Get creative to find food storage in your cluttered kitchen.
No matter what size your kitchen, if all the food storage space in your pantry and cabinets is full, it can feel cramped. One way to make space is to sort carefully through your food items, getting rid of anything that has expired and donating any unwanted food. If after this step you're still in need of room, several creative techniques will help add plenty of room for food storage. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Store upward. When stacked vertically, food, as with any other item, requires considerably less space than when spread out horizontally. Using stacking stands, racks and shelves in cluttered cabinets will allow you to free up or even double the available food storage space by storing cans, boxes, tubs, bins, bags, jars, and containers of food upward as opposed to outward. You can also free up space by putting this method to use for your spices and dishes.
2. Make use of storage furniture. Pieces such as corner shelving stands, kitchen islands or china cabinets can provide several square feet of storage space, in which you can place food -- or dishes to make room for food. But remember to keep the furniture proportional: An island that is too big for the space will make the kitchen feel crowded. Another storage furniture technique to try is making better use of what you already have in the kitchen. Clean out that junk drawer, top shelf or lower cabinet full of forgotten items.
3. Try relocating items. Make sure pantry shelves and cabinets that could be used for food storage are not being taken up by appliances that don't get much utilization: cappuccino machines, juicers, bread makers, countertop grills, blenders, mixers, and food processors, for instance. If you use them several times a week, keep them in the kitchen, but store rarely used items in a garage or hall closet to make room for food in the kitchen. An additional step is relocating pots and pans. These items are needed in the kitchen, but they are often large and bulky, taking up much-needed storage space. A clever solution is a pot rack. Hang it from the ceiling to store your boilers, roasting pans, kettles, and skillets.
Tags: food storage, storage space, room food, food storage space, make room, make room food, storage furniture