Ikea Buys To Optimize A Small Kitchen

Urbanization is a growing trend throughout the United States, and more people are choosing to live in cities and highly-developed areas. Developers are building homes, condos, and townhomes with limited square footage to support burgeoning populations, and they have to get creative with fitting as many people as possible within property lines. When homes have limited space to work with, certain rooms can't hold all the tools, appliances, and items that people use for everyday life. Kitchens are one of the locations that suffer the most, even though this is one of the busiest rooms in your home. Smaller layouts are often laid against one wall or designed in a U or L shape, making it tricky not to feel cramped or cluttered.

Ikea addresses the growing concerns around small kitchen spaces by advocating using multifunctional and space-saving furniture in people's homes. They have multiple product lines that optimize kitchen storage and functionality, allowing individuals to store their necessities without cluttering their cabinets and countertops. It's not only the size of your belongings that can make them impractical for limited areas; you must also consider the design and additional features of storage solutions. Below are several Ikea amenities built to make the most of a room so you can better organize your food, appliances, dishware, silverware, and cooking utensils.

Gorgeous kitchen layouts often include a central kitchen island, which is a centerpiece of extra counter space, cabinets, and sometimes even additional appliances. Unfortunately, small spaces don't have room for these islands, but there are ways to compensate. Rolling kitchen islands are miniature mobile trolleys you can roll across your tile, laminate, or wooden floor as you prepare and serve meals.

The narrow FÖRHÖJA trolley from Ikea has a light birchwood and white color scheme and is roughly 39 inches long, 17 inches wide, and 35 inches tall, making it a practical fit for smaller spaces. The minimalistic paint design makes it suitable for traditional and modern-style kitchens alike, and two back wheels allow mobility while the two other legs help hold it in place. It has two lower shelves of open storage that can hold up to 18 bottles, while the top level contains two drawer cabinets that can be opened from either side. The multiple layers of shelving and narrow dimensions make this cart ideal for compact areas. You can effortlessly slide it into a closet, corner, or between furniture pieces and decor to keep it out of the way when not in use.

Purchase the FÖRHÖJA rolling kitchen island from Ikea for $149.99.

Wire baskets are commonly used for organizing decor and household necessities. Ikea's steel wire retractable baskets are specifically made for cabinet interiors and have additional features that make them ideal for hard-to-reach spaces. These baskets are on a moving track, allowing them to roll out so you can access items that would otherwise be lost in the deepest corners of your kitchen.

The wires are spaced to hold pots and pans in positions that ensure they won't scratch one another or retain moisture, and the steel material can hold up to 22 pounds. The rack also has a 24-inch depth, providing ample space and support for heavy dishware. One review claims it can hold up to 35 pounds before it begins to sag and struggle to roll out. Other reviewers commend this product for being straightforward to install and adjust, especially if you purchase them for Ikea-branded cabinetry. Plastic spacers are included to help them fit properly into your kitchen design, regardless of whether or not you have Ikea cabinets.

Purchase the UTRUSTA wire baskets from Ikea for $32.

Do you need more vertical storage but have little room to squeeze in an extra cabinet? Thanks to its slim design, the OMAR vertical shelf rack can be your saving grace. Since it's only 18 feet wide, you can wedge it into a small gap or corner but gain loads of vertical storage. It comes with six shelves, which is nothing to sneeze at when you're working with limited square feet. It's also made of galvanized steel, which is highly resistant to rust and corrosion, meaning the humidity from nearby appliances and cooking endeavors won't degrade this product over time. 

This shelving unit is easy to assemble and adjust as needed, and you can combine it with other products in Ikea's OMAR collection to make the most of your limited space. Even the bottom feet are adjustable, allowing you to place it on uneven flooring if necessary. Most product reviews praise this vertical shelf rack for its versatility, sturdiness, and functionality.

Purchase the OMAR one-section shelving unit from Ikea for $89.98.

If you're a wine connoisseur with little kitchen and storage space, you may be looking for a way to arrange your bottles in an organized manner that's also easily accessible. This squat bottle rack is ideal for kitchens with limited cabinet, pantry, fridge, and counter space. Although it's primarily marketed for wine storage, it is also suitable for other bottles. That means if you're overrun with olive oil, beer, or sparkling water bottles, you can store them more efficiently on these racks. It can hold up to 24 bottles, freeing up your cabinets for more dishware or pantry items.

Since it's only 18 inches wide and 14 inches deep, it can be easily wedged into a small corner without taking up too much space. However, if you're looking for something that offers more vertical storage space, you can get the 6-foot version of this, which stores 48 bottles.

Purchase the OMAR bottle shelving unit from IKEA for $59.99.