Use Baskets To Organize Your Small Kitchen

Small kitchens can be hard to organize. There is limited space yet there is an infinite amount of kitchen supplies that must be stored. Using baskets to organize your small kitchen is a practical and easy solution to gain that much needed space.

Beautiful baskets have been my favorite way to store stuff for years. Baskets come in many shapes and sizes. You can find a basket for just about anything. They are functional yet stylish. Baskets are my go to organizing system for any room in my house but especially the kitchen. By using baskets, they make arranging your small kitchen a simple task.

Most kitchens are not designed for optimal storage. I have too much storage in my kitchen said no one ever!

Kitchen cabinets with drawers are much more functional than cabinets with doors. Unfortunately, as we found out with our kitchen remodel that cabinets with drawers are more expensive than doors which means the cabinets are fitted with stationary shelves.

Cabinets with doors and stationery shelves are what we opted for, to save money.

Shelves are harder to organize due to the depth of the cabinet.

Of course, you could also get cabinets with pull out shelves but again that is an added expense.

Use Creative Storage To Organize Your Kitchen

It is time to get creative with storage when you are limited by mobility and space.

Arranging your small kitchen can easily be achieved by using baskets to store all your essentials! Especially if all of your cabinets have shelves rather than drawers.

Baskets can easily be fitted onto shelves. Then all you have to do is pull the basket from the shelf to get what you need. No more wasted space or lost stuff in the back of cabinets.

The simple solution is to use baskets to maximize kitchen storage space.

Baskets are a practical and simple answer to add storage space to a small kitchen. They are stylish and come in many shapes and sizes. You are sure to find baskets to fit your needs.

Wicker Or Wire Baskets

Baskets come in many materials. The most common are wicker, wire or plastic. They also come in many price ranges. Choose the type of basket that fits your needs and style.

Wicker baskets are very traditional and will fit with any decor. Whereas, wire baskets are more suited to a farmhouse style. Plastic baskets are the least expensive and perfect for storing items in a kitchen cabinet.

Use Baskets To Corral Like Items Together

An efficient kitchen must be organized in order for it to work properly. So, using baskets will keep order in your small kitchen.

Your main objective when organizing with baskets is to corral like items together. By containing your loose stuff in a container, items will be easier to find.

Categorizing your baskets and labeling them will make it effortless to return the item to its home. Giving each item a place will in turn will make your time in your small kitchen more productive. No longer will you waste time searching for the one tool you need to prepare a recipe.

Store Kitchen Towels

I use a plastic basket to store all my kitchen towels. I fold them neatly to fit inside then slide the basket onto a cabinet shelf near the sink.

This does three things:

• The towels aren’t scattered since they are contained in the basket. I can find what towel I want easily since all I have to do is slide the basket out.
• It is very easy to store towels by folding. It keeps them neat.
• The basket will only hold so much therefore I can’t keep buying cute dish towels without letting go of old towels.

Store Cookbooks

How many of us collect cookbooks but have no place to store them? I am one. I love cookbooks.

There is limited storage space for cookbooks in a small kitchen. A good solution is to take your favorite cookbooks and place them in a basket. They are pretty to look at. This makes the basket pretty and functional. A winning combination.

If you have the space, you could display them on your kitchen counter so long as it doesn’t make your counter look cluttered. Perhaps a side table in your dining room could hold your cookbooks.

Store Cake And Cookie Decorating Supplies

I have struggled with where to store all my cookie cutters and cake decorating supplies. Since I only use these items a couple of times per year, I don’t want to dedicate an entire shelf in my kitchen to it. I own a lot of cookie cutters.

The solution I found is a flat, rectangular basket from Target. I have an area in my kitchen that houses the microwave that is huge! Since, the microwave isn’t very big, it doesn’t take up the entire cabinet which makes the cabinet look odd.

I don’t know what kind of microwave that cabinet is supposed to hold. An industrial one? It’s big.

Anyway, this flat basket sits on top of the microwave. The basket fills the space so it doesn’t look awkward.

Inside the basket are my cookie cutters, pastry bags and tips, food coloring pastes and more. All hidden from view. I feel I gained a ton more cabinet space with this one basket.

Look for odd areas of your kitchen where you could place a basket for hidden storage. It could be a big win!

Crocks Of Cooking Utensils

Keeping minimal things on my kitchen counter is important. I like the counter space to be clutter free however, I do keep a shallow basket filled with my favorite cooking tools on my counter. I believe in keeping essential items within reach when I am cooking. By corralling these items together, it keeps my counter tidy.

There are two crocks full of cooking tools such as whisks, spoons and spatulas on my kitchen counter. Sitting behind those, I keep two cutting boards in the basket. I have a knife block that sits within reach of the basket.

When I am cooking, all I have to do is reach for what I need rather than searching through drawers or cabinets. This wicker basket is pretty yet functional.

Pantry Organization In A Small Kitchen

Not all kitchens are equipped with a dedicated pantry. To gain space for a pantry in your cabinets, use tall baskets to corral like items together. This will help to use the vertical space in your cabinets as well as the horizontal shelf space.

• Baskets of onions and potatoes stored separately are perfect for a small pantry.
• Loose packages of spice mixes, gravy mixes and packets of seasoning blends can be kept corralled in a cabinet with a small basket.
• Group like items together in a basket to maximize efficiency and space. Such as a lunch basket or breakfast basket. Or a snack basket. This makes a perfect grab and go container for busy mornings.

Baskets should be tagged or labeled with the contents, making items easier to find.

To save space in your storage baskets: take bagged food out of their boxes before storing in the basket. Bulky boxes are a waste of space. Just be sure to date the bag, so you will know what the expiration date is.

I love coffee. By putting my Keurig K-Cups in a shallow wicker basket in my pantry, I can easily grab the coffee I want quickly. A big plus in the morning. If you like tea instead, you could easily do this with tea bags.

Think of how to best organize baskets according to the needs of yourself and your family.

Check out this post for more pantry organizing tips.

Organizing Kitchen Cabinets With Baskets

I like to use baskets in my kitchen cabinets because I can store lots of stuff in them and place the basket on a shelf. Then I can easily pull the basket off the shelf to get what I need.

I don’t like to rummage in the back of cabinets. Using baskets eliminates the possibility of stuff getting lost in the back of the cabinet.

Consider using baskets to store:

• Baking sheets and pans
• Plastic food storage containers
• Table linens
• Boxes of plastic wrap, aluminum foil and sandwich bags

Where Can You Find Inexpensive Baskets

• Target
  • This is where I find most of my wicker baskets. They are sturdy and fairly inexpensive. Plus they look so pretty. You get a lot of bang for your buck with these baskets.
• Walmart
  • I like to use strong plastic bins for organizing and storing things in my kitchen. Walmart has a good selection of these.
• Dollar Tree
  • There is a large selection of plastic bins at Dollar Tree. There are many colors and sizes to choose from. Everything is only one dollar.
• Home Goods
  • I have found many large size wicker baskets here. They also carry a lot of wire baskets. Especially the ones that can be attached to a wall. Shop this store often because they are constantly restocking.

Now you can use baskets to organize your small kitchen, too!

I hope this inspires you to grab some baskets and maximize your kitchen space!