How to Organize a Kitchen Without Cabinets
Cabinets or no cabinets—you’ve got a few kitchen storage tricks up your sleeve
A kitchen without cabinets can feel a lot like a horse without a saddle: You can work with it, but it’s going to be a challenge. Luckily, you’ve got all the creative kitchen storage solutions and scrappy know-how you need to wrangle that cabinet-less kitchen and make it your own. Here are 15 ways to figure out how to organize a kitchen without cabinets.
1. Get an Overhead Hanging Pot Rack
Who says storage stops at your walls? An overhead hanging pot rack will keep all your shiny pots and pans out of the way but within reach. When you pair this with your magnetic knife strip, you’ll feel like you’re stepping into a snazzy professional kitchen every time you cook.
2. Pick Out a Rolling Kitchen Cart or Mobile Island
Kitchen carts, or mobile islands, not only add extra counter space, but larger models also offer cabinets and drawers for extra storage. Choose one with wheels, and you’ve got the perfect space-saving solution.
3. Use a Pegboard to Hang Tools
Spoons, spatulas, and other kitchen tools take up valuable counter space, so why not take advantage of your wall storage? A pegboard is a simple, no-nonsense way to keep all your essentials within reach while controlling countertop clutter. Best of all, you can take inspiration from Julia Child’s kitchen layout and add or remove pegs to fit your growing collection.
4. Install Floating Shelves
Floating shelves add a modern, luxurious touch to your kitchen while offering extra storage to boot. They’re also a great way to display those gorgeous dishes you splurged on when you moved in. It’s even better than keeping them hidden in cabinets.
5. Hang a Curtain Rod
Do you have a kitchen without wall cabinets but still want to store items out of sight? Create a makeshift cabinet by hanging a small curtain rod and hide your slow cooker and stock pots with a curtain. Coordinate styles and colors with your kitchen decor for extra decorative flair.
6. Repurpose a Bookcase to Display Dinnerware
If DIY floating shelves aren’t for you, a repurposed bookcase is a great option for how to store dishes without cabinets, while also displaying them. Accessorize with knickknacks and other decorative touches to create a gorgeous yet practical focal point in your kitchen.
7. Measure for Drawer Organizers
Take full advantage of your drawer space in a kitchen with no cabinets. Start by sorting all your tools and other miscellaneous items, like can openers and vegetable peelers, to get a rough idea of how many drawer organizers or bins you’ll need. Then, measure your drawers and do a quick online search to find the right sizes. The options are endless, so you’re sure to find a perfect, oh-so-satisfying fit.
8. Utilize Baskets to Store Food
In a kitchen without upper cabinets, finding a place to store your cans, cereals, pasta, and other food items can be tricky. Baskets can help store and contain your food, so it’s easy to find and get out of the way when needed. You can keep baskets on top of your fridge, on the counters, or anywhere you have surface space to spare.
9. Make Room for a Hutch or Dresser
Large furniture comes in the clutch when you don’t have needed built-ins. Hutches and dressers offer tons of hidden storage—in the form of decorative drawers and shelves—and display space to spotlight your favorite dishes or glassware collection.
10. Add a Baker’s Rack
If you’re seeking solutions for a small kitchen that lacks floor space and cabinet space, a baker’s rack is your best friend. These tall, long, and narrow shelving units take up minimal floor space while offering tons of surface area for decorative items and essentials. Organize spatulas, whisks, and wooden spoons in bins or vase-shaped holders, store countertop appliances—like coffee pots and food processors—and customize the unit to fit your storage needs.
11. Hang Knives on a Magnetic Strip
Sharp knives call for their own space, and while drawers and blocks work perfectly fine, they still take up extra room. When faced with this conundrum, look to your wall space for extra storage. A magnetic strip is a sleek yet convenient way to store your knives safely until you need them. It also looks ultra-fancy, so you can’t go wrong (unless you have plastic or non-magnetic knives, of course).
12. Mount a Spice Rack on the Wall
If you use a drawer to store your spices now, free up this space by hanging a spice rack on the wall. Spice rack designs range from models with a few small shelves to those with larger cubby holes. Pick a rack that matches the size of your spice containers. Although hanging spice racks may be more common when organizing kitchen pantries, this technique will work nicely in the main kitchen space, too.
13. Hang Mugs on Hooks
If your day doesn’t start until the first sip of coffee, having quick access to your mugs when you wake up is a non-negotiable aspect of organizing a kitchen without cabinets. There are mug hooks that can go directly on the wall or hang below a wood floating shelf that you’re using for storing other items.
14. Use the Space On Top of the Fridge
One of the best ways to figure out how to organize a small kitchen without cabinets is by finding multiple ways to use items already in the space. Your refrigerator can be one of those items. Beyond storing food in the fridge's interior—and using the front of the fridge as the kids’ art museum—you can use the top of the fridge to store multiple items. Stacking items on top of the fridge won’t affect its performance.
15. Store Pots and Pans in the Oven
Pots and pans are awkwardly sized, making it tough to find a place for them when trying to figure out how to organize a kitchen without cabinets. One option is storing these larger, awkward items inside the oven.
However, you must remove them each time you want to use the oven. And you definitely don’t want to run the oven’s self-cleaning cycle or preheat the oven without remembering to take them out, or you’ll potentially ruin some expensive kitchen gear.
Consider Bringing in a Professional Organizer
If finding storage solutions stumps you, an organization pro can help design the perfect setup for your space. Professional organizers cost between $200 and $750 or $55 to $100 per hour. While it’s an extra investment, it’s also a one-and-done way to create a lasting system for your kitchen. Contact a local professional organizer to learn more about what they offer.
Alison Kasch contributed to this piece.