If you’ve ever moved into an apartment with a tiny kitchen, you know just how frustrating it is trying to fit all your kitchen needs on limited counter space. And when you’re trying to prepare a meal, use a cutting board, and dry dishes at the same time, you understand how crucial every extra inch of space is.
Luckily, there are plenty of simple and creative ways to create extra kitchen counter space in your apartment.
Here are ten ways you can clear up your countertop and maximize your space to create extra, clutter-free counter space.
Sometimes adding an entire kitchen island just isn’t possible, especially when you’re working with a tiny kitchen with limited space.
Adding a moveable kitchen cart on wheels is a simple way to incorporate more counter space without taking up too much room. Many options have locking wheels, so you can have a larger workspace that’s easy to move to wherever is most convenient for you.
Purchasing a kitchen cart with storage options will not only create more counter space but offer storage space for kitchen appliances that can help you create more counter room to prep and cook.
When it comes to small space storage, always utilize your vertical space. Pots, pans, and kitchen appliances can easily crowd a small countertop and prevent you from making the most out of your counter space.
There are plenty of unique tools that let you use your kitchen walls to your advantage and clear these appliances out of the way.
Adding a kitchen pegboard is a fantastic way to get some extra kitchen counter space. You can hang pots, pans, oven mitts, and more, and declutter everything that usually takes up room on your countertops.
Knife blocks are also often large and bulky, and they get in the way when you need that counter space for other kitchen prep. Hanging a magnetic knife strip on your wall is a great space-saving solution that will keep your knives organized, sharp, and easily accessible without limiting your counter space even further.
Mounting a pot and pan rack is another option for conserving counter space.
Hanging pot racks can hold frying pans, large pots, and other cookware. The hooks can also hold kitchen utensils and tools, allowing for easy access while cooking.
With shelves and hooks creating additional kitchen storage, you can clear up the large kitchen materials that often take up storage space on your counters or in your cabinets.
While installing extra shelves and storage might seem like the simple solution to limited counter space, installing permanent extra furniture might not be an option while renting.
Luckily, there are plenty of shelf risers that can help create more counter space. Adding a couple of shelf-stackers around your kitchen will help you maximize your space and give you more storage options for kitchen appliances, spices, utensils, and more.
Shelf-stackers are an ideal option for preventing any dead space in your kitchen. You can use tall, vertical shelves or tiered corner shelf-stackers to fully optimize your space. They are a great space for plants or an apartment her garden as well.
If you find yourself running out of room to place a cutting board, you can create some extra workspace by taking advantage of every surface in your kitchen, including the sink and the stove.
Using an adjustable stove top cover will allow you to create an additional surface area that you can use while prepping food.
Any cutting board that’s slightly larger than your sink, can be placed over your sink to fully optimize your kitchen workspace.
While stoves and sinks can offer plenty of room for prep, your window sill can provide a small but helpful additional surface for storage.
Use your window sill as a mini shelf, and store any cookbooks, jars, or any extra cluttered items that you keep in your kitchen.
If your apartment doesn’t come with a dishwasher, having a dish rack is a necessity.
Finding a drying rack that folds or rolls up can help you make sure that you’re not losing out on counter space. With a convenient and collapsible dish rack, you can easily put it away when it’s not in use and clear up the counter space you need.
You can also use a drying rack that hangs over the sink to save even more counter space while dishes are drying.
Switching to tiered storage containers and baskets is another great space-saving technique for kitchens with limited counter space.
Tiered trays can hold kitchen tools, food, jars, and much more. They create an easy way for you to clear up anything that takes up space on your counter while keeping everything organized and easy to access.
Tall, multi-level spice racks are also a perfect way to conserve space while keeping everything you’ll need while cooking organized and within reach.\
Similar to tiered storage containers on your countertops, adding layers of storage space can help keep unnecessary items off the cabinet and leave more room for food prep.
Purchasing tiered organizer baskets that go inside your cabinets will give you the extra storage space you need to create more room on your counters.
Hidden storage can also create extra counter space in a small apartment. Instead of leaving cutting boards or kitchen supplies on your counter, you can use an over the cabinet door basket to hold them when they’re not in use. Or, for storing larger items, a pull out storage shelf helps you maximize your cabinet space and stay organized.
Leaving your microwave on your counter can result in a ton of wasted real estate on already limited countertop space.
If it’s possible to mount your microwave in your apartment, that can be a great way to save space without sacrificing utility and practicality.
If there are not a lot of alternative locations where you can place your microwave, try adding a durable moveable kitchen to your space. You can rest the microwave on the top of the island to prevent it from taking up the counter space you need. Or some people who are tall enough will simply put the microwave on top of the fridge.
If you still find yourself unable to create enough counter space and are on the market for a new apartment, take a look at some available rentals to find the perfect kitchen with plenty of counter space to meet all your needs.
