Great Kitchen Storage Ideas

We love the look of a clean, uncluttered kitchen like this beauty designed by architectural designer Louise Brooks for her own home overlooking Long Island Sound. Keeping clutter under control isn’t easy, however, because kitchens are by necessity filled with “stuff.” We've gathered a selection of our favorite ideas for keeping a kitchen in order while enhancing efficiency.

One of Louise Brooks’s favorite storage ideas is a floor-to-ceiling plate rack, where platters, chargers, and pretty dishes are accessible while adding color and pattern to the room.

Chicago-based designer Mick De Giulio often incorporates countertop “garages” for small appliances in the kitchen he designs. This Chicago kitchen has nearly 10 feet of countertop storage from SieMatic cabinets, with three motorized doors that lower at the push of a button.

Coffee pot and blender are pushed behind flip-down doors when not in use.  The kitchen cleans up in minutes and appliances are out of sight, an important feature in today’s kitchens that are open to entertaining spaces.

See this entire kitchen and all its great design ideas.

Kitchen islands offer plenty of options for storage, including shelves for cookbooks and dishes.

Squeeze a pantry into a narrow closet or wall space at the top of basement stairs. Narrow shelves make items easy to spot.

This charming Boston-area kitchen designed by Liz Caan puts kitchenware on display in artful places: on open shelves, from hanging pot racks, and in an island by French Heritage.

See the entire kitchen.

A pullout pantry makes good use of narrow space. This clever pantry in a New York City kitchen designed by Robert Schwartz has a tiled front so when it is closed it looks like part of the tiled wall.

Open shelves tucked inside a robin's-egg blue island keeps pots and pans within easy reach.

A set of TV trays fits vertically into a niche in this island, their warm wood tones adding a punch of color to the otherwise muted palette of yellows.

Kitchen design: Dalia Tamari

When Massachusetts residential designer Molly Frey planned a Florida vacation home for her parents, she placed open shelves on either side of the range. Having dishes in view makes it easy for guests to help out with food prep and find dishes to serve themselves.

Marble slabs make for dramatic and useful open shelves in this kitchen. A row of small file drawers holds recipes cards, spices, and small items.

Kitchen designer Mick De Giulio gives a St. Louis kitchen a clean uncluttered backsplash with this innovative idea: tiled sliding panels on each side of the range that close to conceal spices and oils.

Drawer dividers and organizational accessories are sold at home improvement stores and can be ordered from most cabinet manufacturers. This drawer insert slants bottles at an angle to facilitate reading the labels. Spices keep best when stored away from light and heat sources, so drawer storage is a good option for seasonings used infrequently.

Cabinet manufacturers offer many interior organizational features, including movable pegs or other systems for storing stacks of plates and dishes.

Plate racks are as practical as they are charming. Dowel dividers prevent chipping and simplify chores such as setting the table and emptying the dishwasher.

A flip-down door hides a blender, a toaster, and a coffee maker stored on this countertop. More storage is afforded by a slide out drawer next to the microwave.

A stainless-steel tambour door slides up to reveal a mini-coffee station. Because the garage sits on the counter, it is easy to pull out the coffee maker and supplies and wipe up spills.

No wine cellar? Create one by hanging cabinet boxes on a wall. Wines can be stored either vertically on open shelves or horizontally in boxes fitted with diagonal dividers.

Hang attractive (and well-maintained) pots and pans from a metal rack near the range. Racks keep cookware within reach, and will protect items from scratching and damage that can occur when pans are stacked.

Utensils and potholders are at hand when stored on a metal rack near work areas.

A closet can be converted into a small pantry, where food and dishes can be stored on open shelves. Baskets on lower shelves store potatoes, onions, and other snack items.

A red-glazed hutch with rope trim and grillwork over mercury glass doors serves as a food pantry and the renovated kitchen's focal point.

Kitchen design: Mick de Giulio

An antique hutch was reconfigured as a wet bar in this Florida kitchen. The upper portion of the hutch was hung on the wall and holds glassware. The small bar sink was installed in the base cabinet.

Architectural design: Molly Frey

Even seating pieces can offer additional storage. A built-in banquette has drawers below for keeping seasonal dishes and large serving platters.

Architectural design: Louise Brooks

Paper towels are discreetly tucked into a built-in dispenser to the left of the sink, right under the counter-one of architectural designer Louise Brooks's clever trademark solutions.

Architectural design: Louise Brooks

Architectural designer Louise Brooks incorporated storage wherever possible in this Connecticut kitchen, including small cabinets in the mantel-style trim above the range.

Architectural design: Louise Brooks

A glass-front cabinet in a hallway between the kitchen and boldly painted pantry showcases antique table linens, each neatly hung on dowels and tagged with its size. The pantry is painted with bold green and soft blue.

Architect: Todd Hansen

A chalkboard replaces one of the door panels on a kitchen cabinet, creating a family message center close to breakfast foods.

Kitchen design: Laura Dylla O'Brien

When cabinets are too high to reach, install a library ladder that slides along a stainless steel rod.

Doesn't everybody always want to be in the kitchen? Two separate built-in beds accommodate Teddy and Daisy, a pair of pet shih tzus, in this Massachusetts kitchen.

Kitchen design: Eileen Kollias

Storage Strategy

The secret to a clutter-free kitchen is having storage in all the right places. Designer Matthew Quinn considers how families use a kitchen and places pullout pantries and work and serving stations where they’re most convenient.

1. Coffee station Walnut drawers below the Miele coffee machine organize spoons, tea, and sweeteners. Cups stand in the pantry to the left of the coffee machine. Another pantry to the right holds packaged coffee capsules for the coffeemaker.

2. Pet-feeding station A quartzite slab is tucked in a niche under the island and fitted with drop-in bowls. 

3. Cooking utensil storage Drop-in bins keep spoons, whisks, and other utensils handy. A pullout pantry on the other side of the La Cornue range holds oils and seasonings.

4. Appliance garage When not in use the Wolf steam oven, television, and dishes are concealed behind retractable pocket doors in a cabinet to the left of the refrigerator.