Every time I turn my head, another new appliance seems to appear in my kitchen. If I’m not testing one of the best stand mixers or best blenders for Tom’s Guide, I’m using my air fryer or bread machine.
The only thing is, I don’t have a huge kitchen, and I’m running out of countertop space. And I haven’t even mentioned my microwave or coffee machine!
I know I’m not alone in my quest to find some calm amid my countertop chaos, so to help me organize my kitchen, I called on kitchen designers and professional organizers to share their top tips for storing small kitchen appliances.
1. Prioritize what stays
Before you start clearing your countertops of all your appliances, there’s one question you need to address. “The first thing to consider is how often an appliance is actually being used. If it’s something you rely on every day, like a coffee maker or tea kettle, it makes sense to keep it out on the counter,” says Olivia Parks, professional organizer at Nola Organizers.
“Any appliance used less frequently shouldn’t take up valuable counter space and should be stored elsewhere,” she adds.
“The more items you leave out on your kitchen counter, the more cluttered and visually overwhelming it will look and feel, creating an eyesore”
Olivia Parks, professional organizer at Nola Organizers.
Thinking about how often you use your appliances and then prioritizing what stays out on display, is a pretty good starting point.
“The more items you leave out on your kitchen counter, the more cluttered and visually overwhelming it will look and feel, creating an eyesore,” she says.
However, what you decide to keep on your counter may depend on whether you have matching appliances. “If you have purchased a suite of SMEG appliances that match your kitchen aesthetic, these can easily sit comfortably on the benchtop,” says Angie Kreller, Interior Designer at Yabby, “But other appliances that are colourful and oversized can look cluttered, so they work better behind closed doors.”
For me, this means keeping out my KitchenAid stand mixer, but hiding away my bread machine.
2. Declutter double-ups
Before you start reorganizing your small kitchen appliances, go through each item and decide whether you still need it or whether its purpose can be served by another appliance you already own.
Over time, we accumulate multiple items without discarding those we don’t really need, which means you could end up trying to find storage space for a redundant appliance.
3. Consider accessibility and breathing space
Apart from deciding which appliances you use daily and need to be left on your countertop, there are other factors to think about.
“You’ll also want to consider weight, cord management, and ventilation — both microwaves and air fryers need breathing room so they won’t get too hot,” advises Dotan Trabulsi, CEO at Optimal Home Remodeling & Design.
Heavy items, such as stand mixers, are best stored at waist height rather than on the top shelf, as they can be challenging to access and move. A blender or electric carving knife is lighter and easier to lift.
4. Use your pantry
One of the easiest options is to store the appliances you don’t use daily in your pantry — if you're lucky enough to have one.
“Bulky appliances are perfect for storing in the pantry,” says Parks. In this case, she recommends storing lighter or less-used appliances on the top shelf and placing the heavier or more frequently used appliances on the lower shelves so they’re easy to access when needed.
“Using your pantry for these bigger appliances will help keep your kitchen counter clear and prevent that cluttered, eyesore look,” she adds.
What’s more, if you need to use a step ladder to reach high shelving, ensure the floor is free of debris and that your step ladder is sturdy.
What to do if you don't have a pantry
I’m not afraid to admit that I get pantry envy, because if I had one, all my kitchen storage issues would be solved. But sadly, I have to resort to storing everything in my kitchen.
This makes finding places for small kitchen appliances, like my bread machine and air fryer, a problem. However, there are solutions, although some may have to wait until I remodel my kitchen.
5. Use a dedicated appliance cupboard
Storing your kitchen gadgets in an appliance cupboard is an option if you don't have a pantry.
“These are a game changer if you tend to own heaps of appliances,” says Kreller. “They are built at benchtop height and allow you to hide appliances while keeping them plugged in and ready to use.”
You just need to ensure that your kitchen has been designed with plenty of power sockets where you plan to use your appliances, to avoid overstretching cables and overloading sockets.
Oscar Lindahl, Creative Director & Partner at MPDunne, suggests planning for a breakfast area or coffee station, and installing a cupboard for your toaster, kettle and coffee machine. He says, “It makes it easy to access, and you can just close the door to hide the clutter.”
Alternatively, you could use the space to store your baking equipment, such as a stand mixer, a bread machine, and a blender.
Kreller also suggests transforming corner cupboards, which can often be awkward spaces, into appliance cupboards, allowing you to make the most of the space you already have.
6. Consider pull-out drawers and shelves
“If you don’t have a pantry but have deep cabinets, pull-out drawers would be a great option to store appliances,” says Parks. “They maximize the depth of the cabinet, making it easy to store larger appliances without having to remove multiple items to access them.”
Barbara Brock, Founder and CEO at Barbara Brock, a professional organizing and staging company, also agrees with the practicality of pull-out drawers under your counter, making your small appliances easily accessible.
A pull-out shelf is the ideal option for a stand mixer, with Trabulsi explaining that “an integral lift arm means that heavy equipment can rise to the level of the counter without having to be 'dead-lifted' into use.
6. Invest in a standing shelf
“If there’s an open wall in the kitchen and you have a lot of extra appliances and kitchen items that need a home, I’d recommend adding a standing shelving unit there," says Parks. "It can act like a mini pantry and can give extra appliances a designated home, without taking up space on the countertops.
“This can look very neat and put together, especially when you add cute baskets and labels to the items being stored on the shelving,” she adds.
A free-standing shelf also keeps your appliances accessible without having to dive into the back of a cupboard. I use a free-standing chrome shelving unit in my kitchen, and it looks contemporary while being robust enough to hold heavy appliances.
8. Go up
It’s not the perfect solution, but you can place your appliances on top of your cupboards, especially if storage space is limited. However, they will be prone to collecting dust, so don't forget to give them a regular clean.
“Having a gap above your cupboards invariably ends up cluttered and full of grease, dust and grime,” says Lindahl. “The same thing goes for open kitchen shelves — lots of closed storage space is the wise choice.
Where you can, the best option is to store your appliances behind closed doors, which means wall cupboards that extend to your ceiling are the best long-term option, and worth considering when you remodel.
9. Be flexible with a rolling cart
One way to create more countertop space is to invest in a rolling cart that doubles up as a mini kitchen island, suggests Brock.
Apart from giving you more hidden storage space, if you choose one with doors rather than just shelves, you can use the top as an extra work surface or coffee station.
10. Expand into your garage
If you have a small kitchen and there’s no room in your cupboards for appliances, then think outside the box. If you don't have a pantry, Parks suggests storing them in your garage instead, but keep it to the items you don’t use every day.
“Many of my clients keep their occasional or specialty appliances on open shelving or in labeled storage totes. It keeps the appliances accessible when needed and also prevents the kitchen from being overcrowded,” she explains.
11. Plan ahead
You may not be able to solve all your kitchen storage problems with your current kitchen, but when you remodel, you could consider some of the above solutions within your new kitchen design. Think what appliances you use, how accessible they need to be and whether they need space to breathe, and then work that into the design.
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