KITCHEN ORGANIZATION AND DECOR

According to polls on Instagram and YouTube, the kitchen is one of the most difficult areas for you to organize. In my own small kitchen, I share multiple examples of how easy it is to organize even the tiniest kitchen. You can find the video tour here!

In case you missed it, I shared how I upgraded the appearance of this kitchen for less than $20.00 here and all with renter-friendly upgrades. I’ve made a few changes since then by changing out my microwave oven for a toaster oven and adding in some super cute countertop storage solutions.

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I already shared the organization of my cleaning closet here. This cleaning closet sits in a nook in my kitchen but it needed a whole feature presentation all on it’s own as it includes every cleaning tool you need. Also, I shared the detailed organization of my refrigerator and freezer here as these spaces needed their own presentation as well. Here, I share the detailed organization of the rest of my kitchen!

Upper Cabinet Organization

Dishware, Drinkware, & Food Storage Containers

Starting with the upper, far left cabinet, I contain all my dishware, drinkware, and food storage containers. As you can see, it’s pretty minimalistic and straightforward. In order to organize a small kitchen, or any space, for that matter, you must only keep what you need. I share different ways to organize food storage containers with or without the lids here. These glass food storage containers with bamboo lids are from Ikea. They are part of the Ikea 365+ line which I feature here. This line includes interchangeable lids as well as brackets to attach these containers to shelves and turn them into under cabinet shelf drawers. The glasses are from the Dollar Tree. The sweet “Chip” mug in the corner can be found here or at Disneyland. And, believe it or not, these are all our dishes. We don’t have guests since we’ve moved to a new city so this is all we need. They are all from Target. The plates act like bowls so they are great for containing salads and soups and stews. I am not totally sure which ones they are online. However, the plates and sauce plates are from the Project 62 line and the bowls are from the Threshold line.

Pantry: Oils, Vinegar, Syrups, and Back Stock

In the middle, upper cabinet above the stove, I contain our oils and vinegars and back stock. I started repurposing smaller glass bottles to refill since I purchase my oils from Costco and I created vinyl labels using the Cricut machine. Those Costco bottles are so big. It’s much easier to pour from smaller bottles so I reused smaller bottles I already had. In the middle are flavored syrups for coffee and tea drinks. I store both of these categories of items on lazy susans which I purchased from the Dollar Tree a long while back and are no longer available. However, I share some great lazy susan options here. And, on the far right, I contain back stock including the larger bottles of oils and tea and drink mixes which refill my tea organizer on the counter and the drink containers in the pantry on the right.

Small Kitchen Pantry

Speaking of the pantry on the right … in the upper, right cabinet is our tiny pantry. To organize my pantry in this small kitchen, I use small baskets to contain three categories of items including ramen, junk food, and bagged drink mixes as well as espresso powder along with the scoop and tamper for the espresso machine underneath. I purchased my baskets from Ross because I find they have super inexpensive pricing. However, here is an excellent option (found here):

In the middle of the middle shelf, we contain my daughter’s drink mixes, brown sugar, and loose tea along with room to grow for any other drink mixes and loose tea. I used mason jars from the Dollar Tree. I don’t see them online but I found a great option here. And, I used the Cricut machine to create vinyl labels.

On the left side of the middle shelf, I store all our spices. I repurposed spice jars from spices I already purchased in the past. The Walmart organic spices come in these jars as well as Aldi spices. I then purchase bagged spices and refill these. I used a regular Brother ptouch label maker with this label tape to label these.

On the bottom shelf, I use glass canisters which are usually in stock at Walmart. They are an excellent price. Depending on your store, you might be able to order them through Walmart Grocery pickup. Look for the Mainstays line with locking lids. Also, I found great options for small, medium, and large ones. On the right, I store my AIP paleo flours. I store the opened bag in the glass jars in the front. And, behind, I store my back stock of these flours.

On the left, I store flour, rice, and Himalayan pink salt behind the baking ingredients. I store a scoop on top of the smaller jars which I use to scoop out the powders from the jars. Though this kitchen and pantry are small, I am able to organize it because I only purchase what I know can fit in this tiny space.

Drawer Organization

Silverware

In the first drawer on the left there, I store our silverware. Since this drawer is below the toaster over, I store the handle accessory for it here. In the front of the drawer, I have some bamboo sushi mats peeking out. And, in the back I store our reusable straws. I purchased this bamboo organizer along with the one in my utensil and gadget drawer through Offerup. I found some excellent options here and here.

Cooking Utensils & Gadgets

In the large middle drawer below the stove, I store all our cooking utensils and gadgets. To organize this items in my small kitchen, it was essential to keep my items to a minimum. On the left here I have all our cooking utensils. I purchased this set from Ross and, to be honest, I wish I kept my set that I gave to my mom. They aren’t the greatest quality. When these are out of commission, I think I will purchase this set next.

I store a funnel I use for my spice jars along with a dough cutter behind the knife organizer. Next to the cooking utensils, I store my mandolin. I inherited this mandolin, however, I found a better one here as it has an adjustable stand which is super helpful. I store the accessories for my mandolin in the bamboo drawer organizer. I’ve had this knife organizer forever so it is no longer available. However, I found a great alternative here.

In the bamboo drawer organizer, I have my rubber spatulas and brush (I believe I purchased these from TJ Maxx, however, I linked some great alternatives). In the same section, I store a meat thermometer and wine bottle opener.

In another section, I have the best set of measuring cups and spoons ever. A lot of measuring sets now only have four cups or four spoons ranging from a cup to a quarter cup and a tablespoon to a quarter teaspoon. But this set has all the measurements ranging from an eighth cup to a cup and an eight teaspoon to a tablespoon. They each also come with clips to hold each set together which I have stored in this same section. Bonus, the set is a great price.

In another section, I have our stainless-steel tools including a pizza cutter, can opener, ice cream scoop, and whisk. As seen in the video, I use a rechargeable lighter which is an eco-friendly alternative for disposable ones. I didn’t realize these existed until my daughter told me. The rest of the items on the far right of the drawer include my kitchen shears, a meat tenderizer, and a multifunctional grater which I found in store at Daiso.

As you can see, everything has a designated place and everything is in it’s place. This is essential to organize this small kitchen.

Linens

In the small drawer to the left of the sink, I store our linens including oven mitts which I purchased from the Dollar Tree, an apron (this one is an excellent price, by the way), and a spare hand towel. I just keep two towels on hand: one in use and the other in the drawer to pull out when the other is being washed. I can’t find a link to the ones I purchased, but these look like a great alternative as they are anti-microbial. You will notice throughout this kitchen how very minimal I keep things. To organize a small kitchen, we must be mindful of the size of our space.

Food Storage Bags & Accessories

In the small drawer to the right of the sink, I store our reusable bags and other accessories. Because I use reusable bags, I don’t need to organize large boxes of disposable bags in my small kitchen. I have snack size bags, sandwich size, and gallon size. The Tiblue brand bags are excellent. They do not leak or retain oders. I so wish the snack size and sandwich size ones shipped to my area otherwise I would replace the ones I have as they aren’t the same quality. Also, in this drawer, I have a backup lighter in case anything happens to my rechargeable one. I store the lid to one of my water jugs here while the pump is in it which I show you in the video. I also store the charger cord to my rechargeable lighter and the charger cord to my water jug pump along with writable label tape. I store this box grater here because it fits here, honestly, along with my sink stopper and backup dish brush and bottle brush. I can’t find the bottle brushes I have but this looks like a great set and the price is unbeatable (found here). I’m putting this on my Amazon shopping list:

Lower Cabinet Organization

Small Appliances

In the bottom, left cabinet, which is under the toaster oven, I store some small appliances. In the video, I show you how I placed some small hooks on the inside of the cabinet door to hold the rotisserie accessories for my toaster oven. On the inside of the cabinet, we have a little rice cooker along with the tamper accessory for my Vitamix which is stored beneath this shelf. Here is the Vitamix base at the back of the cabinet and the pitcher at the front. And I use these glass containers to reheat food in the toaster oven. The toaster oven is our actual oven, by the way, because we don’t have one!

Cookware & Small Appliances

In the middle, bottom cabinet, which is under the stove, I store more small appliances along with our cookware. Next to the saucepan, I store all our small appliances and appliance accessories in these Dollar Tree bins which I labeled with vinyl labels which I created with the Cricut machine. On the bottom shelf, I store our food processor and juicer behind my cookware. Next to my cookware, I have a steamer basket nested in a set of colanders which are nested in a set of mixing bowls. In the video, I share a cast iron storage hack. I set a Dollar Tree silicone pot holder underneath because, if you use cast iron, you know that it is supposed to stay oily so this prevents the oil from getting on the cabinet. Also, the pot holder prevents the cast iron from scratching the cabinet. I have another one between the lid of my large pot underneath and the cast iron skillet on top. It protects the lid from being scratched. Also, when I use the large pot underneath, I can set the pot holder on the bottom of the cabinet and set the skillet on top. My stainless steel cookware is from Ikea and the large pot on the bottom is a Green Pan which I purchased from Costco. I am very please with this pot/pan if you’re interested in a healthy non-stick pan.

Under the Sink Organization

Now, let’s get into the three cabinets under the sink.

As mentioned in my homemade cleaning products video and my cleaning closet video, I said I would share how I store my cleaning product ingredients. Well, they are all stored under my kitchen sink here. In the cabinet to the left, as shown in the video, I store vinegar, distilled water, dish soap, hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, and essential oils.

In the middle cabinet, I have a paper towel roll holder on the inside of the left cabinet door. I have powdered cleaning product ingredients on the left and next to those I store some microfiber cleaning cloths which I use for messy spills: the clean cloths are stored on top while the dirty ones go in the bottom basket. In my cleaning closet, I have a large grey microfiber cloth which I use for drying everything off that is clean. These smaller cloths are designated for accidental drink and food spills. Behind the beautiful stackable baskets, I store paper towel rolls. That large roll of paper is butcher paper which I use for lots of things like separating frozen foods like if I batch cook AIP paleo pitas, for example. I also use it for crafts to protect surfaces from paint and glue and what not. And behind that, I know it looks strange but that is a travel cage for my birds for when I travel back to San Diego.

I labeled the powders using the Cricut machine and these are Dollar Tree containers. When you buy Oxiclean from Costco, it comes in a bag in box and the bag is not resealable and this container is the perfect size.

In the cabinet on the right, as shown in the video, I store a trash can along with the trash bags behind.

Countertop Organization

Now, let’s get into how I organize things on my countertop in my small kitchen. This is my new toaster oven and I got rid of the microwave. This toaster oven has multiple cooking functions. If you are in the market for a new toaster oven, this one is excellent AND a great price (found here).

Don’t you love this tea organizer (found here)? It’s like a house for your tea! It is meant for standard size tea bags but that’s no big deal to me because I just slip the Thai tea bags out with no problem.

Next to the tea bag organizer, I have a mini stainless-steel pan which I got from Daiso which contains my mortar and pestle along with my bamboo salt box.

After my tea organizer, this is my second favorite organizing product because it perfectly contains everything I need for dishwashing (found here). I got my soap pump from the bathroom section at Target which sits perfectly in this part of the organizer. My dish brush, straw cleaning brush, and bottle brush all have their designated spots along with the walnut scrubber. The bottom catches all the water, and you simply drain it out. It also comes apart for easy cleaning. Now these two organizers I just mentioned are the most expensive ones in my kitchen. But, besides them working perfectly for my needs, my personal preference is to utilize prettier organizers on my countertops. As shown in the video, on the other side of the sink, I dry my utensils in a chrome caddy I purchased from Daiso. And, I dry my dishes on a metal sink mat. The water pump I showed you in the video is an excellent price and super helpful to use if you refill large jugs of water like we do.

I got this fruit basket in a bundle of baskets on Offerup, but an Instagram friend shared a link to a similar one which you can find here. And, I replaced my humidifier with this one which is WAY easier to clean than my previous one. I highly recommend this one if you are in the market for a humidifier. It kind looks a little retro, don’t you think? Or like a little refrigerator (at least it’s in the kitchen!) By the way, my refrigerator and freezer organization can be found here!

So that is how I organize my small kitchen! Next, I share the detailed organization and décor tour of my tiny master bedroom.

Happy Organizing!