as you don’t be sacrificing a whole drawer for this.

Consider a wine rack

You’re probably thinking a wine rack is the last thing you need in your kitchen, with space being so valuable and all. However, a wine rack can turn out to be quite practical. Just think of the fact that wine bottles aren’t the things you can store this way. You can also organize your oils, vinegars and sauces like this and you may even be able to fit some napkin rolls in those cubbies as well.