30 Kitchen Storage Ideas to Help You Declutter on a Budget (2024)

35 Walk-In Pantry Ideas That Maximize Storage

Hang Floating Shelves

If you have a bit of extra wall space but not enough room for cabinetry, add floating shelves. Install hooks under the bottom shelf for hanging coffee mugs, utensils, or hand towels. Style open kitchen shelves with daily essentials, like coffee mugs, drinking glasses, and plates or bowls, for easy access to your most-used items.

Organize Water Bottles

Keep water bottles within reach and in view by using this kitchen storage idea of stacking them in magazine files. This inexpensive kitchen storage essential can be found at dollar stores, so you can save money when organizing your cabinets. Rest them on their long side for quick grab-and-go access.

Add Freestanding Shelves

Bookshelves aren't limited to reading materials—they're an excellent kitchen storage idea. Locate one in or near your kitchen to store cooking odds and ends. Fill the storage unit with dishware, spices, and cookbooks to free up cabinet space.

Gather Loose Lids

This kitchen storage idea uses low-cost organizers to make over the chaotic space where you stash food-storage containers. A wall file mounted to a cabinet door is an easy solution for separating plastic lids from bases. Stack lids from largest to smallest to quickly identify the size you need.

Incorporate Clear Containers

Keep a uniform look on your countertops with clear storage containers. Buy them in bulk online from kitchen supply stores for less. This kitchen storage idea is perfect for dry cereals, pet foods, and snacks. Even apothecary jars with lost or broken lids can be used as storage for utensils or odds and ends.

Hang Pegboard

A simple pegboard makes use of blank walls to store a variety of kitchen items. This customizable kitchen storage idea works for pots and pans, as well as clunky utensils like whisks and oversized spoons. Combine multiple sections to create an affordable solution for kitchen organization.

Try Tension Rods

Rethink how you use inexpensive tension curtain rods. Place rows of window-treatment hardware inside a cabinet to create adjustable compartments. Use them to keep plastic food container lids, baking sheets, or serving trays upright and organized.

Label Pantry Containers

Maximize the space in your pantry with labeled baskets in bright colors. Stash unboxed individually wrapped snacks and breakfast essentials in the bins to make mornings a breeze. As an added kitchen storage idea, label shelves with the category of its contents.

Turn Cabinetry into Open Shelves

Don't want to spend money on new shelves? See how to convert your existing cabinetry into open shelves. This DIY kitchen storage idea can help a small space seem larger and provide quick access to kitchen essentials.

Utilize Hooks

Add hooks to the back or side of a shallow cabinet that face a mudroom or front entryway to keep track of items you need as you head out the door. Screw-in cup hooks are ideal for holding keys; use removable adhesive-back hooks for umbrellas or backpacks so you can change the arrangement and number of hooks when needed.

Organize Kitchen Drawers

An ordinary drawer becomes more purposeful with this kitchen storage idea. Use compartmentalized drawer organizers to neatly store utensils. Alternatively, buy low-cost kitchen storage containers at dollar stores, like the plastic containers in this baking drawer, to group items.

Install Island Add-Ons

Not all storage belongs behind closed doors. Make frequently used items easy to find and access when you outfit an island with affordable add-ons. Consider bars for tea towels and paper towels or a repurposed wire bin to house cutting boards and rolling pins.

Incorporate Shelf Risers

A collapsible riser designed for cabinet interiors lends heightened storage when cooking or baking. Prepare a workstation by arranging ingredients in the lower space and placing dishes and utensils on top. Once you're finished cooking, collapse the riser flat and store it in a pantry or base cabinet.

Employ a Wire Rack

Take a cue from restaurant kitchens and add a stainless-steel storage shelf to an empty wall in your kitchen. This kitchen storage idea makes use of the height and bare wall space. Outfit an affordable wire rack with seldom-used small appliances, perishables purchased in bulk, or dishware saved for special occasions to free up space in your cabinets and pantry for items you use regularly.

Hang Baskets

Baskets help organize kitchen utensils, cleaning supplies, and fresh produce. Place baskets above a sink using a metal rod or adhesive hooks for easy access. A wire design allows you to see contents at a glance and helps wet dishes and sponges dry more quickly.

Attach Corkboard to Cabinet Doors

Applying cork to a door face or cabinet interior is a handy kitchen storage idea for notes and lists. Use spray adhesive or double-sided adhesive strips to apply the inexpensive sheets of corkboard. Store recipes, chore lists, and coupon clippings on the boards while keeping the front of your cabinet doors clutter-free.

Turn a Caddy into Storage

Repurpose a vintage metal caddy or milk crate as moveable spice storage. Stock it with salt and pepper, frequently used herbs, and oils to season meals at the table. Keep the container near food prep and cooking zones, then transfer it to the table during meals.

Organize Your Freezer with Containers

If the items in your freezer are expiring because you can't find what you need when you need them, seek out low-cost storage for a tidy space. A trip to a dollar store or down the clearance aisles at the home center can yield storage bargains galore. Opt for stackable clear containers to keep foods in view; add labels to note contents and "use by" dates.

Mount a Knife Rack

A blank wall holds untapped potential. One kitchen storage idea to put this space to work for pennies: Add magnetized strips to one side of a finished board and secure it to your backsplash to hold knives. This makes knives easy to grab and use, plus simple to put away.

Set Up a Cleaning Station

Keep your cleaning supplies organized and ready to use with an over-the-door metal caddy. The lower rack is perfect for bottles of products, while the upper rack holds sponges and scrubbers.

Add Shelves to Pantry Doors

Multiply the capacity of any cabinet when you add storage to the interior side of the door. Six shallow shelves fit neatly between this door and the inner shelving to offer space for single-file lines of small packages of juice and tea and kitchen dry goods. Lips on each door shelf keep items from tumbling off.

Consider a Plate Rack

A plate rack is a kitchen storage idea that offers a pretty way to display dishes. Position your plate rack in a spot that's convenient to the dishwasher so dishes are easy to put away or near the dining table for quick access. For a budget-friendly option, build your own DIY plate rack.

Fashion a Pot Rack in a Pinch

S hooks suspended from the ventilation hood above the cooktop make simple, stylish storage for pots, bowls, and utensils. Hang a collection of shiny copper bowls or other vintage cooking pieces.

Fashion a Baking Center

Install hooks and labels inside a cabinet door in your baking center so every measuring cup and spoon has its proper place. Add a conversion chart for good measure.

Keep a Rolling Pin Handy

For a baker, a rolling pin must be close at hand at all times. A storage hook mounted to the side of a cabinet keeps this baking essential easy to reach and frees up a drawer for smaller utensils.

Create a Utensil Caddy from Mason Jars

Add cottage style to any table setting and make serving a snap by upcycling glass jars. This utensil caddy is made out of glass milk jars and a simple metal handle. Mason jars also work for organizing silverware into a simple serving station.

Stack Baskets

Keep your eyes peeled for vintage wicker picnic baskets at estate sales or flea markets, and use them to stow kitchen gear and keep countertops clear of clutter. Stack baskets in a corner to store linens, dishware, or even stacks of coupons and household paperwork.

Shop for Over-the-Door Solutions

Make use of the backside of cabinet doors, as well as the insides, for additional kitchen storage ideas. An over-the-door storage unit keeps mismatched towels out of sight and handy for dish duty. Measure the width of your cabinet door and consider the contents of your cabinet to determine the best size for over-the-door cabinet storage.

Build Easy Beverage Storage

Turn an open display shelf into triangular storage niches for just a few dollars. Add intersecting 1x boards, as shown, to one or more shelf sections to create attractive, angular storage that works well for displaying and storing everything from wine to rolled cloth napkins.

Hang Display Shelves

A single ledge or shelf installed near the ceiling can take advantage of untapped storage potential. This long shelf displays and stores bottles of oil and vinegar, showing off golden hues and shapely outlines while drawing attention to the rustic ceiling beams and beautiful lighting.