How We Organized Our Downsized Kitchen: Smart Storage and Simple Solutions

Last week we showed how we painted our cabinets, and today we’ll walk you through how we organized everything inside them. Our current kitchen has roughly one-quarter of the cabinetry and countertop space of our previous kitchen, which felt daunting at first. The good news? With thoughtful downsizing and a few small storage additions, the kitchen fits everything we use and keeps most items easy to reach—no digging through deep stacks to find what we need. If you’re curious about practical downsizing or enjoy peeking inside other people’s cabinets, this should be helpful.

From a Giant Kitchen to a Compact, Functional One

Our old kitchen felt enormous by comparison. It had a ten-foot island with storage on three sides and cabinets on all four walls—about 36 cabinet doors and 15 drawers. The new kitchen has just 7 cabinet doors and 5 drawers (two under the sink in both kitchens are false), so roughly 51 pieces of storage before versus 12 now. Many of the new cabinets and drawers are narrower and less deep. Despite that, we’ve adjusted well because we’d already pared down what we keep in the kitchen over the years.

Be Honest About What You Actually Use

That larger kitchen had more capacity than we needed. We aren’t hobby bakers or gadget collectors, so we’d long kept a streamlined set of essentials. Before moving we donated or sold items we rarely used—things like an extra muffin tin or a seldom-used crockpot. Downsizing isn’t about following trends; it’s about identifying what you actually use. We cook and eat most meals at home, and this kitchen has handled that schedule really well.

Shelving Next to the Fridge: Big Impact

One change that made a big difference was adding two shelving units next to the fridge. They were repurposed from another room and immediately added eight large drawers plus some open shelves. The left four drawers function as our pantry—yes, that’s where our food is stored—and the right four hold tools and household items. The open shelves offer a handy mix of everyday dishes and decorative items, which keeps things tidy and visually balanced.

Stove Area: Utensils, Oils, and Pans

We organized the small drawer beside the stove into a dedicated olive oil and salt drawer—simple and convenient for cooking. The skinny cabinet beneath stores our cutting boards, cookie sheet, muffin tin, and cooling racks. We kept only one muffin tin and one cookie sheet, having pared down multiple rarely-used items before the move.

The larger cabinet on the other side stores most of our pots and pans. We use a wire shelf to separate saucepans for easier access and a back-of-door lid holder to keep lids organized. These inexpensive additions stopped the noisy stack-and-dig routine and made grabbing cookware quick and quiet. We also lined cabinet bases with clear, non-sticky liners to protect the paint.

Drawers for Utensils and Knives

The large drawer above that cabinet stores flatware and a few large knives using an expandable bamboo utensil organizer. It adjusts to the narrower drawer and keeps everything neat and accessible.

Under-Sink and Back-of-Door Solutions

The cabinet under the sink contains cleaning supplies, spare sponges, dishcloths, and trash bags. Instead of buying new organizers, we used a mix of existing bins and wire shelves we already owned. They separate items into zones so the space doesn’t become a messy pile. Two back-of-door wire organizers were already installed when we moved in; they’ve been incredibly useful for smaller items and free up shelf space.

Floating Shelves and Everyday Items

We installed two floating shelves on the back wall—each about three feet long. They’re perfect for frequently used tools like a strainer, measuring cup, and tea kettle above the stove. Plates and glass mixing bowls sit nearby, moved closer to the work triangle after the shelves went up so that commonly used items are within easy reach.

Short Run of Cabinets and the Junk Drawer

On the adjacent run of cabinets we have one large cabinet with three narrow drawers. We maximized the space with plastic bins and dividers: foil and bags in the left drawer, knives and measuring tools in the middle, and a smaller, pared-down junk drawer on the right. Some items previously in the junk drawer—like batteries or super-specific adhesives—moved to the tool drawers, while stamps and stationery live in a dresser near the front door. Downsizing doesn’t mean getting rid of everything; it means relocating functions to the most logical spots.

Lower Cabinets with Bins for Zones

Three lower cabinets along another wall each hold white plastic bins that create clear organizational zones: overflow snacks, glass food storage, and spices with other oils and vinegars. The top shelf contains additional glassware and a baking bin. One awkward back corner holds spare empty bins for now—because when it comes to storage, having a few spare containers is always handy.

Final Thoughts: Bins, Zones, and Flexibility

Overall, the system is built around bins, shelves, and repurposed furniture. If we ever need more kitchen storage, some tool drawers can migrate to another room and free up space for more culinary gear. We’ve had many requests to show the bathroom sink cabinet, the linen closet, and the HVAC closet floor-to-ceiling storage; if interest continues, we’ll share a follow-up post—spoiler: there will be bins.

P.S. You can catch up on our Florida house renovation posts for more room-by-room updates. And note: this post contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.