We all need organizing ideas to make our rental kitchens feel functional. Let’s face it, if you cannot get your kitchen organized and functional you’ll be quick to move on to the next apartment! Before taking that leap, implement some of my budget friendly organizing ideas to maximize the space in your small rental kitchen! Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through certain links, I will receive a small commission at no cost to you.
The kitchen is the heart of any home. A rental kitchen should be no different! In this post, I will share my tried and true, budget friendly organizing ideas for small kitchens.
What I love about these organizing ideas is that a few of them don’t cost a thing! Then there are others that you can spend as much or as little as you want on them. The cost is all up to you! Either way, these organizing ideas are sure to whip your small kitchen into the functional kitchen you’re dying for!
This post is all about organizing ideas.
1. Side board table or portable island
When you live in apartments for the long haul, it is VERY smart to create your own large storage in the kitchen. I tend to like the look of open storage so I went for a long side table. Unfortunately, IKEA no longer sells mine. The closest item they sell to my long side table is the Förhöja kitchen cart.
Good choices for IKEA islands are: TORNVIKEN kitchen island: This offers two shelves, a good amount of counter space and a place for two bar stools. VADHOLMA kitchen island with rack: This island stands out because it has all the features of the TORNVIKEN island but also offers over head storage for pots and/or utensils (I believe this rack can be removed as they sell the same island without it). However, this island does cost more for the versatility. It all depends on your budget.
If you move a lot, do not be quick to sell these pieces, you may need them later. Islands can be placed against a wall if needed, in the garage to add storage, in a craft room, in a play room, etc. Side boards can be placed in the living room, dining room or in a hallway if you lack the space in the kitchen. In a pinch, you can let a family member house the piece for you. My family is usually thrilled when I have them take a piece in for a while if I move far and don’t want to get rid of it.
Tip: Cannot decide between a side table or an island?
Go with a side table: If you need drawer storage for utensils, a junk drawer, a coffee or tea station. Opt for an island: If you lack counter space and seating but you don’t need drawer space.
2. Open shelving
Open shelving can offer a ton of storage without taking up any floor space. That’s a total win win in any small space! It’s perfect for dishes, glasses, serving dishes, mugs, cookware, cookbooks, etc. The list can go on and on! Also, it allows you to add decor and personality to your apartment making it cozy and your own. Also, you can easily switch up what’s on your shelves when you need a change.
3. Get large bulky items out of the cabinets
These items can take up a lot of space and often they’re not used daily. This will also free up space in the cabinets for the smaller items that will look like clutter on open shelving or side tables. Keep reading for ideas of where to put these bulkier items…
4. Use a nearby closet as a pantry
Often apartments do not have a designated pantry. But they do have a few closets. Can you set one aside and use it as a pantry? Often they have at least one high shelf. You can use this for small kitchen appliances, bakeware you don’t reach for daily, and those bulkier items I told you to get out of the cabinets. You could also install some added shelving yourself for dried goods or toss a few utility carts in there for extra storage.
Currently, I’m using the STENSTORP kitchen cart in my closet to hold canned goods (shown in photo below). It worked out great as I have no space for it in my tiny kitchen. Again, I try not to get rid of these type of items when I move. I try to find a place to use it. You can never have too much storage!
5. Use the space above the cabinets
Do not forget about the empty space on top of the cabinets. Sure you don’t want a cluttered look, but storing small appliances and rarely used pots usually doesn’t look terrible. Or grab some matching baskets and fill them with smaller items you don’t use often or back stock pantry items. The baskets will make things easy to grab and aesthetically pleasing.
6. Use shelf dividers and expandable racks
This is probably the most obvious of my organizing ideas. Shelf dividers are great because they help you to use every inch of your cabinet space. It’s also much easier to find and grab items. I prefer three tier racks over turn tables. Turntables make it easy to grab things but I’m not convinced they actually save or create space.
I have the IKEA VARIERA shelf insert and a three tier expandable spice rack from Amazon pictured below. If you like the spice jars I put my tea in you can find them here.
7. Use nearby drawers (not in the kitchen)
This may seem odd. But these days so many kitchens have an open concept to living rooms, dining rooms, playrooms etc. So I’m suggesting if you have a dresser or a piece of furniture with drawers that is in the same area as the kitchen, bum a drawer for kitchen items that you don’t need at an arm’s length daily.
I have my TV on a dresser about 4 steps from my kitchen. I use the bottom drawer of the dresser for larger storage containers I don’t grab regularly, pots I don’t use daily and my food saver containers. Those can be bulky items and I don’t want to waste prime real estate in my kitchen for them.
8. Use vertical space
Often times we place things in one layer in a cabinet or on a shelf and call it day. But often times, there is still space above these items that ends up wasted. A great way to make vertical space is by using shelf dividers as mentioned above. Also under shelf baskets are great for adding space. You can find numerous options on Amazon. A game changing organizing item I have found are these stackable bins:
They come in three sizes that you can stack and customize to your space. This means that when you move, you’re able to arrange them so that they would fit in virtually any space. I have them under my kitchen sink, pictured below and in my bathroom closet.
If you purchase anything I mention for organization it should be these bins! LIFE CHANGING I swear! They are a bit of an investment, but worth EVERY PENNY! I buy them a few at a time.
9. Use doors for storage
This could be closet doors, cabinet doors or pantry doors. You can hang command hooks (which are another must have for renters, pictured above) on the backs of doors and hang utensils, dish washing brushes, measuring spoons, pot lids, brooms etc. Also I have mounted organizers on the inside of pantry and cabinet doors for aluminum foil, ziplock bags, parchment paper, etc.
10. Mount whatever you can
This tip helps to get things up off the counters so you have more workspace. Think about mounting your paper towels to the wall, getting a magnetic strip mounted for your knives, mounting a spice rack on the wall, installing a rail with hooks for kitchen utensils or mugs. Another great space saving option is to get magnetic spice containers and stick them on the fridge. A friend of mine does this and it is super convenient and cute! (See her setup below:) You can snag these magnetic spice containers from IKEA here. See below for some options from Amazon as well.
Here are a few options from Amazon below. The first option has 9 containers and comes with a wall mount so you can put these spice jars anywhere, like inside of a cabinet door. The second option is great because it is a set of 12 with 2 different styles of labels. Both Amazon sets have a sift/pour opening, setting them apart from the IKEA set.
Tip: If you’re not wanting to put holes in the walls, command strips these days are super strong and should be able to easily bear the weight of these small kitchen items.
11. Bins and Baskets
Bins and baskets are great to keep things organized and easy to grab and restock. It makes those hard too reach high corners easily accessible because instead of sliding things aside to get what’s in the back of the cabinet or shelf you can just grab the bin or basket and get what you need. It gives your space a clean and neat look too. It’s also great for moving. Grab and go!
12. Store less used items in harder to reach spots
These less used items are great choices for above the cabinets, in the top of the closet/pantry, or in the drawers that may not be right in the kitchen. The key is to keep the items you use daily within reach. If you have to walk all over the apartment to eat breakfast you’ll be annoyed.
13. It’s okay to share
The last of my organizing ideas is to be open to sharing your spaces. For example, my kitchen and living room are an open concept. So my living room closet is also another pantry (I do have a small pantry in the main kitchen). I didn’t use all the space for kitchen items though. I still share the space with cleaning supplies, home decor items, plant care items, storage bins, and my iron and ironing board.
As I said earlier, I have a dresser in this area that is a TV stand and I have three drawers, one of which stores kitchen items. When you’re a renter, you have to make your items count. Your space needs to be a work horse for you.
This was 13 organizing ideas for a small rental kitchen
I hope you found some organizing ideas that you can use to make your small rental kitchen work for you! It doesn’t have to be expensive to do. If you decide to invest in some of my recommendations, I promise you will see a difference in how organized your space feels. Again, investments can be made little by little and brought from one apartment to the next.
As always, I appreciate you visiting my blog and I hope you visit again! Happy organizing!
This post was all about organizing ideas.
This is really helpful. I struggle with my kitchen clutter and try to organize as much as I can. I really like those shelf dividers and under cabinet shelves. Thank you for sharing!
You’re welcome! The shelf dividers really do help to give you more space. Thank you so much for reading 🙂