10 Simple Cottage Kitchen Storage Ideas | Beautiful & Organized

Small kitchens can be intimidating, but I’ve realized that with some simple cottage kitchen storage ideas, a small kitchen can still be efficient and beautiful.

A couple of weeks ago, I shared some ideas for creating a cozy home after the holidays.

In that post, I shared our kitchen and living room.

The response was such that I realized I’m not sure I’ve given you a full tour of the new kitchen.

Well, I actually have.

But it’s so small that I think it’s hard to believe that I’m sharing it all haha!

Today, I wanted to show you some tips that have helped me make this small kitchen work for all the from-scratch recipes we make.

You can watch me show you these kitchen storage ideas HERE

Where should small kitchen appliances be stored when not in use?

This is something that I get hung up on all the time.

When the latest kitchen gadget comes out and is all the rage my husband will tease me about it.

They always end up feeling more like chaos to me than an amazing way to solve some kitchen problem I’m experiencing.

Example: We don’t have an InstaPot.

My husband and I talked about getting one at one point, and honestly, I would still consider it.

But only if one of the other kitchen appliances moved out to make room.

This is where we got stuck when we originally started talking about it.

Ultimately, we decided against it.

We decided we already had appliances that do everything the InstaPot does.

So why go spend the money?

I’m not saying that you have to get rid of your InstaPot if you already have one.

I’ve heard amazing things about them.

But for us, it just doesn’t make sense.

In a cabinet

Which leads me to this.

We have a small kitchen and therefore we don’t have an abundance of storage space.

In my latest decluttering video, I shared that I have one cabinet for small kitchen appliances.

In this video, it looks like there is so much cabinet space in this hallway.

But after we moved in we realized not all of the cabinets are in good enough shape to use for kitchen storage.

I’m afraid a couple of them would bust through the bottom if I put too much weight on them.

The plan is to take these cabinets out and replace them with kitchen storage that works better, but until then, I’m working with what I’ve got.

On the counter

If the appliance don’t fit in that cabinet then they are stored on the counter.

They way I decided what gets to be on the counter vs what goes into the cabinet is based on usage.

If it’s an item we use regularly then it gets to sit on the counter.

Our KitchenAid mixer, toaster oven, and dehydrator.

*Helpful Hint*

If you want a KitchenAid mixer for all the yummy sourdough bread recipes, check out their refurbished mixers.

I got one as a wedding gift almost 13 years ago now.

Last year, it started making the most terrible noise.

Loud enough to be heard across the house.

So we decided to buy a new one but couldn’t bring ourselves to spend that kind of money, even on something that I used multiple times a week.

Then my husband found out they sell refurbished mixers at nearly HALF THE PRICE!

So, if you’re on the fence about it, I recommend checking that out.

How do I maximize storage in my small kitchen?

Cottage Kitchen Storage Ideas: Baskets

Baskets are so versatile.

They are great for storage and the are beautiful.

Nothing says cottage style quite like a basket.

Above fridge

In our kitchen I have 2 large baskets on top of the fridge.

It looks like they are only there to look pretty, but they are storing my reusable grocery bags.

Hanging on peg rail

I have another basket hanging on the wooden peg rail my husband made for me.

I store garlic in this one.

Easy to grab for an everyday item I use while cooking for my family.

Cottage Kitchen Storage Ideas: Crocks on the counter

I have a lot of crocks.

I use them for multiple different things.

But the two crocks in my kitchen serve as a kitchen counter storage solution.

One of the crocks holds my wooden utensils, sauerkraut smasher, and ladles.

The other one holds my long scrub brush for dishes.

Using crocks adds cottage charm to the kitchen, but it also is an efficient use of the space.

Cottage Kitchen Storage Ideas: Glass Canisters

I have a lot of flour in this house.

Saying I’m obsesses with all the things sourdough would be an understatement.

I’m actually working on finalizing a sourdough bread recipe so I can share it with you soon.

But because of that, I have to store my flour in a large crock on the counter.

This free’s up pantry space.

Which again, is deceiving.

This pantry looks huge.

We were surprised when we moved in and discovered it’s only 10.5″ deep haha!

I’m not kidding you when I tell you this kitchen is small.

Cottage Kitchen Storage Ideas: Open shelves

I love open shelves.

They are a very cottage style design choice.

Not to mention they are great for storage.

In the kitchen I store my regularly used items on the shelves.

Plates, bowls, cups, and mixing bowls.

It’s a great way to turn and everyday item into something beautiful.

Cottage Kitchen Storage Ideas: Wooden peg rail

Then, under the shelves, we have our DIY wooden peg rail.

This adds so much charm and storage.

I hang my measuring cups and spoons on one peg and garlic on another.

I also use this to decorate our kitchen with simple cottage style artwork.

Cottage Kitchen Storage Ideas: Pot rack

If a peg rail isn’t your style, you could also add a metal pot rack in the kitchen.

In the old house, I made a DIY pot rack out of wood and hooks, but for our new house I opted for a metal version.

Both are beautiful, and both are great storage solutions.

We have this pot rack in the hallway behind the kitchen.

(I talk more about it specifically and the installation in this post.)

I counted after we installed it, and it’s only 3 steps away from the oven.

This is a great way to store pots and pans so they aren’t taking up space in a cabinet.

Which is important when you only have 7 cabinets (including the cabinets that are falling apart).

Not only is it an efficient use of space that would otherwise not be utilized, it is also a beautiful way to display cookware.

**Helpful Hint**

The type of cookware you cook with makes a huge difference in the amount of pots and pans you need. i.e how much space you need to store them.

I bought my first enameled cast iron skillet 2 years ago.

It wasn’t cheap, but I use this one pan multiple times a day.

Every time I have a friend over and I’m cooking for them I show them how easy they are to use and clean.

This is my all-time favorite pan.

Honestly, I use it for almost everything.

I bought my copper cookware before I bought this, and they are my second favorite pots and pans.

But once you go cast iron, you can’t go back haha!

Cottage Kitchen Storage Ideas: Wooden Spice rack

This is a new addition to our kitchen.

I have been looking for a plate rack for our cozy kitchen.

But I haven’t found one, and I currently have my husband working on the new mudroom closet so he can’t built me one.

But I found this little spice rack at one of my favorite vintage stores in town.

I think it was $20 and I thought for that price I couldn’t pass it up.

(At this same store, I was thinking about a plate rack and let too much time pass. When I finally decided to go buy it, it was gone.)

I didn’t want that to happen with this spice rack.

Although, I’ll be honest, I’m the worst about buyers remorse.

I saw it on a Friday, but left it.

Then on Saturday I decided I wanted to buy it and as I was at check, another lady said, “Oh you’re so lucky! If I had seen that spice rack, I would’ve bought it.”

This spice rack is great for storing my everyday spices and my little french butter dish.

Cottage Kitchen Storage Ideas: Out in the open

This is my favorite way to store items.

I often say I like to decorate with everyday items.

The same is true for storage.

Storing every day items in pretty ways out in the open is a great way to at cottage charm to your kitchen.

• Dutch oven on stove
• Bread boards against wall
• Tea Kettle on the stove
• Dish drying rack beside the sink
• Kitchenaid mixer on the counter

Cottage Kitchen Storage Ideas: Stand-alone furniture: hutch/bread box/etc.

Another way I increase the storage for my kitchen supplies is to use furniture.

I have a hutch in the dining room, right off the kitchen.

This is where my extra plates, honey, tallow, and some more crocks are stored.

Since it’s not “in” the kitchen I try to store items that we don’t regularly use in here.

But there are a few items that I grab from this hutch everyday.

Sometimes its unavoidable with a small kitchen.

You have to store things for the kitchen outside of the kitchen.

Cottage Kitchen Storage Ideas: Overflow food storage in the basement

For some people this is going to sound like a terrible idea.

But for someone who is increasing my love of canning storing food in the basement on my canning shelves is such a joy to me.

I love going down to our basement and grabbing a jar that my family and I worked so hard for.

For dinner tonight I’m going to make chicken pot pie with my favorite pie crust.

It has butter and lard (that I rendered from the pig my husband and I butchered).

In that chicken pot pie I will be adding a jar of green beans that the girls and I picked this past summer.

There is something so rewarding about cooking and eating food that we worked so hard for.

Less is more

The last idea is purge.

A couple weeks I got rid of a few more kitchen items.

Different seasons require different things.

Don’t be afraid to get rid of something that isn’t serving you and your family any longer.

This is by far the best way to increase the organization of your kitchen.

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Have a great week! XoXo

Open Your Doors,
Aliya

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