Every hostess believes that the kitchen is the most important part of the house because it is there that food for the whole family is prepared with love, relatives gather for dinner, and heartfelt conversations start over tea. Therefore, everybody wants this place to be as comfortable and functional as possible.
So, how to organize a small kitchen without a pantry? Unfortunately, this is not always the case in many homes. Often, already small kitchens without a pantry are inconveniently equipped, littered with unnecessary items, and have a boring designs. It shouldn’t be like that.
This article discusses ideas for organizing space for a small kitchen without a pantry, which will help you organize a cramped space, streamline everything and make your stay in the room pleasant and comfortable. There are many ways to rationally use a kitchen without a pantry and make it more spacious. Every owner of a small kitchen needs a guide to organizing space in a kitchen without a pantry.
In a small kitchen, every hostess needs all the storage solutions available because feeling bigger doesn’t mean more storage space.
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How to organize a small kitchen without a pantry – best tips
As a rule, kitchens are limited in the area. Sometimes the kitchen space has an unusual (and often irrational) layout: it may have a narrow passage, protruding niches, irregular corners, etc. Therefore, an important task, in this case, is to organize the space so that even in such a kitchen it is convenient to cook and eat with the family. The good thing is that modern possibilities allow you to do this.
TOP 8 Ideas to Use storage space Efficiently and Optimal Organize a Small Kitchen Without a Pantry
1. Door storage
The back of kitchen cabinet doors is great for storing lids, cutting boards, and other relatively flat items.
2. Hooks on the side walls of cabinets
The side walls of cabinets can also be made to work! It can perfectly accommodate cutting boards, potholders, and small kitchen appliances.
If the hostesses prefer hidden storage, then they should consider organizing the space under the sink.
The space under the sink is ideal for storing household chemicals, brushes, gloves, and bins. Hooks, shelves, organizers, roof rails, and hanging baskets will help in the organization.
3. Compact appliances and kitchen cabinets
Any hostess in the kitchen will need a stove, oven, dishwasher, refrigerator, coffee maker and other household helpers will not interfere.
How to fit everything? Give preference to compact, narrow models.
At the same time, proceed with your own needs: for example, a small refrigerator is still hardly suitable for a large family.
And it is better to move it to an adjacent corridor or attach a loggia than to regularly suffer from a lack of space for food storage.
But to deny yourself the daily household convenience is not worth it.
For a narrow dishwasher, for example, you can find a place even in the tiniest kitchen: manufacturers offer both compact and miniature models.
By the way, the dishwasher saves not only your time and effort but also water! At the same time, modern models consume electricity very, very economically.
4. Folding chairs and table
By replacing a bulky dining area with folding chairs and a table, you can gain a lot of extra space in a small kitchen. ˈ
This measure is sometimes simply necessary when a person is creating optimal solutions for organizing space.
5. Magnetic shelf
Convenient magnetic mini-shelves can be hung on the refrigerator, which is ideal for storing jars of spices or containers with cookies, nuts, and dried fruits.
Spices and dried fruits are present in almost every kitchen.
6. Drawer dividers and drawer organizer
The better-organized storage and optimized drawer space, the more kitchen utensils will fit in drawers and shelves. Dividers will help you to avoid clutter.
Pots ladles and pans stack perfectly. However, finding the right item with such a storage system and returning it to its place after use can be very inconvenient.
To save time and space on the shelves, there are special retractable organizers.
Hooks under shelves. Cups can be stylishly and conveniently placed using hooks under the hanging shelves.
Pull-out corner drawers and drawer dividers.
Drawers help to organize safekeeping and storage space much more efficiently. And the corner option is a real find.
The microwave organizer is another important tool for storage space optimization.
If the space above the free-standing microwave is empty, there are special organizer shelves for this case.
7. Attachments for hanging shelves
With the help of special devices, open storage on hanging shelves can be made even more functional and roomy.
8. Removing the dining area from the kitchen
If even a compact folding table and folding chairs do not allow organizing a comfortable dining area in a tiny kitchen, it can be moved to other rooms: to the living room, to the insulated balcony, or the adjacent corridor.
Many housewives commonly used store table linens and cooking utensils in the cabinet space.
Thus, in a small kitchen, it is difficult to store many things that are necessary for everyday life. It is also difficult to maintain order because all the time you have to look for and get something. However, the proper organization of space in a small kitchen without a pantry will help each hostess optimize storage space and visually make the kitchen larger. Guests will be happy to visit such a kitchen.
You can find many ideas for small bedroom here .
What should you do to easily access extra storage?
1. When planning small spaces, first you need to accurately determine their purpose.
Will you only cook there or also eat? Will the whole family with children gather at the table in a dining room or just one person? Will the hostess cook every day for several people or only for herself, and then infrequently, since often everyone eats out? For what pantry items will be needed to search a place? These important questions will help you choose the right details of the layout, furniture, and equipment.
2. Correctly place the working triangle.
It may consist of a sink, stove and refrigerator, worktop, and hob (with a built-in oven). In addition, if you have a large family and everyone is busy at work, you will most likely need to leave a site for a dishwasher. On the upper level, there can be lockers, an extractor hood, a TV, or a microwave.
About the arrangement of furniture, the stove and sink can be separated by a work surface (cutting table) so that splashes of water do not fall on hot burners or open flames. Also, do not place a gas stove next to a window so that the wind does not accidentally blow out the fire.
Linear and parallel layouts are also good options. In the first case, all furniture and cooking utensils are placed along one wall, so you can place a bar counter opposite, put a table or leave free space. How to keep flag from wrapping around pole: a detailed guide. In the second case (with a two-row layout), the kitchen accommodates more furniture and built-in appliances, but there is no extra room for a table.
A suitable design of a kitchen without a pantry allows you to organize the space so that the hostess does not need to make unnecessary movements, think about where to fit all the inventory, stumble and search for the necessary items for a long time.
You can store all kitchen utensils in tall hanging cabinets. In addition to them, you can use the space under the sink to store various household items.
Current storage and its organization
A valuable resource for a small kitchen with no pantry is internal storage. A cupboard, counter, and drawer are the three levels that a small kitchen can be divided into to organize the space on each level.
Organization of cabinets
Organizing your kitchen cabinet is helpful when deciding how to optimize food storage in your kitchen cabinets and pantry.
The strongest allies of any hostess in managing cabinets are such tools:
- sliding and internal drawers;
- empty baskets and containers, use counter space;
- shelving with raised cabinets;
- cork boards;
- turntables;
- hooks for mugs;
- corner cabinet.
These tools are used to group similar items and arrange them by task or type.
Organization of counters
Keeping countertops clutter-free is one of the easiest ways to optimally organize a small kitchen without a pantry. An easy way to save space is to organize the items on the counter based on their similarity.
For storage of kitchen utensils and dry goods, the use of canisters and glass containers is recommended. This is a great way to add decor and reduce clutter.
Organization of drawers
It is almost impossible to place a full-fledged dining table in a cramped kitchen. But there are other effective solutions. For example, it can be replaced with a bar counter, countertop, a small folding table, or wall-mounted structure with a folding mechanism.
Tricks to make your kitchen space more functional
For the hostess to always have knives, dishes, towels, recipe books, and other necessary utensils at hand during cooking, you need to attach railings with various hooks and holders to the wall near the work surface. Use counter space effectively. Divide drawers and cabinets into areas where you can separate cutlery, plastic containers, pot lids, containers with cereals and other bulk products, etc.
Stylish storage furniture
Rarely used dinnerware can be stored in the Buffet or Credenzas, and kitchen carts, perforated boards, and bookcases are moved to a small kitchen with no pantry.
Any of the optional tools support limited drawer, cabinet, and counter, adding style.
Read also: Paint balcony walls – best colors and 10 design ideas
Kitchen carts
Their main feature is practicality! These are carts, and reliable helpers in the kitchen, so that quick access to food items is always at hand.
They are easy to use and can be placed side by side when needed. These are real helpers, without which it is difficult to do. To optimize the processing time of products as much as possible, the trolley is equipped with a knife holder that can be removed if necessary. The niche below can be used to hold bottles, kitchen utensils, and glasses and thus have an additional storage element.
Buffets or Credenzas
The sideboard in the interior of the kitchen is a great addition to the standard set of furniture. If you choose the right item, it will become the highlight of your home.
Buffet Benefits:
- Roomy. A standard wardrobe is not too big, but thanks to the abundance of shelves, you can fit a huge amount of kitchen utensils inside – a supply of food, alcohol, tea, and dinner sets.
- Comfortable. Models with a table between the upper and lower parts simplify any process – both serving the dining table and brewing delicious tea.
- Universal. Thanks to an extensive range of models of different styles, colors, and sizes, you can easily pick up, and fit the sideboard into the interior of your kitchen.
Pegboards
A pegboard is the perfect storage solution for any home. The board only uses wall space and can still store a huge amount of items. And it looks stylish.
A large number of perforated holes gives unlimited possibilities for placement and storage.
Open storage does not clutter up the space, even if it is small – the pegboard will still look out of place. And you can put a lot of stuff in there.
This convenience has made pegboards popular in small kitchens without pantry space, which makes efficient use of wall space. In the kitchen, pegboards are great for storing: plates, pots, crockery, cutlery, pans, accessories… and everything else.
The board is suitable for any kitchen, but it will be especially relevant in small rooms where there is nowhere to put a large number of cabinets, otherwise, it will not go through.
Different colors and materials of boards will allow the hostess to choose the right option.
Bookcases
To make room for kitchen utensils, you can use a bookcase. The most versatile materials for bookcases are wood, metal, and plastic. Using unexpected space in a small kitchen with no pantry. A pull-out table, shelves for window openings, special accessories for a refrigerator and microwave oven, bread box, and other secrets of a compact space organization will be discussed further.
You can also read here how to organize your home.
Conclusion
If there is no pantry near your kitchen – do not be discouraged. There are a lot of options for how to arrange your kitchen furniture and kitchen tools, and at the same time use the kitchen space in the most efficient way.
FAQ
1. How can I organize my small kitchen without shelves?
Organizing a small kitchen without shelves may seem challenging, but with a bit of creativity and organization, you can make the most of your space. Here are some ideas: use the walls, invest in a magnetic knife strip, use the inside of cabinet doors, utilize vertical space etc.
Remember, the key to organizing a small kitchen without shelves is to maximize vertical space, be creative with your storage solutions, and keep things tidy and organized.
2. Where should I store food if I don’t have a pantry?
If you don’t have a pantry, there are still many options for storing food in your kitchen. Here are a few suggestions: use cabinets, invest in a freestanding pantry, use a rolling cart, get creative with your storage containers, consider installing open shelving.
Remember, when storing food, it’s important to keep items organized and to rotate them regularly to ensure that nothing goes bad. Try to keep similar items together, label everything clearly, and keep an eye on expiration dates.
3. Does a kitchen need a pantry?
A pantry is not a necessity in a kitchen, but it can be a helpful addition for storing food items, kitchen equipment, and other supplies. A pantry can help you keep your kitchen organized and tidy by providing a designated space for food storage.
Having a pantry can also help you save money by allowing you to buy food items in bulk and store them for later use. It can also make meal planning and preparation easier by keeping everything you need in one place.
However, if you don’t have the space or budget for a pantry, you can still keep your kitchen organized and well-stocked by utilizing other storage solutions like cabinets, drawers, and shelves. The key is to find a system that works for you and to keep everything organized and easily accessible.
