The 13 Best Ways To Utilize Vertical Space In Small Kitchens

There's not much room to work with in a small kitchen. If you're running low on floor and counter space, it's time to go vertical. Most kitchens have some vertical storage, usually in the form of kitchen cabinets, but there's even more you can do with the space. We've rounded up the best ways to utilize vertical space in your small kitchen, with ideas to create extra storage, decor, and food prep surfaces.

From simple open shelves to pegboard systems, there are lots of ways to take advantage of wall area and more. There are also ways to use the sides of cabinets, appliances, and the surfaces of doors to make use of that upward space. We've included a mix of ideas on this list, plus some products you can use to bring this inspiration to life. Gain more space in your small kitchen with these tips for the best use of vertical areas.

Wall-mounted shelves are so versatile and are worth having in any kitchen. They're easier to install than kitchen cabinets, so it's possible for most DIYers to tackle this type of project. If you're only storing lightweight items, you can even find renter-friendly options that stick with adhesive (for example, the High & Mighty Modern Floating Shelf) which require no tools for installation. Open shelves are very flexible for both storage and decoration. They're also easy to access, whether you're storing small appliances or using them for display pieces. Since they're so simple, they work for a variety of kitchen decor styles, but are particularly popular for modern kitchens.

Though they're based on a simple design, open shelves come in all sorts of looks. IKEA has several fabulous and affordable wall shelving options. For gorgeous, high-end wood shelves, consider the Emmerson Reclaimed Wood Floating Wall Shelves from West Elm. If you have a whole wall of space, you can also go for wall-mounted shelving units instead, like the Mid-Century Modular Bookshelf from West Elm. If you like to make your own furniture, you could also take on one of these DIY shelving ideas that'll give your kitchen the extra storage space it needs.

Even simpler to install than a shelf is a wall-mounted rail. A mounted rail is a great alternative to open shelving for smaller items. Beyond being easier to mount, they also don't jut out from the wall as much as shelves, so they're a shallower and space-saving option. With adhesive mounts or even a tension rod (which you can use in a gap between two cabinets), they can be damage-free and renter-friendly too. Many people choose these types of rails because they have a more rustic and relaxed look that is very appealing.

Use a copper rail to organize your kitchen if you want to lean into a farmhouse look. Other finishes are also available. You can shop kitchen rails online, or repurpose other types (like curtain rails and towel rails) if you prefer how they look. Some examples of the former include Pottery Barn's stylish Manchester Brass Rail with Hooks as well as the more affordable IKEA HULTARP rail. You can shop a wide range of accessories to make the most of one of these rails, including hooks, baskets, and bins. We especially love a wall-mounted rail for cookware storage (it's one of the best ways to organize pots and pans if you have limited cabinet space). Simple hooks and bins are great, but you can also find larger accessories, like the Loghot Hanging Organizer and HULTARP Dish Drainer that can add a lot of storage space and function to a kitchen wall.

Another useful wall-mounted option is a plate display rack. This purpose-built product is designed to display decorative plates, but you can use it for so much more. It's a good option if both a shelf and a rail don't feel like the right solution. Many plate display racks are more secure and versatile than a rail system (since they have a shelf and guard rail), but are still more narrow than most shelves. This idea is another lovely solution for a rustic or farmhouse kitchen. However, since it requires wall-mounting, it's not very renter-friendly.

Pictured is the Magnolia Hannon Wood and Brass Display Shelf; it holds plates, salt and pepper shakers, narrow jugs and jars, and really anything slim enough for its slender shelves. It also has a rail along the bottom so you can hang items too. These types of plate display shelves aren't nearly as common as regular shelves. So you might not find them at big box stores, but you can shop from some other retailers, like the Elegance Plate Display from Ballard Designs. If these don't catch your eye, your best bet is Etsy, where you can find a selection of hand-made picks like this Oak Plate Rack and this Customizable Display Rack.

Walls aren't the only vertical space you can use in a small kitchen. You can also take advantage of doors, and for many, this is an even better option since there are tons of renter-friendly ways to do so. We're not only talking about the main door to your kitchen either. Use the vertical space on pantry and cabinet doors too. There are plenty over-the-door organizers available, as well as DIY solutions (like these smart ways to create cabinet door storage).

Over-the-door hooks are the simplest option, and you can find products for full-size and cabinet doors. Adhesive Command hooks are also a great option to attach to these surfaces, creating spots to hang small kitchen accessories. If you're looking for a little more shelf space instead, find a behind-the-door organizer with baskets, like the ClosetMaid Door Basket Organizer pictured or a more flexible fabric option like the ULG Over Door Organizer. This basket-style type of organizer is great if you need more space for jars, spices, or pantry staples. Another solution is to repurpose an over-the-door shoe organizer, like the Gorilla Grip Over the Door Shoe Organizer. It's more shallow than a basket organizer but more versatile than just using door hooks.

If you have some space to spare, a slim vertical cabinet is the best way to add storage upwards without needing to put any holes in the wall. These types of cabinets are tall but have a small footprint, so they add a decent amount of storage while taking minimal floor area. Just bear in mind that these cabinets should be anchored to the wall for safety; renters can use no-drill options like the TipNot Adhesive Furniture Anchor.

Don't just search kitchen cabinets to find your perfect pick. While you can find options like the Winston Porter 70.9” Pantry in a retailer's kitchen section, you'll discover even more options if you look outside. For example, the Mason Curio Cabinet is a particularly stylish, multi-purpose pick from Urban Outfitters. IKEA also has a wide selection of these slim and tall cabinets, often marketed as display cabinets (like the BOASTAD High Cabinet) or bathroom cabinets (like the ENHET High Cabinet).

You're wasting vertical space if you're not filling the full area inside your cabinets. While you can stack dishes and pantry staples on top of each other, there's a better way to use this space. Grab shelf risers to keep the area tidy and make items easier to take out. These add layers to cabinet storage, so you can fill the vertical area. You can use this idea for pantry shelves too.

There are tons of products out there for this type of task; you can find versions in a variety of materials and designs. For example, the metal Yamazaki Tower Stackable Kitchen Rack, plastic Container Store Acrylic Organizer Shelves, and wooden Lipper International Kitchen Cabinet Shelf. To better fit your cabinet interior, you can also find adjustable (both height-wise and length-wise) and stackable shelf risers. You can discover more ways to use these risers with these helpful ways shelf risers can keep your kitchen organized.

There are often several metal surfaces in a kitchen where you can place magnetic items. For example, the side of a fridge, front of a dishwasher, side of a mini fridge, and even the side of washing machines and dryers in some very compact apartments. Magnetic organizers vary in size and style, and there are some purpose-built for kitchen tasks. For example, you can use a magnetic spice rack to hold your seasonings, like the HuggieGems Magnetic Spice Rack. You can also make your own sleeker version with these DIY magnetic spice jars.

Another kitchen-specific option is a Fridge Side Magnetic Knife Holder, which is fabulous for clearing a knife block off the counter (though not preferable for a home with children). Lastly, we like the design of the Tosca Magnetic Kitchen Organizer since it's multipurpose (it holds foil and plastic wrap containers, a paper towel roll, and has a hanging rod and hooks.

Look beyond magnetic kitchen accessories too. Pen holders, such as the Kitanis Magnetic Pen Holders are so simple but useful. Magnetic baskets are also easy to find at most office and organization retailers.

There are also so many places to add hanging hooks in a kitchen, and this includes many renter-friendly options too. As mentioned above, make use of over-the-door hooks on both full-size doors and cabinet doors to avoid putting holes in walls. There are hook sets, but you can also grab individual hooks for both locations to improve flexibility. For example, the Sattiyrch Over The Door Single Hook for kitchen or pantry doors and the iDesign Forma Over-The-Cabinet Storage Hook for cabinets.

Adhesive hooks (like Command hooks) are another renter-friendly option. Like regular screw-in hooks, you can mount them to walls, the sides of cabinets, under upper kitchen cabinets or shelves, and more. Depending on how secure the hook is, you can use them to hold all manner of kitchen items, from hand towels to pots and pans. We particularly like the idea of using hanging hooks for mug storage under a cabinet or shelf. A product like the Rejuvenation Under-Shelf Swiveling Hook Accessory is perfect for this task.

Pegboards are useful storage helpers in any room. You can install them on a variety of surfaces in a small kitchen. Mount them to walls, doors, on the sides of cabinets, or on the interior walls of cabinets. Most pegboards need to be screwed into the surface, so this is a less renter-friendly option (though we do have a freestanding option ahead). However, if you have the option to drill into the walls, it's one of the most versatile.

The sleek and utilitarian look of pegboards makes them a good choice for contemporary kitchens. They might not suit rustic or farmhouse styles as nicely—however, you can hide them out of view to make it work in these kitchens, like by putting them on the back wall of a cabinet. With an assortment of hooks, you can use a pegboard to store a variety of cooking accessories, like in this photo. There are also lots of pegboard accessories like bins, racks, shelves, clips and more. We recommend the IKEA SKÅDIS pegboard since it's reasonably priced, comes in a few colors and sizes, and has lots of accessory options in the SKÅDIS series. The SKÅDIS pegboard is one of few options that can be freestanding, so you can actually create a whole new vertical surface in your small kitchen. Opt for the freestanding SKÅDIS pegboard or add connectors to the regular pegboard to mount it to the side of a table.

Don't be afraid to store items on the highest surface in your kitchen. Sure, you may need a step stool to reach this spot, but it's worth it for all the extra storage area it opens up. Utilize any flat space above kitchen cabinets or furniture for storing your less-used items (unless you're comfortable with lifting daily-use items up and down frequently). In rustic kitchens, it's not only an extra storage space. If you put some thought into the items you place up there, sticking to your decor style, then it be an extra decorative platform as well. Storing items above kitchen cabinets and hutches can make your space feel more cozy and lived-in.

Not all of us have an assortment of adorable baskets to decorate with though. If you're using the area as a catch-all for kitchen supplies, pantry extras, and other oddments, find pretty bins to hide the clutter. Choose a size that fits securely in the space, and preferably, use a bin with a handle so it's easier to move around. A lid can also help prevent dust in this hard-to-clean area. A product like the Bagnizer Linen Foldable Storage Bin may fit these criteria.

Reclaim some precious counter space with the right countertop organizers. These can take the form of shelf risers (choose ones that look extra chic, since they're on display) and small counter shelving units. Essentially, these add some vertical storage space above your countertops, but below upper kitchen cabinets, making the most out of this often under-utilized in-between area. Storing items upwards opens up some extra prep space so you can make the most of your kitchen worktop.

Since it's in full view, choose an organizer that looks nice. When it comes to risers, products like the Yamazaki Tosca Wood-Top Stackable Kitchen Rack and Reds Wood Design Kitchen Shelf Riser look so much more stylish than a plain shelf riser. Layered units, like the IKEA NÅLBLECKA Countertop Organizer, can help to corral items on each level. If you want to hide the items you're storing, you can opt for a countertop shelving unit with doors. For example, the Red Barrel Studio Rayon Bamboo Shelving Rack has fluted glass doors to help keep its stored contents out of sight.

If you can mount items from the ceiling, that's another great way to take advantage of vertical space. Even better, it doesn't use any wall area, so this is still an option if your walls are full. This photo shows an excellent example, with a ceiling-mounted pot rack over a kitchen island. Since it's over an existing island (or dining table), it doesn't impede on walking space, so this idea is possible in a small kitchen as well.

By hanging your pots and pans on a ceiling rack, you can also free up some cabinet space, which means even more storage area. We also like the rustic look of this type of pot rack. They don't have to be too expensive either, for example, you can grab the Cooks Standard Ceiling Mounted Wooden Pot Rack from Amazon for $99.25 or a trendy copper rail ceiling pot hanger from Etsy starting at $157.08. Or you can splurge on something a little nicer like the J.K. Adams 24" Maple Oval Hanging Pot Rack from Crate & Barrel for $300.

If you don't have the room for a hanging rack (or the ability to mount one from the ceiling) hanging baskets are a quaint alternative. They won't hold the weight of cookware, but you can use them to hold produce and lighter items. This Copper And Jute Rope 3 Tier Hanging Basket is one charming option that you can hang from a single hook on the ceiling.

A wall-mounted table can clear up floor space in a very small kitchen. It shifts the footprint of a table to the wall so you can choose when you want a dining table or prefer more walking space. It's also a good alternative to installing a kitchen island or extra counter—you can use a wall-mounted table as an extra prep or serving space that you can move out of the way when you're done cooking.

Consider both wall-mounted dining tables and desks. Desks tend to be smaller, which is ideal if you want something compact. You can even DIY your own with some ideas like this easy IKEA hack to create a floating desk or a DIY fold down desk using a cutting board. IKEA has some great picks, like the very affordable BJURSTA Wall-mounted drop-leaf table for $59.99. For something a bit larger that looks more like a traditional table, the Nils Foldable Dining Table is more spacious, but can still tuck away into a small wall-mounted frame.