Create Extra Storage Space And Hide Appliances With An Affordable Curtain Hack

Air fryers, bread makers, rice cookers, food processors, and stand mixers–unless you're a firm believer in keeping your kitchen appliances to a strict minimum, you may have at least one of these gadgets sitting in your kitchen right now. But as these appliances accumulate, counter or drawer space becomes a pressing issue, forcing us to think up ways to declutter our kitchens.

Tiktoker @by.janice shares a tip for creating extra space for hiding and storing bulky kitchen appliances by using the small nook underneath her window ledge to her advantage. She transformed her kitchen's dead space into a practical yet discreet storage area with nothing more than a curtain and a curtain rod. This clever solution frees up your kitchen cabinets and shelves for the essential items you reach for on a daily basis, allowing you to streamline your kitchen habits. The curtain also enhances the look of your kitchen, visually adding a punchy pop of color, pattern, and texture to the room. While it effectively banishes bulky appliances from sight, this hack makes it so much easier to fetch these gadgets by simply pulling the curtain back — no more hauling them in and out from the tops of your cupboards or the depths of your cabinets.

To use the gap under your windowsill as a hidden storage area, verify first that the area can accommodate the kitchen appliance you'd like to store and that there is enough space along the front to install a curtain rod, such as an Amazon Basics Tension Curtain Rod. Pair it with a simple curtain hook and clip system (Like these Ivilon Drapery Curtain Clips that come in a 14-pack for about $9), and use any extra or recycled fabric you have lying around the house as a curtain, making sure that the curtain comfortably covers your hidden storage space.

The TikTok user props her air fryer on a small wooden stool, but you can use any material as a sturdy base to elevate your kitchen appliance off the floor, keeping its wiring safe from dust or kitchen spills. You get points if your storage area has a readily available electrical socket at hand: This allows you to easily plug and use your gadgets without shuttling them back and forth to your kitchen counters. Any remaining floor space can be maximized to store bulky packs of water or a collection of empty bottles destined for recycling. Don't have any windowsill space? This simple storage space hack works for any open space in your kitchen that doesn't see much action, like the bottom half of a kitchen island or an awkward recess in your walls.