How to Organize Pots and Pans if You Have a Small Kitchen: 8 Useful Tips

“I used to have four cast iron frying pans, but now I understand that no one needs that many. Getting rid of excess dishes is hard, but you can’t do it without it — you have to go through everything and throw it away or donate it, says professional space organizer Jill Koch.

Here’s what you shouldn’t keep in the kitchen:

Have you eliminated the excess? Let’s think about whether we need something new!

Another way to minimize clutter is to keep versatile pots and pans on hand that can serve multiple functions. “This is important not only for small spaces, but also for keeping the kitchen under control as a whole,” says Jane Stoller, space organizer and author of Decluttering for Dummies.

Jane advises to pay attention to universal cast aluminum pots and pans with thick walls and bottoms, cast iron or removable handles and non-stick coating – they can be used both on the stove and in the oven: cook at steam, fry, boil, bake and even serve.

Keep the pots and pans you use most often above the stove – they should be at arm’s length. To do this, you can place a simple shelf near the wall or attach a rod to the bottom of the cabinet – just make sure it is sturdy enough to support the weight of the dishes.

It is not necessary to store all the dishes in the kitchen – the grill grates, whose time comes in summer, and the duck dish, which is needed only for the New Year, are better placed in a another place – in the pantry, in the basement or on the back shelf of the closet, where it will not interfere with your access to the things you use most often.

“The most common mistake I see when storing pots and pans is forgetting the lids. They are simply thrown into a box without any organization and therefore become elusive – each time it takes a long time to find the right one in a messy pile,” explains space organizer Morgan Ovens.

The best way to save time and space is to get a lid organizer: vertical dividers will make access easier and help you use your cupboard space more efficiently. A similar technique can be used with frying pans: the organizer will keep them separate from each other, which will protect them from scratches and dents.

If you type the query “pegboard” into the marketplace search bar, you will see many garage walls with tools hanging on them. However, says Jane, this solution is ideal for the kitchen: install the panel near any free wall (or in place of an apron), and you will get an excellent space for “parking” a wide variety of utensils – from pots and pans to kitchen scissors and measuring cups.

Another way to use vertical space is to use a railing. “This not only allows you to keep the dishes in sight and reach the desired item in a second. Beautiful pots and pans, like copper ones, will add interest to your kitchen decor, says professional space organizer Darla DeMorrow.

Read also: How to make a kitchen chic without renovating it: the secrets of interior designers

A tiered organization system may take up more space, but it has a significant advantage over a “stack” of pots and pans: you can take dishes out and put them away very quickly. Additionally, some organizers can be placed outside the closet, freeing it up to store food or cleaning supplies.

The Wheeled Cart is one of the space organization’s most underrated heroes. It can be a great replacement for an island in a small kitchen: it’s easy to move and can be reused in minutes – for example, transforming it into an impromptu mobile bar for a party.

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