Making Even the Smallest Kitchens Functional

Even the smallest kitchen can be functional and easy to work in. I have some easy and practical ways to keep your kitchen cabinets and drawers clutter-free, so you can focus on what matters most.

Today, I’m working in my mom’s kitchen. Her cabinets and drawers are small and oddly shaped, much like apartment cabinets, so I’m helping her get organized.

Tackling the Clutter: Dishes and Cups

We started with her dishes and cups, which were all over the place, with some missing pieces. I could see the anxiety on her face when she was looking for something, and I just had to help her get this under control.

I had her pull everything out and place it on the counter. It was time to get real about what she really needed and what she didn’t.

Since it’s just her and my stepdad living here, with the grandkids only staying over occasionally, we made a group decision on what to keep and what to let go.

After everything was out, I cleaned the cabinets thoroughly to give us a fresh, clean start.

Adding a Touch of Style: Contact Paper

Some of her cabinets were a little damaged, so we placed contact paper—green and white chevron—from Target to brighten things up a bit.

Storage Solutions

After purging unnecessary items, I made a plan for the storage solutions she needed, starting with baskets.

Tip: Shop the kids’ section for baskets! They’re smaller and fit better in smaller kitchen cabinets.

New Dishes for a Fresh Start

Next, I headed to IKEA and got Mom some new dishes. I found an 18-pack for only $19.99! They came in blush pink, green, and other colors, but I kept it simple with white.

Here’s the after: everything organized and each item having its own home.

Organizing for the Grandkids

The baskets I mentioned earlier are being used to store her grandkids' plastic cups and dishes. Since they’re only there occasionally, it’s easy for her to grab what she needs when they visit.

I placed her mugs in the cabinet beside the baskets, and in the lower cabinet, I installed a 365 slide-out drawer from IKEA. It’s perfect for small cabinets and storing plastic utensils.

A kitchen shelf riser is essential to maximize space in small cabinets. You can use it alone or stack them if needed, and they’re perfect for plates, cups, and bowls.

Organizing the Glass-Front Cabinets

We also gave some attention to her glass-front cabinets. My mom has a beautiful collection of Princess House glassware that I wanted to display better.

I took everything out, purged some items, and combined pieces from her dining room, so her collection is now all in one place.

Reorganizing the Spice Cabinet

The cabinet above her stovetop is where most people keep their spices, but it made me nervous thinking about my parents getting on a step stool or ladder to reach what they needed.

After tossing outdated spices and those hard-to-reach ones in the back, I kept a handy basket with a handle, making it easy to pull out what she needs.

I also reused a swivel spice rack that fits perfectly in small spaces.

Before putting everything back, we lined the drawers with more of that pretty chevron paper, and I used IKEA inserts to keep everything organized and visible.

The bulkier spices went into a small side cabinet with the swivel spice rack.

Making the Most of Every Inch

No space was left behind! I found a pan organizer from Target for under $10, and it’s very sturdy.

It holds four pans and fits perfectly in her small cabinets, making it easier and safer for my parents to reach them.

We used the handy basket again to store medicine on the top shelf, away from the grandkids.

In another small cabinet, we created a little coffee and tea station. I also found a tea organizer from Amazon that holds over 100 tea bags!

The clear bins are removable, and you can add labels to the front for easy access.

Transforming the Junk Drawer

Mom’s junk drawer wasn’t horribly bad, but it wasn’t as functional as it could be.

Now, everything is properly organized, and they can easily reach the bills and essential items they need. We used containers to keep everything from rolling around.

We kept the same organizer but got rid of mismatched utensils and bought new ones.

Decluttering the Cooktop Drawer

The drawer under the cooktop was stuffed to the gills!

We purged items she wasn’t using and contained the ones she did use. Now, it’s much safer and more organized.

Time Well Spent

I want to thank my mom for being such a great sport and letting us into her home. It was a wonderful excuse to spend a little time together, and she said, “If it can help people, then do it,” so here we are! I hope this was helpful to you all, and thank you so much for watching!

For links to some of the products featured, check out the video description box.