acm we actually have an extra countertop from when we out the dishwasher in, but it sticks out really far so it be in my way. would the cart take up alot of space too? never saw one before

carts don't usually take up much space, it makes your area look more vintage and is used for another storage area.

polina what color would you suggest. we have red and white items. I should also mention the last renters replaced the wall behind table and stove with plywood? looks terrible you can see it. not sure how I'd go with painting that. I wanted to put up some wall tile between cabinet and countertop but not sure if it would look right

polina any suggestions on one?:-)

I just found a picture online, but this is usually what you can do with it. you can look for them in your local hardware store. they should come cheap. sorry I couldn't find any better options !

sorry, didn't see your comment before the last one. I think putting wall tile between the cabinets and the countertop would be a great idea, but make the colors subtle, not too bright, or it probably will make the room look even more messy.

White for your cart, and keep the red for your accents. If you are allowed to paint, consider painting out the trimwork to match the walls - the fewer lines cutting in to the space, the better. I agree w acm re. a rolling cart and shelves above the table, and also suggest gathering EVERYTHING that doesn't get used on a daily basis and boxing it up to the attic, so you have space to organize the rest. If you make the cart your baking station, that may help, as well. Use a red patterned fabric to curtain off the bottom, should you choose an open unit.

I don't suggest a white rolling cart, or a red one, but I would suggest a nice mahogany. or walnut, best advice for color.

studio10001, great advice !!!

thanks ! both of you! now here is another question. I have no food storage but I think I might have my items organized poorly

top cabinets - skinny ones- food
two middle ones plates, cups, bowls

bottom- left- pots , pans, baking glass
right- bowls, lids, pitchers, cutting boards

microwave cabinets- spices and baking


BTW youll notice upper cabinets are wood bottom are white, one of the things we came across, probably going to paint the top ones white to match. we are renting to own so we are allowed to do whatever

studio my husband actually hates the trim he has been tearing it down in a few places, example the entrance by the backdoor. it's too think. we were thinking of doing a bead board with smaller trim all around the kitchen. what do you think

New hardware on the cabinetry would be a great way to update the look in the kitchen. Won't cost a lot if you look for something inexpensive from IKEA/Overstock/Amazon. Just make sure to get something with the same hole intervals as the current hardware so that you don't have holes showing where the old ones were.

Second, I would recommend removing the border wallpaper and painting the walls one solid color (including painting over that trim dividing the wall in half). I think this will really help elongate the look of the walls and make the room feel cleaner and less cluttered.

Shelving idea that others have mentioned is great for larger items you use on a daily basis. Maybe something like this that is tall so you can maximize the wall space, if it will fit in the kitchen: http://www.amazon.com/Honey-Can-Do-SHF-01608-Cutting-Storage-Shelves/dp/B0030BEPL6. Box up and store anything you only use occasionally as studio10001 recommended.

I think it is a fine backsplash idea ( I am guessing that you are replacing the work top?). Due to the smaller size of the kitchen and the amount of things that need to go in it, I would be encouraged to leave the remaining walls as clean as possible.

( and thanks, polina!))

Just read the last bit about cupboards, and see one whole shelf dedicated to the good china. Perhaps that goes away to the attic in some quilted storage containers, and comes back to visit at Thanksgiving! Look for a wall hung spice rack to empty out another shelf.

Pot lids can store upside down in their pots, and stack. Measuring cups, mugs and wine glasses get hung, all plastic storage goes together stacked, cereal bowls stack atop lunch plates, all machine bits stay together, and the funnel goes in a drawer. That should free up a bit of space.

thank you so much for the input studio and you too polina! Ill probably be posting more later for the bathroom..the Kitchen and bathroom are the smallest rooms in the whole house.

http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/query/small-kitchens

Have you looked at any of the Houzz articles on making the most of storage in tiny kitchens? There are LOTS of creative ways to set things up and help bring sanity to your life with a new baby.

Here is a search that pulls up all of the Houzz stories on small kitchens

thank you lynee I will look there! :-)

Also, if you have a Habitat for Humanity Re-Store near you, you might be able to find extra cabinets, open shelving units, etc. that can help to update what you have on a total budget.

One thing at a time. First, put away as much as you possibly can. Second, toss what is unnecessary. When you have little kids it's tough, the toys and clutter is hard...this too will pass. When you have the money consult with a kitchen designer or architect. This issue is too huge to handle with the advice of strangers on houzz who have never been in your home and are not walking in your shoes. My three kids are grown up, enjoy the chaos, it goes too fast!

never heard of that before.I just looked it up, there is one a little ways from here, but it doesnt show much on their site

thanks gray- my husband and I will probably get a bigger house once we have the money though. Right now we are both trying for jobs with our degrees and its a no go atm. So our income is limited. We are renting to own off his parents, but I dont like dealing with finances and things of that sort when it comes to family, Once we get better income we are definitely moving...there was too much given to us to do to prepare it for living.

Good luck. You did say you have a basement. I would pack as much as possible and store. If you use something once a week, store it. A trip to the basement. We all think we have to have everything within reach.

Here are a few ideas. Store rarely used items elsewhere. If you have a walk up attic close by it sounds perfect for anything not used weekly. I have a closet in my laundry room that has a shelf dedicated to stuff that doesn't fit in the kitchen but is occasionally needed and also not frequently used small appliances. This closet is not all that far away, so it is not a bother to get items there when needed. A small bookcase with a curtain can hold caned goods or pots - remember, your little one will be crawling and then walking before you know it so nothing behind a curtain that could break or be dangerous. Pots and lids and such would be OK. I think this has been suggested, but a small cabinet if it fits. The TV tray will be unsafe once your little one is getting around. Baskets on top of the cabinets can also store extra items. If you have a hutch or cabinet in another room that also can be used to store items. It is important to think outside the walls of your kitchen for storage.

have you considered hanging shelves from the ceiling. they are DIY, adjustable, and space saving. just a thought!! good luck

Look up Tiny House Movement blogs to find inspiration for making everything and every room do double duty.

First idea- make your kitchen table a wall mounted fold up table with spice rack or other pegboard storage inside and a chalkboard for to do lists on the underside that shows when folded up. Here is an example. You can buy something at IKEA or Overstock or just make it to the size you want: http://www.everythingetsy.com/2012/08/space-saving-craft-room-desk/

Second, I LOVE this book so much on parting with stuff. It is so worth it especially when at that age in young married life when people are donating all sorts of things to you and you feel bad about not keeping them. Seriously, read it. You will have open shelves and not be able to fill them when you are done! "The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up" by Marie Kondo

You need to take some time while the baby is asleep and clean up the clutter. No "decorating" until you can see surfaces. Don't use baby as an excuse to live in total disarray. Hello, pizza box on the stove goes in the trash.

Pizza box probably has pizza in it - dinner:)

I expect this picture was taken at time of frustration and is not an example of the daily look of the kitchen. With school, baby and new home, which is partly under construction, there is a real time crunch. It is harder to keep a space clean when there is the combo or lack of time plus lack of storage. Making use of other storage areas and keeping only what is really needed for day to day meal prep at hand will mean everything has a place. Then, time will be spent more efficiently when cleaning up. When everything has a place, you don't need to waste time trying to make things fit and hunting around for space.

jhmarir thank you for understanding. yes we just ate . it does have pizza in it. we just moved in not too long ago so yes there is clutter..and when baby sleeps I sleep . I have a full time job and so does my husband . I am trying the best I can. getting ideas will help get me structured so when I take advice it can be right once instead of a thousand times.

Huh I have never been there before, maybe small steps, put something away every day. I looks like you got adequate storage space. Full time jobs ,new house, new kid. Incremental steps I guess

Have you thought about hiring a professional organizer for a consultation? It's not expensive and he/she will be able to give you storage solutions tailored to your needs. A few dollars spent will save you a lot of frustration and time.

not sure if they have those where I live. small town/city

I'll look

do you have room for a small pantry cabinet ,to store your bread and other items in ?

Step one: set up shelves in your basement to store extra pantry food items and kitchen stuff you don't use very often like extra pots and the good china. Clutter is draining and your family deserves a restful haven.

Step two: hang that lovely picture of poppies over the table and discuss with baby how pretty the flowers are while nuzzling his chubby cheeks.

Step three: make a list of things you would like to improve like paint the wood cabinets white, remove or paint the trim, install spice rack, etc. and then pick things off the one item per weekend. Try to finish one room before starting another.

Two final bits of advice from a mom who has been there:
Even on the tightest budget don't be afraid to spend time bookmarking photos of the style you like. I think your house would be a perfect candidate for cozy, cottage, vintage look, but maybe you would prefer something totally different. Gather ideas of your dream style photos before you buy anything. Secondly, nourish yourself and your family by only keeping around you that which is beautiful or useful. Filling baby's world with happy colors, soft textures and pleasant scents is more important than how your kitchen looks to anyone else!

You have a lot on your plate with a new baby, work and organizing your space. Be gentle with yourself, you need to be enjoying yourself as well :)

Small spaces can be beautiful they just need thinking about. The key will be organizing your space- try moving out of your kitchen into your basement any item that is not a daily use item- also are you able to put pantry items in basement? the space in your kitchen is at a premium so every item needs to earn its space.

Culling items is hard ( especially if you are on a budget as the initial cost comes back to haunt you) but be brave and get rid of, donate or pack away what you don't need right now. You will be amazed at how much better and in control you will feel with your benchtops clear.

Definitely hang your art.

heres a cute small kitchen

New baby, full time jobs, just moved in, limited budget- that is a lot on your plate. I agree with sleeping when the baby sleeps because your health and recovery are key. I suggest you make some short steps (15 minutes or an hour) because they are easier to fit into a few weekend days.

The photos show the kitchen has twice as much stuff as will fit in the cabinets and drawers. If you want clear countertops to work and a clear table to sit down, then half the stuff in the kitchen has to go elsewhere. Budget $30 for ten cardboard boxes. The attic sounds ideal. You can buy a narrow cabinet ($100) to fit in the corner next to the fridge to use as a pantry.

Many people have tried the Flylady ideas, especially for clearing out space. http://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/

In brief, discard extra plastic containers and cups, move best china to attic, move unused stuff to attic. Use only dishwasher-safe things in kitchen. Hang up the artwork.

You definitely don't seem to be maximizing the height in your cabinets. I would purchase some bins, fill them with bowls and whatever and stack them with the most used items on top. I have a plate rack that helps stack the plates nicely. There is also a baking rack I purchased at Lowe's I used to keep the lids to my pots organized. Using the height of the cabinets is the key. Otherwise, you are just wasting half of your cabinets.

Check out the organization section of Lowe's, Bed Bath and Beyond, Target, etc. and see what is out there. Make sure to have your cabinet measurements (and may a few of your pan and dish measurements) handy when you are shopping (or better yet, do your shopping on line so you can run into the kitchen with a measuring tape). You will be surprised about how much "stuff" you can fit into a cabinet when you have the right organization pieces. Just think of it like a game of Tetris! Good Luck! :)

I think you need to purge before buying any organizational units. I would take an inventory, by type, of unopened (beverage, spices, grains, canned veg, canned fruit) see how much you have. Then I'd look at all opened foods, and discard any that are 6 months old. Those in cabinets, on counters, in the fridge. Then, get a shelving system for the basement. This will be your unopened food storage. Canned and boxed goods go here, until needed. Opened perishables go back in the fridge. Either shelves, or a cabinet to hold nonperisables, like box cereal, or baking goods, can be used in the kitchen, or even a hallway or closet near the kitchen. A few large sized colanders to hold fresh fruit and veg, on the counter. A bin in the basement for onions, potatoes and hard skinned squashes. You can also keep extra dishes, or seasonal in the basement. Keep the basement pantry organized, that will make grocery lists easy. You may want to consider storing only the plates glasses and silverware you need per meal, one set per family member, the rest in the basement. You will have to stay on top of the dishes, but less to store in the kitchen. With such a small space, rigorous organization is your bestest friend. We also had a small kitchen, and used IKEA bookcases in the basement as a pantry, just like I recommend above. It will save your sanity! The photos show my small pantry cabinets, and how we organize. It might give you an idea. The purge should be done in one fell swoop, but the rest can happen over time.

The tables/chairs are so tight and once you add a highchair, you won't have room to move around and you are giving up prime storage space. I would use that large wall for wall to wall shelving in a heartbeat (paint a great color to make it interesting and you could paint your lower cabinetry the same to make the kitchen cute). Add narrow shelves to wall or a shelving unit in the basement for additional storage. You can also use the linen cupboard for storage and store your linens/bedding in a bin that slides out from under a bed. To solve your eating situation, I would highly recommend a drop leaf table in the living room wherever suitable (which will look nice when not in use) - I would give up an extra chair in the living room if you have to, so as to gain the space/storage you need in the kitchen. You will also be able to use the table for 4-6 people depending on how large a table you use.

wow such positivity and informative encouragement! thank you all so much! I will probably go with the pantry idea in the basement for food And buy shelves for my extra cooking items, rice maker and such. we do have a very large basement and I have no idea why I never thought of a pantry down there! as for the table, I love the idea of the drop leaf, I the only reason I wouldn't want to place it i n wall would be if we sold it not sure how many would like that idea. especially if they expanded the house. I really wish we could move our bedroom upstairs make the room a dinning room, but those walks are so low.

thank you all so much for ideas and the pictures!!!

You might be able to grab a little space back with storing plastic wrap etc in a magazine holder attached to a cupboard door

When you move canned goods to your pantry perhaps this sort of storage might help

if you have a bit of thin space beside your fridge or oven

Also baskets that hung off your cupboard shelves might be useful

And get storage jars to fit every bit of space

As a Mom - now GM - do you not have anyone that could just come to help clear off your surfaces? You need hands on help to progress soon. :)

If the attic is large, will your furniture fit if it is not pushed flat against the wall? I am thinking that your attic may have a sloping ceiling. Using the attic as your master bedroom will really help your problems. Start another thread about your attic and you may find some creative solutions. There are lots of articles in Houzz and elsewhere about making the most of a room with a sloped ceiling.

An upstairs nursery sounds like a good idea to me. Why did you decide against it? If the upstairs is finished and has a window then it's just another floor of your house.

partim I was worried about having a nursery upstairs where I can't see him, especially when he gets older and plays on his own. I like him being on the same level. also yes my attic has very short sloped walls. our furniture is tall.

Another thought is to install drawers in lower cabinets. You can store a lot more stuff in drawers than the shelves.

Bedrooms (or nurseries) are really for sleeping - during his waking hours your son will want to be where you are. Preferably right under your feet, in the way, making a mess...

I wouldn't choose the location for bedrooms based on the idea of where he might be playing when he is old enough to do that on his own. For a very long time he will always be right by you any time he is awake! Making your shared spaces workable will do more for you comfort and happiness than having a perfect nursery.

There have been very good ideas posted so far, especially making use of your large basement to store non-essentials (and with a tiny kitchen many things become non-essentials -at least for now!). If the only reason not to make use of the attic is that your current furniture won't fit, you may wish to consider said furniture as temporarily non-essential as well, relegate it to storage in the basement until you move to your next home, and outfit the attic room with smaller furniture so you can use the space. Ikea or Craigslist can help you do that part pretty cheap. A bassinet or trundle bed in the attic for when you want/need to keep junior with you there, and a daybed or comfy chair/loveseat in the nursery for when you want/need to stay down with him, and you have the first floor free to spread out in. You will need it for when your boy is ready to pull out every pot and pan to drum on, build forts under (or on) the dining table, and remove all the cushions from the sofa! (I miss those days...though I couldn't imagine I would back then!)

The drop leaf wouldn't be attached to the wall, when you drop that side, just place against the wall for more space in room. When both leaves are down, you'll have even more space.

You can also put shallow shelves 4-6" deep above shoulder height on the stairs (you are unlikely to bonk your head on them if they are shallower than the space between your shoulder and your ear). In that way you can keep things like canned goods on the way down the stairs so you don't have to go ALL the way downstairs to access the pantry. u-shaped shelves (ones with an upturned front) can hold things that are floppy or things like cookie sheets