Too Much Stuff, Too Little Space: Kitchen Storage Inspiration

It's like a law: No matter how big your kitchen is and how many cabinets and closets you have, you will end up with more things to store than you have space to store them. That's why in the kitchen, more than anyplace else in the house, it's important to think creatively about storage space.

Not all of the photos below are of kitchens, but they do all include storage ideas that would work well in that part of the house. If you've got any additional thoughts or storage ideas, please share them - the more, the better!

Kit Pollard

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If you've got the space - even a little space - make the most of it. This pantry is great - it maximizes the space and looks to really take the owner's behaviors into account. I love that there's a combination fo drawers and shelves and that a couple of the less frequently used, but big, kitchen tools are within easy reach.

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Again - pulling from kids' spaces is a great way to find storage inspiration. After all, kids have so much stuff! Pegboard in the kitchen is a great tool - Julia Child famously used it to hang her pots and pans. If it's good enough for her, it's good enough for me!

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I've long been a fan of this concept. Keeping books and magazines in the kitchen makes a ton of sense - it's much easier to grab a recipe if it's next to you. And these shelves make use of otherwise wasted wall space.

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There's no reason why you can't incorporate some playroom-style storage in the kitchen. Bookcases like these are usually inexpensive (I have some from Target), cute, colorful, and perfect for hiding stacks of mail, rarely used kitchen tools, or half-eaten bags of chips.

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I am an enormous fan of hanging tools in the kitchen. Pots and pans, frequently used utensils, whatever. It looks good and it is oh-so convenient when you're cooking.

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Martha knows what she's doing. This is perfect for laundry space that's in the kitchen and hiding shelves behind a simple curtain is actually a great idea for many storage-starved kitchens.

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Ah, the mud room/family "hub." It's a Pottery Barn-driven dream, and with good reason. Designating one spot for all that stuff that families accumulate. Stuff that often ends up right inside a kitchen door.

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Yes this is a bathroom and, also yes, this would only work in a space where all of the undersink plumbing is hidden. But I love the convenience factor and like the idea of using similarly industrial cubbies all over the kitchen.

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This photo makes me look longingly at the side of my own stairs, wishing that the other side of that wall wasn't...more stairs. I love this neat little nook and think baskets are a fantastic way to hide clutter.

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Let's be honest - without a full-time staff, it's unlikely that anybody's pantry could stay so clean and neatly organized. Plus, where are the cereal boxes? But it's nice to dream about a space this pretty, though, isn't it?