UPDATE: Whoa, you guys are so awesome! All of your comments were great to read, and I got a lot of great tips, like these:
- Use lazy susans in your cabinets to make things easier to get to.
- Hang things. Everywhere you can.
- Put shelves up. Everywhere you can.
And now…here’s our lucky winner, Jenny!
“Oh, I am SO with you. I dream of a bigger kitchen ALL the time! Ahh…someday. But for now, I just stay super organized. I stack things inside of each other – but not too much or it’ll be a huge pain to get anything out. I also use those extra cabinet shelf-things that you add so that I can fully use the height of all of my cabinets.”
Thanks for commenting everyone, you’re super rad
-C
I need to make a confession – I don’t actually own a blender. Well, not the normal standing kind. The reason being…those things take up counter space, something I am very short on. In fact, the kitchen counter might be the hottest piece of real estate in my apartment at the moment. My microwave won a prime spot near the sink. My super nice juicer wasn’t so lucky…neither was the blender. The juicer went in a storage cabinet, and my blender went to Goodwill.
But it’s cool, cause I have a hand blender. Totally perfect for making soups, sauces, smoothies or some even juice. And, it fits nicely in a drawer. No counter space needed.
A while back CSN contacted us about doing a giveaway, and Adrianna gave one lucky reader and all clad griddle. That’s pretty cool. Now I’m getting to give away this lovely hand blender/whisker/chopper contraption. It’s pretty cool too. Actually, it’s really freakin awesome. To whoever wins this: I’m jealous of you.
BTW – you should check out CSN stores sometime. They have tons of super cool cookware and furniture, like modern bar stools. I hope when I own a house one day I have bar somewhere in it. I would buy bar stools like this. And then I would drink bubble gum martinis. Cause I’m cool like that.
However, until I get my awesome dream home, I have a favor to ask: how do you conserve space in the kitchen? I need to know. My juicer needs to know too.
Here’s how to win this awesome hand blender:
1) Leave me a comment with your best space -saving tip and I’ll enter you to win. You win, and I win. This is how I like things.
2) And if you’re without any helpful hints? It’s okay – just tell me you dream of a bigger kitchen too. It helps to feel I’m not alone. I’ll still enter you to win.
I’ll pick a winner at 12 midnight on Wednesday, so be sure to check back!
Thanks guys, you’re super awesome.
-C
21
Feb
Check It Out! A Super Fancy Hand-Blender Giveaway!
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{ 329 comments… read them below or add one }
I love my French Press, and it saves me from keeping a big old coffeemaker on the countertop. I can just tuck it away in a cabinet, and it’s done!
My OCD hubby puts things away, I have no idea how he does it, he just finds room for them. Granted, sometimes, I can’t find them again, and I see he has just put it with something unrelated but he finds a way.. Truthfully, we did buy a rolling bakers rack just to have some extra room in the kitchen.. And yes, someday I will have a nice big kitchen that fits everything I need (okay, maybe want is a better word…)
We got the microwave off the counter top. Installed a shelf. So, my Kitchen Aid mixer enjoys that counter top real estate!
I don’t have many tips. But, I recently bought a plastic container to specifically hold all those random chips, crackers, etc that pile up. I take the plastic bag out of the box, wrap it with a rubber band, and stick it in the container. It saved a lot of space!
Ugh – we have the tiny kitchen blues, too, so I feel your pain. Our cabinets are not in the right spots, and I have to unload my dishwasher onto the counter before putting dishes away, because I can’t reach the shelves with the washer open. As it is, we stack stuff on top of the fridge and the cabinets when we run out of space.
We store things in the basement on shelves. Our kitchen is a good size but there is no handy pantry to store big things in… like my roasting pan or the huge dutch oven roaster that I got for christmas that is sitting on the poker table in the basement.
We have a super small kitchen as well. We have placed a bookshelf under our stairs to serve as extra storage space. Works well.
turn the fruit you buy into the centerpiece on your table or counter. then you have something bright and pretty to look at and you don’t have to worry about finding someplace to store all of those apples and oranges!
I would love a bigger kitchen! I have most of my larger kitchen appliances in cabinets, so they don’t get used very often. I would be nice to have them on the counter top so I would see them and use them!
My kitchen is like a seasonally changing show room. The blender comes out in the summer, the espresso machine comes out in the winter. But we’re soon to be losing precious cabinet space! Help!
Baskets- love them!!! We put them on top of the cabinets and stuff them full of randoms… one is full of cloth napkins and tablecloths, one stores our cookie cutters… it is a pretty way to organize your stuff too!
Thanks for posting this giveaway! I have a kitchen cart in my dinning room that holds my microwave, wine and wine glasses. It can wheel around and has a pull out cutting board! It’s such a life saver.
I have cabinets that don’t go to the ceiling, so I use cute storage containers on top of them to store extras that aren’t used all the time. They hold cookie cutters, extra tea bags, extra silverware (so my drawer doesn’t stay packed), etc.
I lived on a 40 foot sail boat for ten years, so I know how to cram, but now I have a pretty good sized kitchen which I thought I would NEVER be able to fill up, guess what? So what I do is try to throw something away when I purchase something new….sometimes it works and sometimes not.
I love an island. It gives extra counter space and storage underneath. You can also hang a rack above for pots and pans!
No huge platters or roasters in the kitchen-and only a few serving bowls b/c you need less for every day than when entertaining for parties! (Prime real estate is stored for things used regularly!) These are stored in the crawl space b/c they only get used a few times/year.
Our KitchenAid stand mixer is big on its own, but when you take into account the zillion attachments, it could easily command an entire corner of counter space. To combat some of this, we keep most of the attachments right in the bowl of the mixer. This is a mini space-saving tip, but a tip nonetheless, and I hope someone will like it!
Cheers,
*Heather*
Don’t keep a drain rack….if you hand wash anything just tip upside down on a towel or the pasta strainer…which was out because you used that too. I also have a counter “garage”…the corner cabinet piece that fits between the upper corner cabinet and the coutner top….I stuff everything in there.
I have a lot of knives and the knife block I had for them was massive and took up far too much of my (tiny) counter space. So I attached a magnetic strip to the wall and used it to hold them. Frees up some much needed counter space and looks cool. Problem solved!
You can get sliders that fit in your kitchen cabinets, then it gives you a little more room in there and you can slide them out to get what you need!! Thanks for the giveaways!!
I put hooks on the underside of a cabinet shelf. My mugs have just enough room to hang above my plates, which combines what would have been two shelves into one!
Every once in a while, I’ll do a big kitchen clean. (I’m due for one this spring.) Anything that isn’t really used very often, unless it’s an expensive kind of specialty item, gets given away or tossed. This is especially useful for the pantry and spice cabinet, as they have a tendency to get unorganized and crammed full.
We have a teeny-tiny kitchen (smaller than my work cubicle), so I try to take advantage of wall space. We have a hanging bar for cooking tools and oven mitts behind the stove, and then one for hanging mugs. We also use a magnetic strip for our knives. It all frees up drawer space, which is great, b/c we have 2 drawers.
I live in a small apartment too, my tips is: less is more. Kitchen gadgets have to do double duty, no single uses or it gets tossed. I’ll be reading all of your tips today because I can use all of the help I can get!
We keep the waffle maker and the foreman grill in a drawer. It saves some space on the counter!
I keep my silicone backing mat rolled up in a used paper towel roll.
My kitchen is small, too
One thing that helps though, is my cabinet shelves are on pegs that can be moved up and down so I can adjust them. Thanks for the awesome giveaway! All this winter I have been craving tomato basil soup and this would make it so much quicker to prepare 
I don’t know if this is a helpful hint so much as it is a coping mechanism. I use my kitchen table and coffee table for extra counter space while I’m cooking. So, I don’t store things there, but I will use those spots for chopping or setting something while I’m in process.
I try to use clear boxes/buckets to organize loose ends (i.e. random cords and electronic doodads, as well as knick knacks that go on my husband’s uniforms, etc.) and then label them, so they’re nice and neat and easy to find.
I have tiny kitchen woes too- in the past I have hung my pots and pans from the ceiling using one of those racks from Ikea (easy to put together and pretty sturdy too). I currently keep my appliances on a shelf in the dining room- not the most beautiful set up but it gets the job done.
I feel your pain! One of my favorite kitchen tools is tongs– but they always end up catching in the drawer when you open it. I use old paper towel rolls to slip the ends of the tongs in. Now they can’t open an prevent the drawer from opening. I also use baskets in my pantry to hold several ‘like’ items.
We like to use command hooks inside our cabinet doors for things like oven mits and baby bibs. It saves drawer space so things from the counter can fit inside.
I definitely need a bigger kitchen, but the hanging pot rack I have was a big help. It keeps my pans easy to find and frees up a cupboard for other things.
When we lived in our shoe box sized apartment, my food processor had to live in the top of our bedroom closet. It was rough, but since it wasn’t something I used on a daily basis, it wasn’t that bad.
Guh, still trying to figure out how to use our non-existent counter space. The dish rack won out, and we ended up buying a thin table and a bookcase, which is where our microwave sits.
I have a small apartment kitchen so space is minimal. All of my mixing bowls, pots, and pans can be nested. And I keep kitchen linens, holiday dishes, and wine glasses in my hutch in the dining room.
This is a bit of expense/work but was worth every penny for us and our small kitchen…we had an above-the-range microwave installed. Now we’re selling the almost-new other microwave that took up half my counter space!
I feel ya on the shortage of counter top space! I like to take things that take up precious cabinet/counter space and hang them on the walls. Knife racks, spice racks, wall shelves for cute coffee cups, s-hooks for utensils, suspended paper towel holders… all great for hanging things on display freeing up some space to store your larger kitchen items.
I use back of Door, shoe organizer pockets for everything from Produce to plastic bags to canned goods!
I share your space problems as we live in a tiny apartment. My best strategy is to keep my kitchen cabinets clear of things I don’t use very often. (crystal, extra silverware, big platters, etc.) I put those things in a closet in our hall, so my cabinets are clear of things I use often. It works for us for now… hopefully that’s helpful.
I keep a lot of ingredients in ziploc bags, which makes them easier to fit into small spaces in cupboards and drawers.
Everything has to serve a purpose (or two) and we use fun decorative containers for things like our coffee so our exposed shelves don’t feel cluttered and you free up some cabinet space.
I don’t necessarily dream of a bigger kitchen because mine has plenty of space. However the design of it leaves something to be desired. I dream of a kitchen that I can design myself!
My fruits and veggies are art displayed on the counter in a large basket. There’s extra space in the pantry, fridge, and cabinets. I need space for food, not appliances.
My husband and I live in an apartment so I feel your pain! I love the new collapsible measuring cups and colanders…also I always look for nesting mixing bowls to conserve precious space! Thanks for the giveaway!
I am a recent college grad and live in a TINY apartment. I don’t have too many ‘big’ kitchen utensils since I don’t have a lot of money to purchase them yet hehe … but I try to live ‘like the Europeans,’ and go to the market about 3 times a week only buying produce and such for a day or two. My three roommates and myself each have one shelf in the frig that is ours so we have to consolidate our groceries
Love your blog! I am always making yummy things from it and my roommates and boyfriend always want me to make dinner for them!
The best space saver I have in my studio is a baker’s rack that I bought on Amazon. It holds my toaster, microwave, mixing bowls, indoor grill and all my baking sheets. It is such a lifesaver! Great giveaway too! I just made a soup and I could have really used one of these!
A hanging rack overhead to hold pots, pans, oven mits, strainers and cooking utensils is great! I recommend hanging it over a kitchen cart or table so you don’t bump your head-ouch!
I have a super small kitchen as well – very little counterspace! Mounting your microwave under a cabinet (if possible) would give you some additional space. I have mine mounted over my stove, thank goodness because I need what little counterspace I have. I have always wanted one of these, haven’t had the opportunity to buy one yet. Thanks for the opportunity!
I too am cursed with a tiny apartment kitchen. I actually recently wrote about my love-hate relationship with it for a creative writing class. Anyway, I save space by not really saving space. I am so messy and my kitchen is so messy. If i need counter space I just shuffle things around, sometimes to the floor. (I am not proud of this.)
I’m spoiled right now. For a small apartment, I’ve got a good sized kitchen and have expanded at an alarming rate. Good luck getting lots of great tips because when I need to shrink back to a little kitchen, I’m going to need all of them!
I also have a small kitchen and have been seeking ways to make it feel bigger. My counters are always cluttered with things that won’t fit in the cupboards, so I’ve used my collection of cupcake cookie jars to hold little odds and ends.
Thanks for posting this great giveaway! I save space by using every last inch of my cupboard space—even the toppermost, out-of-reachingest places that take one husband + one chair to reach. Also, we keep our toaster stowed in a cupboard as well, because that thing has a big counter space footprint.
I don’t have any kitchen space saving tips – I could actually use a few! I do dream of a bigger kitchen, so you’re not alone! Thanks for the opportunity!
This might sound a little weird…My roommate and I don’t use our dishwasher and have converted it to some much needed cabinet space. We also have a bookshelf to hold our of our appliances/bulky items; its sort of like a display case!
My new kitchen is slightly bigger, but I couldn’t have survived in my old kitchen without a cart with a wooden top. Room to keep all my pans in the bottom and a place to chop ingredients on top!
OHHHHH the dream kitchen for me is to make a huggggeeeee pantry to store all of the food and appliances that I DO NOT WANT cluttering up my counters!
Thank you for sharing with us
I’m afraid I don’t really have any tips… I really need some though! I keep things in the oven(but nothing that will melt, haha) and that’s about it
My kitchen is incredibly small…but we use baskets for everything. I also have those stackable storage containers with drawers in our kitchen between our washer and dryer (yes, small kitchen + washer and dryer = no good) – but the containers work very well, especially because you can just keep stacking more and more!!
We have a very small kitchen, we use storage containers that stack. My wife has been begging me for one of these and I keep telling her no because we have no place to put it. So I am hoping to surprise her if I do win this.
In my apartment, I put my microwave on top of the refrigerator because I didn’t have enough counter space. I couldn’t see what was going on in there, but I could push the buttons, put the food in, etc. It worked out pretty well! You just have to be careful not to spill when you take the food out.
The top of my fridge is very organized and holds the appliances that we do no use daily.
Our biggest space saving tip — eliminate what you don’t use and have multi-purpose gadgets!
I love the Container Store, so I buy as many of those shoebox containers as I can and stuff them full of pantry items (half bags on powdered sugar, small bags of lentils). That way they’re not all laying around my very tiny cupboard. Thanks!
I just used me very well worn out, almost dead hand blender to make your Almond Joy Milkshakes so a new one would be so fun. I don’t have any space saving tips, I can’t give up kitchen gadgets so I just try and cram them all into the cupboards.
Oh space saving… I know all about this right now because I am in the process of moving into a new space and organizing all over the place! In terms of kitchen space/counter space… I love using the microwave, oven, and toaster oven as storage space for my baked yumms or bread, that way it is air tight for preservation, and if you’re one that sometimes picks a bit too much at that cake or batch of brownies you baked the other day (much like myself!) it won’t be in front of your face all the time. I also am a fan of wine glass racks and pot/pan racks that hang from the ceiling, which free up cabinet space and create more ambiance! Another easier option is to put hooks along your walls to hang all sorts of kitchen utensils from; also a great decorating technique.
Hope you like!
I bought a kitchen cart and put it basically in the dining area but it holds my microwave and most of my kitchen gadgets – rice cooker, Foreman grill, etc. Evey little bit helps!!
Our kitchen is circa 1950s, so there is very little counter space. The sink is near the corner, so it makes it hard to use the corner. Also the only place with a plug is in the corner. I want to get a rolling cart to add more counter space, at least until we save enough to renovate!
We registered for just what we needed and we’re adding to that slowly and surely. Since there’s just the two of us we really don’t need all sorts of extra gadgets so we do without.
The one thing I’ve realized we need due to our new soup love is a hand blender (especially after the base of our actual blender cracked and I realized that we should have just started with the hand blender!)
space saving ideas? register for amazing giveaways like these, cross your fingers, and read all the other comments for great ideas (:
I buy meat, poultry in bulk. Then I separate into serving sizes and freeze on cookie sheet. Once frozen I put in ziploc bags and label. I can organize my freezer so much easier and can always find what I’m looking for.
I have a pretty wee kitchen too, but the one benefit is that the cabinets don’t touch the ceiling, so there is really amazing storage above them. It’s where I keep all my glassware, Sigg/Nalege bottles, travel coffee mugs, Dutch oven, slow cooker, etc (No, seriously, SO MUCH ROOM)… But I don’t have a blender, or a hand blender, or a food processor, and I can’t make soups
I love my magnetic knife rack it not only hold the knifes on the wall an not on the counter…..I put my cuisinart blades, and all my baking/cooking spatula’s on them too. I have wall to wall utensils it looks like I’m a serious cook…cook maybe but never serious, I have too much fun to be serious
I too have a mini kitchen
I keep things on top of the fridge and in every nook and cranny.
I have a plastic bin from Target on top of my fridge to store pantry items that don’t fit in my tiny cupboards – it’s printed with a design so it adds color to the kitchen too!
In our kitchen we have very little counter space. We have this collapsible table which when elevated provides some more prep-work space and also a table to eat, but collapses to allow more walking room when you are not cooking. A great addition to our kitchen!
ugh, no tips, i want a bigger kitchen too! way too much of my kitchen stuff is living down in the basement in boxes. so i guess that could be a tip? if you’re going to have a small kitchen, make sure you have a basement?
On the inside door of my pantry, I hang my measuring cups and spoons on hooks. No more buried measuing cups somewhere in my cabinents!
I wish I had a bigger kitchen! We have a tiny apartment with no counter space, so I could really use some tips myself!
Our kitchen has a lot of counter space, but our cabinets are shallow. We installed a rack on rollers that doubles my space for storing pans and plastic containers, and it rolls out for easy access. IKEA has them and they are brilliant!
My dishwasher doesn’t work – it’s a great place to store all my oddly shaped, unstackable baking pans. I also store ingredients in clear plastic (salsa/hummus) containers so they’re cheap, stackable, airtight and easy to assess at a glance. If they go in drawers, then they go in upside down so I can see what’s inside.
This apartment kitchen that I have is so far from ideal. My kitchen is so poorly designed that when we moved in I couldn’t use the oven because the door hit the windowsill. Maintenance came in and cut the corner of the sill off. The door still doesn’t open all the way because it hits the radiator under the widow. The oven can’t be moved. They replaced the counter top but left the gross/falling apart cabinets.
I have hung shelves to increase storage space and use the top of the cabinets and refrigerator. I only have 2 small drawers and so some cooking utensils are in containers on the counter and zip bags and wraps are kept in a wicker basked on a shelf. I just keep telling myself, “This is only temporary.”
I too live in a small apartment…I stack things on top of the microwave and other space taking items. I’m dreaming about the day I have miles of countertop space covered with Le Creuset, KitchenAid, and other goodies. Until then, I visit home and cook and drool.
Favorite tip? Buy a lined wicker basket to fit your cupboard or shelf, fill it with chip bags, snacks, anything that after opened needs to be clipped. No more half full bags of anything cluttering shelves. It’s all in ONE spot and looks neat and tidy.
I use my stove to store cookie sheets and other baking dishes. Just try to remember that the dishes are in the oven before preheating anything. I also try to buy things that will stack inside each other. I also dream of a bigger kitchen with more cabinets.
My mixer just broke so this would be a wonderful gift to win!
I too dream of a bigger kitchen…a huge range…double ovens…gleaming appliances…being able to keep my mixer on the counter rather than in the bathroom closet…oh one can dream.
My best space-saving tip is to live with someone who has issues with clutter and disorganization. He will constantly try to maximize space for you because he can’t stand to see you mess up the kitchen with all the things you insist you “need” (you really do need them though, he just won’t understand this). I’m not “allowed” to purchase any more appliances, but surely a free blender would be exempt from this ban!
We have old drawers we have made into storage in the dining room for all of our random gagets we dont have room for in the kitchen.
I’ve downsized from a huge kitchen to a small one and many of my things also went the way of Goodwill. I cook less than I did with 5 kids but am still crunched for space.
collapsable items – like tupperware, collanders, funnels, etc, and things that nest (like pots abd plates and bowls, etc). also slide out shelves to go inside cabinets
i was gifted one of those multi-level wire spice racks that didnt even accomodate like 1/100th of my insane spice collection…so i flippped it on its side and now use it as a holder/divider for all my pyrex lids. finally i can actually find one when i need it!
My kitchen is not big counter-space wise so I’ve been known to pull out a drawer and set the cutting board on top to give me more room when chopping veggies.
I don’t let ANYTHING onto my counter. I also store stuff in my oven, only to empty it every time I want to cook. I will be storing canned goods in the buffet in the living room once I purchase the right one. Oh and we hid empty boxes behind the couch so you can’t see it.
I have shelfs in my hall closet where I put the appliances I don’t use everyday. It saves a lot of space in my tiny apartment kitchen!
I’ve moved my cookbooks out of the kitchen. I use 3-ring binders with copies of my favorite recipes, magazine cuttings, etc in page protectors. I can just take the recipe I’m using out and can wipe it clean when I’m done.
I’ve also removed a number of slide-out organizers that the previous owner installed. They took up more space than they created.
Our friend built us a breakfast nook with storage benches. I cram all kinds of things in there.
My kitchen is SO tiny! I can’t wait to someday have a kitchen that more than 2 people can fit in at a time… Space saving tip: throw things away and get rid of clutter! That alone will make your space feel much larger.
I hang as much as I can! On the walls, hanging pot rack from the ceiling…if I don’t have room to spread out horizontally, I go vertical.
Store everything you can in jars – that way if it needs to be on the counter or kitchen table it’ll look nice (and clean).
Stackable everything! I stack my pots, my pans, my glass bowls, my dishes, any and every thing.
Keep everything (even what’s hidden from view) neat! It makes my kitchen feel so much airier.
I use a shoe organizer (the kind with pockets) to organize hats and gloves.
I’m working on putting all my recipes in a binder with menu ideas. Love the look of this blender!
We use tiered shelves in the pantry to double storage space
slide-out shelves inside cabinets are amazing for small kitchens!
I wish I had more counter space! It’s killer living in a small apartment…especially when I tend to buy in bulk (costco). I’m sure this is no secret, but containers are a life saver for us…for soy sauce, oil, pasta, etc. Not sure if it really saves space, but atleast it LOOKS more manageable!
My kitchen is tiny, but one of my favorite parts is the giant three-tiered lazy susan in my bottom corner cabinet. It makes storage a little bit easier!
I hang measuring cups on hooks inside my “baking” cabinet. I stack everything possible. I also am fortunate to have a large center island. I store most of my small appliances in my island. Besides that, I give things I haven’t used in a long time to Goodwill.
I try to save space by only buying things I REALLY really need…. which is difficult because I’m basically a hoarder. For example – I recently got a panini press, so I let my sister have the bread maker that I used maybe 2 times. If I ever want to use it again… I can just go visit her!
In our college-owned townhouse, 6 girls share a tiny kitchen! One thing that’s been helpful is stacking tupperware in a deeper pullout drawer, then putting the lids in the shallow drawer above it. It saves space and helps to find the perfect storage container quickly.
new house with a bigger kitchen is where i’m at right now.. definitely no space in my tiny apartment..
I have no space-saving tips. I wish I did! And I wish I had a bigger kitchen – with a big center island! Oooooh boy.
We do not have enough cabinet space for all my pots and pans for sure…I would love to get a rolling cart or rolling small island to store them in. I dream about building a giant dream kitchen … dreaming is fun!
Purged our toaster oven 3 years ago. I make toast in the oven and it works just fine. I need more space. And a hand blender. Thanks, preesh.
I do away with the things I don’t absolutely need. I guess I’m a bit of a minimalist. If I can do three things with one tool, I just use that instead of buying specialized tools.
I store the small kitchen appliances that I use the least in my laundry room in our basement. Wish I had a more spacious kitchen too!
Luckily I have quite a bit of cabinet space. One thing that I do that saves a bit of space and time is to put little parts to appliances – the hinge for my food processor on the shredder setting, etc – different odds and ends – in one box. That way, I’m not in losing them or using up drawers in clutter. It all fits in one box that I keep inside a cabinet – doesn’t require that much effort either! This keeps my kitchen clutter free in different areas and keeps me sane when I’m looking for something.
Oh, and my dream kitchen would most certain include 2 ovens and an island!
Keep utensils that aren’t used on a daily basis in a tupperware bin under the cabinet. Then your utensil drawer or container isn’t stuffed with things you use 3 times a year, like basters and the huge forks for turkeys and such.
I put things on the dining room chairs and tuck them in so nobody can see them! haha…
Hmm… I have big kitchen but don’t have anything set yet so all of above tips will be helpful……………just need time to read all
I dream of a bigger house…not just a bigger kitchen! (sigh)
Saving space is all about shelving! A simple shelf can take whatever is cluttering your counter and make it dissapear
Also, try taking a page out of a Russian Nesting Doll’s book and stack, stack, stack! Lot’s of kitchen doodads out there are stackable- it’s the latest trend!
My kitchen is small, but has a surprising amount of counter space… But I do have to keep my griddle in my laundry area. So, basically, I don’t really have any good advice.
Years ago I started buying Tupperware modular mates,I use them for all of my baking supplies,kitchen staples etc.They stack up in various ways.They are not cheap…but worth every penny.And NO I do not work for Tupperware
I think my problem is having more than one of something. I will have 3 graters, when I only need one grater. If it just stopped at graters, there wouldn’t be a problem, but that’s just the beginning. So my tip would be to just purrrrge yourself of the unnecessary crap.
i don’t have much counter space either, so whatever doesn’t fit in the cabinets is relegated to the garage. i know it’s weird, but i’m not exactly using a crockpot every day. i also limit the amount of dry food in the house so i can toss something like a blender in extra food storage space
digital copies of your cookbooks is my best tip.
i think good organization is key to space saving. after a recent “cleaning binge” i was able to come up with more space for the occasionally used items in our kitchen – panini press, ice cream maker, crockpot.
To save space in my kitchen, I enter contests to win space-saving appliances
No tips, but I love everything multi-purpose! I need a bigger kitchen!
we have a thin shelving unit with baskets that holds so much food! also – glass jars with chalkboard paint on them to better organize pesky flour bags, spices, sugar and more. all in one tidy place now
but i can’t wait for a kitchen with a big island, lots of cabinet space, a walk in pantry… sigh.
i use every possible surface for cooking and chopping and storage, resulting in precarious and unsightly piles.
I hang the lids to my pans on the cabinet door. This allows me to stack my pans and not let the lids get in the way.
I… don’t have any tips either! Counter space always seems to be at a premium, doesn’t it? Luckily right now I have a lot of space inside my cupboards for anything non-essential or small enough to fit.
I still live with my parents…which is awesome…because the kitchen is giant.
But! When I do, finally, have my own kitchen, I plan on using something similar to my parents’ utensil organizer–it spins AND holds all of the important stuff ; )
Such great tips already! I think the best thing is to have appliances that are multi-use. My kitchen has next to no counter space and when I thought about the “essentials” I knew that a microwave, toaster, and blender were all I really needed. The hand mixer and other goodies live in the pantry since I only need it every once in a while.
I dream of a bigger kitchen too! I have a lot of nesting bowls and a magnetic knife rack on the wall. Those seem to free up space for me!
I had a giant stack of food magazines sitting in a basket in our living room. I clipped out any recipes or ideas I liked and filed them in a binder with an index at the front. Instant space saver, plus it was really fun to go through those magazines and get new ideas!
I really want to install slide-out shelves in my lower cabinets, and tall vertical slide-outs in my pantry closet. This would be amazin – I would be so organized… Someone go talk my husband into buying it for me, quick!
A wall mounted dish rack that drains over the sink is an amazing space saver! It is also way less messy cause the water does not just sit on the counter or in a tray to be cleaned up later. Love it.
I am dreaming of a huge kitchen myself. I have NO cabinet or counter top space here and I love to cook. I dream of a center island with a cooktop and granite countertops with stainless steel double sink. And I sink at my lovely island and drink Lemon Drop Martinis!
I have a teeny-tiny dorm-room kitchen, so I desperately desire a larger kitchen! To save space, we have gotten plastic storage containers and drawers for other rooms in which we keep pots, pans, and other kitchen gadgets.
A magnetic, wall-mounted knife/scissor holder. It let me get rid of the huge butcher block that had been taking up valuable counter space. But I too dream of a bigger kitchen!
i dream of a really big kitchen someday, with lots of shelf space, a big pantry, and a nice rustic french countryside feel, ooohh
I have a pretty good sized kitchen, but I use every inch of available cabinet space and am not very efficient about organizing everything. I need a professional organizer to come to my house and help me out!
Hmm. Space-saving tip… I got rid of my hall coat closet to make a pantry. I figured I’d rather find a new place for our coats and add 4 big shelves for dry goods instead.
We, too, are in a super tiny apartment with a one-person kitchen and pretty much zero counter space. We hang all of our pots and pans from stainless steel racks we drilled into the walls (where we store all my baking supplies). Flour, sugar, spices etc. are all easily accessible in pretty glass jars on another stainless steel shelving unit that goes up the whole wall. We are really good about always doing the dishes to create as much space as possible. Other than this, we just stay positive and be patient!
I use a cupboard in a different part of the house (though not far from the kitchen)to store non-perishable items of food like bags of pasta, canned goods, bags of chips, etc. I call it my larder.
I have a really tiny kitchen too. There is zero room for a full size stove, microwave, toaster, etc. My biggest space saving tip is to think outside the kitchen! My kitchen table lives in my living room and my dishes are on a shelf in the hall. That frees up the kitchen for food.
We are mid house reno so I don’t have a ton of advice but something I do is…not buy many new gadgets. It saves lots of space. Also I had my hubby buy me a big Ikea pantry while I wait for my new kitchen. It’s not pretty but it works.
Sooo… I’m kind of into the clutter aspect of having a kitchen. For me, It makes my kitchen feel homey and in good use. – This does not in any way mean dirty, or pack rat I CANNOT WILL NOT cook in a dirty kitchen. I don’t really need a Martha Stewart-esque setup is all. I just buy what is neccessary, and purchase herbs, sauces, and the like which I will routinely use so they aren’t space wasters and will be put to good use.
The only thing I can say about saving space, is a Apothecary cabinet which ACTUALLY I am currently on the hunt for. It’s an ode to the apothecarist in you, i.e. cook, AND spruces up your kitchen and is a great place to store said herbs, sauces, and concoctions that don’t need to be refrigerated.
you have no idea. My kitchen is super cramped and I have less than an arms length of counter space. I would love a bigger kitchen!
My kitchen isn’t laid out so well…and my fiancé’s is worse! Very little counter and cupboard space. We stack a lot of things in our cabinets…and that’s about all we can do, to be frank!
After we get married, our dream is to splurge on an amazing, high tech, organized kitchen
I have no time-saving tips but trying to learn some new things. I live in a small apartment & I’m cramped for space.
Hmmm I am not too good at this one. I went and bought a buffet table just so I could store my china and baking dishes. I have more kitchen gadgets (except a handy hand blender) than room for them.
Of course I want a bigger kitchen, who would not.
Get rid of your bulky wood knife holder thing and gain some extra counter space by installing a magnetic knife strip. They have em at Ikea.
A funky frame around a big piece of peg board then painted all the same color looks cool and is great for hanging wisks,measuring cups pots,pans, you name it! It,s like kitchen art!
I get metal racks for inside all of my tall cabinets…that way you can have layers of storage.
…I would also love a bigger kitchen….with an island, double ovens, stainless steel appliances, more drawers…MANY things
I have a magnetic spice rack on the side of my fridge. It puts all of the spices in adorable uniform containers and saves space in my pantry!
Ooh! Spices on the side of the fridge?! Now you’ve blown my mind (I am trying to find better storage for my spices). I’m going to have to look into this!
I have a very, very, very small kitchen. It has an even smaller pantry, where I keep my food. To save on space, I set aside a few hours every couple of months, and I compeltely empty all of my cabinets. I wipe them all down for dust or crumbs.. and then I put everything back in neat and organized. I always end up tossing things out, or giving some old gadget to goodwill. This method helps me stay neat and organized!
I NEED more storage space for my pots and pans!! Need to figure some sort of organization out – now they are just piled up in a cabinet!
I too dream of a bigger kitchen. I’m lucky in that I’m tall, so I’m able to utilize all the high cabinets fairly easily, which helps with my space issue. My only real tip is to have a place for everything–organization is the only way I make everything fit. I’d love to do pegboard ala Julia Child though.
I dream of a bigger, better, non-budget apartment kitchen. With a gas range. And more cupboards.
I am very lucky that even though we have an itty bitty kitchen without much standing room, it has a lot of storage. Still, one of my favorite space-savers are the flat colanders that you can place at the edge of the pot and drain pasta without removing it from the pot. Super easy for clean up too! I’ve been dying for an immersion blender though!!
The kitchen in my apartment is so tiny that if I open the oven door and the dishwasher there’s no more floor space! Eek! I dream of a kitchen bigger than fun-size!
We were super limited on counter space but had a big empty wall so we bought a hutch that now holds our microwave along with all our silverwear, pots and pans, and cookbooks! Don’t be afraid to add to your kitchen to make more space. I would love to add an immersion blender to my kitchen collection!
I’m all about spice racks and shelf units; both can be surprisingly versatile and are easily obtained at Target.
Go vertical. I use wire racks to raise items with space below to store something else.
I really don’t have any space saving tips because I don’t have any. I leave in the suburbs so I have space…well not really because I have a lot of kitchen stuff and can’t seem to stay away from kitchen stores! I love kitchen anything…no jewels for me. Grill pans, knives, and immersion blenders are where it is at. My immersion blender died a very ugly death…I had to fish it out of some hot soup!
Lol I don’t save space, I just pray for a bigger kitchen!
I have a house and my kitchen is way smaller than I would like. Same as you – counter space in my kitchen is a hot commodity. My pantry sucks – it’s the one place in my kitchen where space goes for a higher premium than my kitchen counters. So I’m planning on creating a “spice drawer” (since they’re the biggest hogs of space in my pantry). I am reading about how awesome they are and I have the perfect drawer for it. Best space saving tip – find a good way to store your spices!
We recently moved into my mother’s home. Merging two kitchens into one already crowded kitchen was a chore that called for reinforcements. Before inviting family and friends to our “dining room table give-away”, we packed up boxes for our teens and put them in the attic. When someone is ready to make it on their own, they will get a little of everything and the last out the door will get the same amount, same quality.
Hmm…when we ran out of cabinet/counter space, we bought cheap metal shelves from Ikea for more storage, and now I don’t know how we lived without them.
We use extra closet space in other parts of the home to store big items, like the bread machine.
I used to have a very small kitchen in my old appartment.For more storage space I used all kinds of hanging storage compartments or racks that I installed in corners, on the walls. Any wall is a storage unit once there is a shelf on it!
Unfortunately I don’t have any space saving tips- sorry! But I would love, love, love a bigger kitchen. I’m living with my parents right now (every 25-year old’s dream
) and my mom and I both cook a lot in a pretty tiny kitchen. It’s hard cooking in someone else’s kitchen, and she doesn’t have a lot of the tools I would love- like an immersion blender 
I use my microwave as a breadbox, unless I’m using it to heat something. And as long as you remember to remove them when preheating, the oven can hold pots and pans.
As I’m a college student, I share a tiny kitchen with a couple hundred other people – so trust me, I feel your pain
I’m big into stacking smaller kitchen tools into other, bigger kitchen tools..
My kitchen is big on space but has literally zero counter space! Honestly – zero! So we have had to create counter space out of butcher blocks and kitchen carts. Thankfully we at least have the space to put the dang things in…
I always do prep work in advance because I have limited counter space. Plus it means less cleanup afterwards which is always nice
I am about to get married and I was nervous to register due to counter space we’ll have!
I have to be honest…I just throw things away. I know…it’s terrible! But I get tired of having crap on my counters. So, after awhile I start throwing/giving/storing them away. really, I don’t NEED all of it.
I made my own island, I just brought in a small dinning table (the cheap ones) stuck it in a corner and viola! more counter space – I have zero, its ridiculous.
I only buy what I really need and I give away what I don’t use. I move around too much to take stacks of appliances with me!
I came from my mom’s house, with a gigantic kitchen, to my apartment with a closet sized kitchen! My only space saving ideas are these- my beautiful boyfriend installed shelves into my hall coat closet so I could have a pantry (I know- what girl gives up closet space?!) and also, I have a giant wooden cutting board that I set over half of my sink to create a tiny bit more prep space when I’m cooking
I hide everything in all possible nooks and crannies!!!
i bought one of those collapsible, bamboo utensil holders that go in your drawers. it’s really great to keep everything separate and organized when you don’t have a lot of drawer space to begin with! the kitchen is the hearth of the home… i just want more space to entertain and dance from my island to my range with socks on! (points for presentation and delivery)
I use the cardboard toilet paper rolls to hold my tongs in the closed position in the drawer. Some people get squeamish seeing TP holders in the kitchen so I now decorate them with decoupage or wrapping paper. I will also include a picture of a spice rack I sorta (~smirk) made. I got pissed about not having room in the kitchen so I banged out a hole in the kitchen wall and then walked into the den and asked my husband to come out to see where the new spice rack was gonna go… One week before the Superbowl with a giant crowd coming. He finished it in time AND roasted 2 pigs. Marvin Stewart Jr. It is here: http://www.theperfectpantry.com/2009/07/other-peoples-pantries-75-1.html#more
As a college student living in the dorms, I could really use some space-saving tips. My kitchen dream is to actually HAVE a kitchen of my own!
I adore the newest version of Rubbermaid Tupperware (is that an oxymoron?). It’s stackable and the lids all hook on to the containers… It keeps me from ending up with phantom lids and also makes it easy to keep the tupperware shelf organized.
I take things out of their original packages. Things that come in plastic bags that are inside boxes for example. I pour whatever it is in to a jar and store it that way. This way I can see what I have, things stay nice and clean and ingredients stay fresher longer etc.
Oh and my other tip would be to tear a small (and tidy mind you) hole in the fabric of reality. Preferably in that little space next to the fridge and the cabinet. You can pretty much fit an entire other universe in there…though I just usually stuff plastic bags to reuse and spare bags of corn chips.
We don’t have a lot of space either, but my husband just built some shelves which have been very nice.
Haha, that’s one of my only requirements when we move into a house.. a big kitchen. Right now my husband and I are storing food and kitchen things wherever we can find room. It moved from our pantry, to our office closet.. and now under our bed. Wherever you can find space, right?
I got one of those lazy susans that are meant for baby food and I put all my spices in it. I don’t know if it saves space but it is WAY easier to find whatever spice I need.
Awesome giveaway – I’ve been wanting one of those!! I don’t have any brilliant new space-saving tips, but just try to stack/bundle/consolidate as much as possible! I’m blessed to have quite a bit of cabinet space, but not a ton of counter space!
Hmmm space-saving. Buying and recycling cylindrical yogurt containers and salad containers from delis. They’re usually the same size, and very very stackable, not to mention the fact you’re recycling…
I put my cutlery in a vase-like container on my kitchen island. It takes up no space and that way I have an extra drawer for storage.
I asked my husband for ideas & he said, “Use someone else’s kitchen.” Ours is PACKED. He did make a pull-out storage area & 2 pull-out drawers for pots/pans which are useful. I also have 2 small rolling baskets in the bottom of my pantry that make finding some things easier than pulling everything out onto the kitchen floor. Enjoying reading the ideas!
Tupperware that collapses almost flat (saves room in the cupboard, as well as in the fridge if the bowl only needs to be half popped out. It was such a great gift to receive.) and the Mixer Maid. It got my stack of Kitchenaid attachments neatly organized using the underside of a cupboard. How’s that for taking up no counter space?
http://www.mixermaid.com/
I would love a bigger kitchen. Actually the one now is quite big, but next year I`m getting married and moving out, I know where we are going, and it`s not gonna be big at all T_T.
I use the small “corners” around the lazy susan in my corner cupboard for small jars of cookie sprinkles and other jars of “stuff” I don’t use much. That way if I forget it’s there for awhile, there’s no worry of it going bad!
I would love to have a hanging rack for pots and pans…if I had the space even for that! =)
Well, I don’t have any awesome hints, but I do wish we had more counterspace!! Right now we have about two feet… not nearly enough!
I put my pots and pans in the oven when I’m not using them, and I store things on top of my cabinets.
I load up my cupboards with lazy susans, as many as will fit. I fill them with like items like herbs & spices, canned goods, teas, baking items, etc. When you need more cupboard space, think vertical so you’re using every available inch! The great thing about lazy susans is everything is visible with a quick spin.
I don’t own a blender either. i use a cuisinart immersion blender/chopper/whisker just like this one and love it. my biggest space saver is to buy stackable baskets, etc to put on my cupboard shelves to make sure i take advantage of all the extra space. i also take things out of bulky boxes that take up too much space and put them in more space efficient containers.
organizing in my tiny living space is my life!
One word, lazy susans…max out your space vertically and you’ll be surprised how much space you’ve created. I put them in every cupboard and organize them by like items such as herbs & spices, canned goods, baking items etc. And the best part is every item is visible…..no more digging and searching.
For one, we simply live with less: four pans, four pots, two baking sheets, a blender, an oven and a rangetop. The end. We have nothing but one bowl of fruit on the counter (and it sometimes makes us feel “cluttered”!)
For More, we converted a linen closet in the adjoining hallway into a pantry for food storage. It’s slightly inconvenient, but it keeps us from buying things and forgetting about them.
For Extra credit, eliminate the microwave: life will be just fine without it. Promise.
i put all of my spices, tea leaves, and ground coffee into plastic bags, label them, and put them into plastic containers (with alphabetical dividers for the spices and tea leaves) – it saves so much space!
I really just wish I had an actual kitchen. In my apartment, the downstairs is sort of one giant kitchen and carpeted sitting room area. It’s pretty terrible, no space at all.
I’m jealous of my boyfriend’s kitchen, but he’s not very good at organization.
We have a tiny apartment kitchen! We do have a small laundry room/closet and bought a kitchen rack on wheels for all our big appliances. It’s wonderful and when it’s time to do laundry we just roll it into the kitchen.
I have really high hopes for a bigger kitchen. I shouldn’t complain; ours is really pretty big for a condo kitchen. To save counter space, I stash things like my crock pot in our bedroom closet. It’s not glamorous, but it works!
I have a surprisingly large kitchen for a studio apartment, so at least for now I have more space than I need!
Since I used most of my cabinets for kitchen tools I couldn’t part with, I shorted myself on pantry space. I dream of a kitchen with room for a fully-stocked pantry so that more goodies can be made without grocery store runs!
I’m pretty short on both counter and cabinet space, so I just resort to wall storage. I put up hooks and small shelves in my little kitchen and it’s been great!
My best space saving idea was to get a buffet and hutch to go on top of it. It holds all my glassware, all of my dry foods, mixing bowls, and stand mixer. This frees up the cabinets for other things like my yogurt maker and dishes and other things.
I wish I had some space saving tips… I really need them! My cabinets are overflowing!
My favorite space-saving tip is stacking haphazardly until things fall. But, in addition, I have an incredibly small apartment, and so I like to use vertical space, with shelves or stacked bins. One day, I’ll learn neater tricks, and then my apartment may finally look like a living space.
My kitchen is very tiny! All I can think is if you hang your pots from the ceiling and lots of utensils on the walls- things will look cluttered but creative.
Or you should get some magnetised spice pots from IKEA and arrange them in the shape of a flower or something on the board.
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I think metal backsplashes with spices would look cool!
My kitchen is soooo compact I pile everything in cabinets. I really love my space however, more of it would be wonderful.
I like using canning jars for beans, rice and couscous. If I leave stuff in the bags, I can never find them and then I end up with 8 bags of black beans.
Counter space!? What’s that??? My place is so small I need to keep the coffee maker – a must have for me – on my dinette table. I love the lazy susan tip though. I’ll need to try that.
I use a square basket to hold all the lids for my Tupperware. It makes the Tupperware cabinet so much more organized and less crazy.
I don’t even have my own kitchen yet, I share with a roommate, so I definitely can’t wait until I have more room in my kitchen. For now, we have to store a lot of our stuff in cupboards, somethings are even stored in my closet!
I got nothing – but a tiny kitchen! I roll my eyes at people that tell me I should shop all the good deals at Sam’s Club (where would I put 12 rolls of papertowels) and I have a handy junk drawer to sweep everything into that my hubby continues to leave on the counter (cause I need room to cook!).
I am right there with you regarding the counter space. I would love to have more space so I didn’t have to get a step stool and climb into the kitchen cabinets all the time to get my gadgets and what-not.
Perfect timing, I have been pricing these out!!
I have a SMALL closet next to my kitchen and to make it more efficent, I stacked plastic shelves in it to make room to hold more things that the counter can’t…like stocking up on sugar & flour, onions and potatos and canned goods etc.
I’m lucky to have quite a bit of cupboard space, but one thing I do have is little lazy susans in my spice shelf to see all the stuff in there.
I store all my kitchen gadgets in the coat closet (shh!) and on top of my cabinets. I also freeze sauce in plastic bags so they lay flat instead of taking up space in a massive plastic container.
Ugh, I need help conserving space too. I really really really just wish I could live full-time at the Pioneer Woman’s lodge…now THAT’S a kitchen.
My laundry is in my kitchen… and when we bought new washer and dryer I got the pedestals so I could store all my extra kitchen stuff in the drawers!
I have a small kitchen as well, but I’m good at stacking pots and pans and making the most of it!
shelving and storage! shelves don’t have to be cluttered they can house pretty things like glasses or vases especially when they are open to a room, then you can stash the stuff you want to hide away.
I have a five shelf thingy from Home Depot in my laundry room that holds all my oversize serving bowls and my bigger kitchen gadgets. I’d go crazy without it.
I’ve avoided buying a blender until I get a kitchen upgrade, too! Oh how wonderful it would be to make certain soups with a blender. I have made an effort to find other nooks and crannies in my apartment for kitchen items. Serving plates get stored in the coat closet, for example. I also make sure to buy pots, pans, and bowls that are easily stackable.
Honesty it has not been easy to save space. The lids to all my pots was a challenge, but I hung cup hooks on the inside of my basement door and hang then there.
I recently purchased metal shelves for stacking in my cupboards. It has given me tons more space! I also tried using a lazy susan for my oils and vinegars and it works so well.
I only keep tools in the kitchen that can be used for many uses. No garlic presses, no hand chopper–my knife can do that.
I am with you – we gave away our blender – I usually use my Magic Bullet – much less counter space! One thing that has saved my pantry is a few plastic baskets – I put all my little jars of spices and sauces, etc in plastic baskets. I have one for baking, one for savory, and some other categories. Then, they can be piled on top of each other. When I am baking, I just pull out the baking basket, and grab what I need. It has been way helpful in controlling the clutter in the pantry!
My tip is to try to eliminate tools that another tool can do,and just control the clutter. So If you have one tool that can do multiple things you can get rid of stuff!
I’ve seen people with wall racks for spices and I’ve always wanted one, mine aren’t even in my kitchen right now, they’re in my dining area.
My best space saving tip is to use movable shelves. I have some in my dish cabinets and it allows me to keep 4 sets of plates on one shelf rather than 2.
I wish i could offer up some helpful tip. The most helpful thing i have is the XOXO containers that hold cereal, beans, rice. I stack those babies all over the place.
A magnetic knife storage strip! Lets you retire the butcher block AND takes your kitchen ‘badassness’ up a notch by displaying your sharp tools for all to see. I also saw where someone installed it under a cabinet and attached spice jars with metal lids to it.
I use stacking bins on my pantry shelves to store things such as Ramen noodles, applesauce, Kool Aid packets, potatoes and so on. Keeps things nice and tidy while saving space for other items on the shelves.
Stacking bins on pantry shelves save space while keeping things organized.
I’m really hoping to upgrade to a bigger kitchen at the next apartment–I keep asking for a bigger fridge (we have a half size one now) and my boyfriend keeps threatening to get rid of the bed! I did purchase some nice compact spice racks this weekend which will help my organization!
We just renovated (re-arranged) our cupboards so we could have a 2 1/2 feet more counter space… we’re going to build a neat pull out spice rack in the little extra space by the wall, and get some ikea gadgets for the new wall space to put cutlery, knifes, and small gadgets on. Less cupboard space now, but more counter space, and room for the kitchen table, hooray!
Ok…I have to confess…
I have way too much counter space! In fact I place my heavy duty cuisinart out for show. (I don’t know how to work it…it looks complicated) I lvoe when people think of creative solutions…it ‘simply’ looks better. I would know how to work the hand held blender for sure!
Too much counter space can just clutter a kitchen I say…
My space-saving tip that has worked for years and years: Less stuff! I do a seasonal sweep of the house, basement, attic, and closets included and donate things we’re not using. And because I’m married to a “bean counter,” I’m always hesitant to buy new stuff.
How about a remodeled kitchen? LOL
I’m short on counter space also. I have one of those 4 level Home Depot plastic shelf units in my basement that doubles as my pantry and kitchen appliance (mixer, food processor, etc.) holder. Kind of a PITA!
I’ll confess… I actually don’t have an issue with needing more space in my kitchen. I think it’s because I’ve only ever bought what I really needed, and when I come across a recipe that requires some kind of fancy equipment that I would only use once, I’ve always been able to figure out a way to avoid having to buy anything extra.
What I do need is this fancy hand blender to help me save doing extra dishes when I make a blended soup- dragging out the regular blender, plus having to blend in batches, thus using an additional large bowl to hold the blended soup before transferring the unblended soup to the blender is such a pain in the butt!
i definitely wish i had a bigger kitchen. (and a dishwasher!) but i make do. like you said, a blender takes up WAY too much room. i suggest getting rid of kitchen gadgets that take up counter space. immersion blenders are amazing! i recommend them to all my friends.
I am in the middle of reorganizing my kitchen and am loving the lazy susan. My hand mixer is no longer working…I think because I used it so much! My favorite – I have small shelf the length of my pantry door that houses all my seasoning…and now I can have them alphabeticized.
I’m just a poor grad student – so a bigger kitchen (of my own!) is on my wish list! I don’t have too many things to take up space, but it certainly limits my options when it comes to cooking!
I hung a bar in the center of the kitchen above my island (pretty much all the counter space i have; a dish drying rack takes up the counter next to the sink). pots & pans attach to it via hooks. I’ve also magnets in the cupboards (for spices and junk), a magnetic strips & slabs along the wall for knives, cast iron pans, and anything else i can attach to it.
I wish my cute apartment kitchen was bigger too. The lack of counter space kills me sometimes.
My kitchen is tiny, and old. I literally have a one set of cabinets to put everything in. My house was built in 1881 and I’m pretty sure the last time there was an update on the kitchen was 1940. The cabinets are homemade, the stove doesn’t have a set spot. I have no counter space. gosh I’d love a larger kitchen!
My best space saving tip is to use those 3M hooks. I have used them to hang bath towels on backs of bathroom doors, kitchen towels on cabinets, utensils and pot holders and my cake tester near the stove, shower caddies in the shower (and other useful places!), purses and hats and lanyards in my closet…the list goes on and on. They are so worth the investment (boy do I sound like a commercial or what?) and for apartment dwellers it means no more patching holes when you move…They have added a ton of storage space in my home, and don’t even get me started on decorating using them.
Thanks for your giveaway!
To quote Alton Brown….no “unitaskers” are allowed in my kitchen. If it can’t be used for multiple purposes, it doesn’t belong!
I actually tossed my microwave and toaster. I use the broiler for toast and pop corn on the stove. Works great for us!
I would Love to have a bigger kitchen! In teh meantime, I have a table that has all of my appliances on it so that they aren’t taking up actual counter space.
I am like most. I won’t buy an item unless is it multifunctional to the max! We have mostly drawers in my kitchen and I find that the whole space is very accessible. It helps me to maximize the space that I have.
My kitchen needs some work…but b4 my daughter was born I decluttered big time. I bought plastic bins from Dollar store to keep all like items in and organized like crazy. It really helped a lot. My son is due soon and I’m thinking I need to do it all again!
I just pick appliances that are multi-use and can stack into each other! Its tough though sometimes!
I’m terrible about space…but my best tip is to use the tops of your shelves for things you don’t need very often – it saves a lot of countertop and cabinet space!
my kitchen is kinda tiny but one thing that definitely helps is the microwave shelf. This way it does not take up any counter space or cabinet space. would for sure love that bigger kitchen that you speak of though!
Oh, I am SO with you. I dream of a bigger kitchen ALL the time! Ahh…someday. But for now, I just stay super organized. I stack things inside of each other – but not too much or it’ll be a huge pain to get anything out. I also use those extra cabinet shelf-things that you add so that I can fully use the height of all of my cabinets.
Hanging stuff on the wall and using the dining room for storage.
Best saving tip??? Give it to Goodwill if you haven’t used it in 6 months…same with clothing. You’d be surprised at how much space you end up with!
I NEED a new kitchen as I end up storing appliances(kitchen aid, blender and food processor in a BEDROOM closet.
I love to use baskets to hide things that I don’t have space for……and for keeping onions and potatoes.
I also have a kitchen sadly lacking in counter space. We keep all our less-frequently used appliances (hot air popcorn popper, food processor, blender, apple peeler/corer, etc.) on top of our cabinet and use a step stool when we need to get them down. The counter is reserved for the coffee maker and toaster oven.
I am always struggling with kitchen space issues. My best purchase was 2 small wall-mounted shelves from IKEA where I store my spices.
Use knife magnet strips (vs blocks), nails – hang whatever you can on the walls… colanders, spoons, pots, etc.
Awesome giveaway!
We put our microwave on top of the fridge. I can barely reach it, but it saves tons of counter space!
I wish I had something genius to tell you, but space is at a premium at my apartment, too! I put lots of stuff on top of the fridge. And I invested in those stackable tupperwares. And I make a lot of one dish meals (stir fry, chilli, pasta, etc) so that I don’t have to use lots of pots and pans.
I dream of having a huge kitchen one day with lowered counter tops (I’m short!), and a full set of baking equipment. I want it all! But for now I’d sure be happy with a hand blender…
I’m super tight on counter-space! I save space by using neat-looking shelving in my kitchen. Small items and ingredients like spices in glass jars, extracts, pretty coffee cups, and cookie cutters in nice tins go on the shelves, which leaves more cupboard space for things like my food processor and toaster. And it looks pretty, which is an extra bonus.
My favorite space saving feature is actually an old school appliance. Like you counter space is at a premium in my kitchen. I don’t like using a hand held can opener and the electric was a space guzzler. While at a fleamarket I found an undercounter mountable hand operated canopener. It swings out when in use, and swings back under the counter when not in use! Love it
To save space I use magnetic strips on the side of a cabinet to hold the good knives. In my small cupboard/pantry, I use old fashion plastic milk crates to create shelves to hold things like bags of potatoes and onions — they are durable and super strong.
I have no great space saving ideas and always have wished for a bigger kitchen. : )
wish i had some insight, but i just stack, and cram items into my shelves and cupboards until they fit
I don’t really have anything amazingly earth shattering…I like to nest bowls, casseroles, pots, pans, etc.
I LOVE Ikea’s magnetic spice rack. Having all of my spices on the wall has opened up another cabinet in my too-small kitchen.
My counters are completely filled most of the time I’m looking for something to temporarily move to have space to prepare food!
Twice a year I go through EVERYTHING and toss what I don’t need. Sometimes I kick myself later when I need it, but I think if I haven’t used it in a year it goes (same with clothes)! I find it is a good rule.
While I don’t have a lot of counter space, I do have a good amount of cabinet space. Since I’m a grad student, I don’t have many plates or cups so I consolidate that to half of a cabinet and then the rest of the cabinet space is for my cooking appliances
My best space saving tip is SIMPLICITY. I keep clutter to a minimum, organize by room, and keep everything in its special place – clean, neat, and organized.
I don’t have an actual kitchen to use at the moment. As you do, I dream of a home with a big kitchen too.
I roll all my tshirts, rather than folding them and it allows me to fit sooo many more in a drawer. They don’t get wrinkled when they’re rolled up in a cylinder shape, but it saves a bunch of space and makes room for more clothes!
I don’t use my dishwasher (my mom had some major aversion to using it so I never got into the habit, and since I live alone I can’t justify running it for the small number of dishes I use) so the dishwasher makes great storage space for dishes, containers, pans, etc.
My only space advice is….beginning using your hall closet!! My corner cabinet in the living room and my hall closet are now FULL of fun kitchen supplies!!
I’m short on counter space, too. And I don’t like a lot of clutter on the counter. But in my pantry, I have started using those Oxo canisters. They save a lot of space and look great, too!
Jars, jars and more jars. To save space, I buy tons of square jars (the cooler looking the better) in all different sizes. All the awkwardly shaped and no-room-for-you-here products get dumped in these jars (flour, sugar cereal, galore. I then organize the jars in drawers, on top of shelves – basically anywhere I can squeeze the little buggers.
I would love nothing more than a bigger kitchen!! I suck at saving space – I want all my awesome stuff out and in reach, especially seasonings, oils etc… so I just add space. Open shelves on the wall so seasonings are in reach, and an extra table for more counter space…the table may look a little awkward, but its worth it!
I mostly dream of having a full sized oven! My NYC one is tiny
I dream of a bigger kitchen….although mine is pretty open, I dream of a brick floor with a huge butcher’s block island
I conserve space by Food-savoring my cereals, lettuce, etc. saves space in the pantry and they stay fresh longer!
Don’t let leftovers accumulate in the frig.
We had our kitchen updated about 7 years ago. We had one of the walls covered with cupboards(not very deep but extra storage none the less). I’ve come to the conclusion there isn’t a kitchen big enough to house the stuff I think I “need” to keep. Who needs all those plastic containers????? Just chuck it Patty! Just chuck it!
I save space by being a poor graduate student and not owning many things!
I love my Elfa (check out http://www.containerstore.com)!! It saves me so much space, I now have adjustable shelves and drawers all the way from the floor to the celing. Love it! I highly recommend it.
If it makes you feel any better, my counter has exactly enough space for my dish drying rack and my utensil crock. And. That’s. It. My microwave takes up half our table and my toaster is perched on a bookshelf.
Yay dorm cooking!
I wish I had more helpful counter space tips, but most NYC apartments are lacking in that area. All I know is the coffee maker always wins and gets prime placement!
I like to find rustic cabinets that I can use in other spaces of my house (like my den and office) where I can stow away items I don’t use very often. That way, the cabinets in my kitchen can be open for the stuff I use on a more regular basis!
I live in an apartment bymyself with not to much counter space- so I use the dishwasher as the dish drying rack as since its just me I dont have a ton of dishes to do! lol
I have plenty of space in my kitchen, it’s the closets that are my biggest headache!
I have no space saving tips – I will look forward to reading everyone else’s! I need a kitchen as big as my current living room + dining room + kitchen!
I have more wall space than counter space in my house so I installed floating shelves! So now my counter space is dedicated to only the important things like my microwave and cutting board.
I expanded the storage space in my small kitchen by adding a pot rack on the wall to hang pots, pans, lids and a few utensils. Then, I purchased a 3-shelf rollabout cart. The shelves are used for pantry storage, while the top shelf serves as additional counter space when I want to fix a fancy meal or bake.
Install shelfs it saves so much space on the counters
I guess I don’t have a space saving idea for my itty bitty kitchen…I just stack everything on top of my fridge and pull it out as needed. I also dream of the day I will have a large open air kitchen…one day!
I totally dream of a bigger kitchen every day. Because in my kitchen, there’s only 1 small patch of counter space. And that’s where I store my dish rack b/c I don’t have a dishwasher. I would totally love a hand blender, b/c it can go on the shelving above my refrigerator. Those shelves are a total life saver for my kitchen considering my lack of counter space.
We have very little counter space — I dream of a big island!
I also have nigh-on zero counter space. I use a retro bookshelf as my tea/coffee shelf with my french press, tea containers, and a sweet vintage pitcher full of coffee beans. Then I look over at my magnetized spice jars stuck to my fridge, and I feel like it’s almost enough room to host brunch this weekend.
Get rid of what you don’t love, don’t use or don’t need.
Make the most of your wall space by installing shelving or rails to hang utensils/towels/mugs.
Use large chopping board or piece of counter-top to cover the sink which serves as extra prep space when needed, and is slim enough to store vertically somewhere ie down the side of the fridge (where I keep my ironing board).
I also bought a set of baskets (with lids to keep out dust) to store less used items such as cookie cutters, seasonal bits for Halloween etc and a birthday box for paper plates, candles, banners, balloons.
I had my OH move the kitchen wall units as high as they could go, leaving just enough space for the baskets on top, therefore freeing up space beneath for some shelving/rails etc.
I really hope this helps, I used to have tiny-kitchen-syndrome too but the one I have now is thankfully a little bit bigger. Good luck!
One last tip – tools that do more than one job:
a microwave/fridge is a magnetic memo holder
a rolling pin makes an OK hammer
saucepans that can go on the hob AND in the oven
a blender with cool attachments to do many jobs. . . .
I have no tips…but I dream of my boyfriend having a bigger kitchen. I can barely turn around and 4 boys make a solid mess.
My kitchen is very small, so we have a lot of things stored in the living room/dining room. Inside cabinets, and on shelves…or just on display for nicer things like teapots
Here’s my tip, but it’s not really a “space-saving” tip: take stock of everything you have, then everything you need, and finally everything you really want. Then, get rid of everything you don’t need or really want. Then pair down the things you really want to those things you really really want or just can’t bear to part with. I’m sure by then you’ll have 5-15% less stuff which equates to 5-15% more space.
As a college student living in a house with 5 other (messy) roommates, I pine for my kitchen back home! I long for the days when I wasn’t the only one cleaning up crumbs/doing dishes/trying to make space!
All I want is a bigger kitchen! I cant wait to read everyone tips and get my kitchen in ship shape as soon as possible!
I need a bigger kitchen, too! I look forward to reading all of the tips from others.
i use my oven for storage! …downside, whenever i need to use my own, i need to pull everything out, and set it on top… soooo…
I live in a college dorm, so space is very limited. To save space I use my dresser for clothes, books, and coffee. (I have a whole drawer of coffee.)
I wish I had a bigger kitchen…more cupboards and counter space.
Keep it simple, if you haven’t used it in a year, give it away! Also use every little nook. We have a bench seat and I stow my less used kitchen appliances under there!
I love my silicone jar opener. Sounds silly, but it has a nice grip and it saves time.